Getting Involved in the Community

One of the best parts of attending the University of Denver is the opportunity to immerse yourself in the vibrant community and city of Denver. With campus just a quick light-rail ride from the heart of the city, options for getting involved and making a difference are endless.  DU’s Center for Community Engagement to advance Scholarship and Learning (CCESL) is dedicated to the University’s mission of advancing the public good. The center keeps a comprehensive database of current volunteer opportunities that automatically updates as new openings arise. If you want to get involved, visit volunteer.du.edu.

Here are some highlights:

Reading Partners Colorado

Love reading and working with children? Reading Partners, an education nonprofit, seeks  volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring to elementary school students who are reading below grade level. It provides a structured curriculum, so no experience is necessary. The commitment is a minimum of one hour a week for the school year. Learn more about this opportunity here.

History Colorado Museum transcribing

Are you a history buff and looking for a remote volunteer opportunity? The History Colorado Museum needs volunteers to transcribe documents to make collections more accessible and thus spread knowledge and resources about Colorado history. This is a flexible opportunity that can be completed on your own time and from your computer at home. For more information, click here. 

Dumb Friends League & More

Calling all animal lovers! There are countless opportunities to spend time with furry friends looking for a home. The Dumb Friends League is on a mission to end pet homelessness and animal suffering. It has  a six-week training period, and you must be able to commit three hours per week for six months. For more details or to apply, click here. Volunteering with the Dumb Friends League is just one of many ways to help animals in need. You can volunteer with the Denver Animal Shelter here or learn about more volunteer opportunities at Maxfund, an animal adoption and rehabilitation center, here.

Casa De Paz

Do you like building relationships and figuring out logistics? Casa de Paz offers support to immigrants released from detention on their way to their final destination, providing shelter, meals, transportation and emotional support. Casa de Paz has several volunteer opportunities,  from signing up to be a companion, preparing a meal, being a pen pal and more. See all the opportunities for getting involved on their site.