In the Loup is a bimonthly publication of the
Robert E. Loup Jewish Community Center
and the Mizel Arts & Culture Center
350 S. Dahlia St., Denver, CO 80246.
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Shalom Denver
In our continued exploration of tikkum olam ("heal the world"), In the Loup reviews the facinating history o fthe local shop that helps put this magazine in your hands.
Ever wonder how this magazine arrives in your mailbox? While the research, writing and design is done in-house by the JCC, other essential elements — address labeling and ensuring issues arrive at the post office on time—is done by a local organization, SHALOM Denver.
Denver’s “Utility Workshop,” as it was first called, was founded in 1955 by Alfred Newman, the director of Jewish Family Service of Colorado (JFS) at the time. According to Arnie Kover, current director of JFS Disability Services, this vocational division originally formed to provide rehabilitation and training services for Holocaust survivors.
After relocating to Denver from Eastern Europe, many survivors were unable to work upon arrival due to physical and emotional problems incurred in the camps. The Utility Workshop, operating in the United Way basement, offered survivors subcontractor assignments from local businesses. As Arnie notes, “it was a chance for them to build self confidence and acclimate.” Although some survivors remained with the organization for 20-plus years because the severity of their problems prevented them from moving on, many participants ultimately became very successful members of Denver commerce.
The Utility Workshop moved to a storefront on 17th and Pearl to meet the demands of JFS referrals concerning people with mental challenges. By then, the Workshop had been identified by the local Jewish community as an environment where people coping with problems could work to their capability, earn a pay check, and feel good about being a productive community member. During these early years, the Workshop accepted “whatever projects we could by hand. With the additional space though, machinery was purchased to enable additional projects,” adds Arnie.
Another move in the early 1970s, this time to an even bigger facility at 11th west of Speer, allowed the Workshop to accept Asian immigrants with mental health barriers to employment due to their experiences with political unrest in their homelands.
By the late 1970s, and following yet another move to 12th and Delaware, the original Holocaust survivors had aged through, as well as many of the Asian immigrants. The Workshop then opened its doors to developmentally disabled people. This era also brought a name change. In 1978 the Work-“…the Workshop had been identified by the local Jewish community as an environment where people coping with problems could work to their capability, earn a pay check, and feel good about being a productive community member.”
shop board selected “SHALOM Denver” to end confusion with public utility services. Although the acronym (Self Help Assembly Lines Of Metro Denver) is no longer used because services extend well beyond “assembly lines,” the name is still appropriate because one translation of “shalom” is “to become whole.”
In its current home at 2498 W. 2nd Ave. since 2001, SHALOM Denver provides mailing and print services, as well as light packaging, with high-quality attention and at very competitive prices. Although the majority of employees now are developmentally disabled, SHALOM Denver began assisting Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) recipients in 1998, serving people who are transitioning from welfare to employment. Most TANF individuals are single moms who welcome an opportunity to work and build confidence. After about three-to-four months with SHALOM Denver, they find full time work elsewhere, often with SHALOM Denver’s help.
An average month at SHALOM Denver means about 160-170 workers and 25 fulltime staff members. Workers receive much personalized attention during their 6 ½ hour day from a very dedicated staff, many of whom have been with SHALOM Denver for over 20 years. Bringing special degrees in social work, counseling and therapy to SHALOM Denver, these full time staff members supervise production and coach individuals to reach their goals, which may range from improving social skills or work habits to increasing productivity. Workers may use their time at SHALOM Denver to reduce their work-challenges enabling them to move on to jobs in the public sector, or remain long term if their barriers are too severe.
To sum, Arnie says, “We do this work because it’s our mission to help hundreds of people each year get on their feet and become productive citizens. We’re always appreciative of new assignments from the Jewish community and beyond because it means they too are joining us in supporting our mission.”
SHALOM Denver Welcomes New Customers
To receive a project bid via phone, call SHALOM Denver business consultant Linda Perez at (303) 623-0251. Or, new customers can call Linda to set an appointment held either at SHALOM Denver or at your own facility. Readers can also visit www.shalomdenver.com to learn about SHALOM Denver services, program information and more.