Lowry United Neighborhoods is one of Denver’s Registered Neighborhood Organizations (RNOs). RNOs have been recognized as the voice of Denver residents since 1979, when an ordinance was written, and a structure created that had city agencies telling registered groups about things like rezoning, liquor (and later marijuana) license applications and more, with the understanding that the RNO’s would pass this information onto residents, and get back to the city with a recap of how the residents felt about these issues. Unfortunately, a failure to educate, fund and otherwise support these groups has left many at loose ends, and unable to serve the community as the ordinance intended.

 After nearly 5 years of pushing the previous administration to no avail, Mayor Johnston has agreed to create a Division of Community Empowerment in the Office of Human Rights and Community Partnerships (HRCP) that will have among its prime directives to better support and strengthen the RNO system so that our 725,000+ residents have a better chance of actually having their voices heard and included in the formation of city policy. The 2025 budget includes funding to hire a director who will look at how to better use existing city staff to that end and look at what additions may be needed down the road in people and policy.