For Civic Center Conservancy, keeping Civic Center Park active and thriving means investing not only in the Park itself, but also in the people who help care for it.
Since 2022, the Conservancy’s WORKS workforce development program has provided 135 participants with paid, hands-on employment experience while helping our partners at Denver Parks and Recreation keep Civic Center clean, safe, and beautiful. Originally developed to create employment opportunities for people experiencing barriers to employment, including homelessness, WORKS has helped participants build skills and experience that can lead to longer-term careers in horticulture, maintenance, and public-space stewardship.
In 2026, with portions of Civic Center Park closed for the Next 100 renovations, the Conservancy saw an opportunity to expand the WORKS model beyond traditional park maintenance. Through a new WORKS @ EATS pilot, participants are gaining experience in hospitality, custodial services, event operations, and sustainability while supporting Civic Center EATS and the Conservancy’s NIGHT MARKET events.
Central to the pilot’s success is our partnership with Consolidated Service Group (CSG), a locally owned and operated commercial cleaning and maintenance company and social enterprise committed to renewing spaces and rebuilding lives through second-chance employment opportunities.
CSG’s Clean Team works alongside the Conservancy to create a welcoming experience for the thousands of people who gather in Civic Center for food, community, and connection throughout the Conservancy’s season of events.
“Success is seeing employees come to EATS looking for a fresh start and then grow more confident through their work,” says Monica, CSG Operations Manager. “It’s rewarding to see someone who may have struggled to find an opportunity become dependable, take pride in their work, and start thinking about their next career step.”
Every Wednesday and Thursday throughout the May–October EATS season, Monica leads a four-person Clean Team through hands-on work in a fast-paced outdoor event environment. The crew helps set up and break down the food truck rally, keeps tables and gathering areas clean throughout lunch service, assists with site safety during changing weather conditions, and plays an essential role in the Conservancy’s sustainability efforts by monitoring and sorting EATS’ three-stream waste system for compost, recycling, and landfill waste.
Along the way, team members gain experience that extends well beyond keeping an event clean. The work builds reliability, teamwork, customer-service skills, event operations experience, environmental stewardship knowledge, and confidence—all skills that can translate to future employment.
“What I enjoy most about working at EATS is being a part of a positive, welcoming environment,” Monica says. “I like that EATS brings the community together while supporting local food businesses and creating opportunities for people to gain work experience.”
That combination is at the heart of WORKS @ EATS. Civic Center Conservancy’s free public programs can do more than bring people together: they can also create pathways to opportunity for the people who make those experiences possible.
The pilot also points toward the future of WORKS. As Civic Center evolves, the Conservancy is exploring how workforce development can remain embedded in the stewardship, programming, and activation of Denver’s civic heart—connecting meaningful employment opportunities with the work required to operate and care for a vibrant public space.
WORKS @ EATS and Youth WORKS are made possible through the generous and continued support of Bank of America and The VF Foundation. Their investment helps Civic Center Conservancy expand economic opportunity, strengthen our community, and demonstrate how great public spaces can contribute to the well-being of both people and place.
