News Release

Governor John Hickenlooper headlines White House and HHS Faith-Based conference in Denver, Colorado

Washington D.C. – Over 500 faith and community leaders from across the Rocky Mountain West today joined Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, Joshua DuBois, executive director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Mara Vanderslice, acting director of the HHS Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and faith and nonprofit leaders from the region for a conversation on how government at all levels can partner with nonprofit organizations to impact community needs.  The event, held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, is a part of a series of Connecting Communities for the Common Good interactive conferences being held around the country this year.

By working and learning from faith and community leaders in their own hometowns, The White House, HHS, HUD, the Small Business Administration, and all 13 Federal Partnership Centers from across the administration are supporting organizations doing critical work in communities around the country.

“Faith and community leaders are strengthening our country every day.   Our office helps these leaders partner with government and with one another to tackle some of our nations’ biggest challenges, from homelessness to hunger to improving education for our young people,” said Joshua DuBois.  “President Obama recognizes the challenges communities face as the economy continues to recover and as families work to regain their footing.  Thousands of community organizations across the country are helping hardworking Americans secure good jobs, avoid foreclosure, access affordable health care, and strengthen their families, and this Administration and our Centers for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will continue to help make sure they have the tools they need.”

 “Having this many faith and community leaders in one room lays important groundwork for insightful discussions, new collaborations and partnerships to be formed,” said Mara Vanderslice.  “At a community meeting like this one, our center is able to work with trusted local leaders to engage hard to reach communities on health care resources in their neighborhoods and improve access to quality, affordable healthcare under the Affordable Care Act.”

During the morning plenary, Governor Hickenlooper delivered a keynote address recognizing faith and community leaders as trusted messengers and voices of knowledge within their communities.  “The faith-based community can be a powerful ally in helping to address a wide variety of issues facing our country, said Hickenlooper.  "We have seen many success stories in Colorado of effective partnerships causing positive change with hunger, homelessness and literacy. It is important that we continue these collective efforts to help our local communities.”

The White House, together with HHS and the 13 agency partnership centers, also distributed their comprehensive partnership guide, Partnerships for the Common Good.  The guide provides faith-based and community organizations with information about opportunities to form partnerships across government, on issues from housing to job creation, health to summer feeding programs and disaster response. The guide also includes guidance on applying for federal grants and access to capacity building resources.

Federal Centers for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships

www.whitehouse.gov/partnerships

www.hhs.gov/partnerships

Center at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Center at the U.S. Department of Commerce
Center at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Center at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Center at the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Center at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Center at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
Center at the U.S. Department of Education
Center at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Center at the Small Business Administration
Center at the U.S. Department of Labor
Center at the U.S. Department of Justice
Corporation for National and Community Service

For more information on Partnerships for the Common Good visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/partnerships

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Last revised: July 27, 2011