Lower the Barrier Colorado
Lowering the Barrier - Not the Bar.
Organizational Overview
Empowering Marginalized Communities Through Integrated Workforce Solutions
Established in 2019 and formally incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in August 2024, Lower the Barrier Colorado (LTBCO) is a Denver-based organization committed to dismantling systemic barriers to employment and reintegration. LTBCO delivers holistic, trauma-informed services that empower marginalized individuals—including those impacted by incarceration, housing instability, and substance use disorder—to achieve sustainable economic independence and psychosocial wellness.
Our Mission
Our organizational mission is to transform lives by providing evidence-based workforce programming, transitional housing, vocational training, mental health support, and systemic advocacy that positions clients to thrive personally and professionally.
Our Impact
LTBCO’s multidimensional approach directly impacts over 500 participants annually. Our integrated model—combining housing, employment, mental health, and civic voice—has resulted in a 72% job placement rate, 90% program completion rate, and a documented reduction in recidivism to near zero among tracked cohorts. By aligning technical training with psychosocial stabilization, we empower marginalized Coloradans to rewrite their narratives and reclaim their futures.
Comprehensive Service Model
LTBCO operates at the intersection of workforce development, social enterprise, and behavioral health. Our programs are data-driven, culturally responsive, and rooted in the lived experiences of those we serve.
Pathway2Progress – Workforce Housing Program (6 Months)
This structured reentry and stabilization program offers safe housing and wraparound services for justice-impacted and housing-insecure individuals.
Services include:
- Vocational and employment readiness coaching
- Trauma-informed case management
- Budgeting, transportation planning, and digital navigation
- Mental health screening and therapeutic referrals
- Transition-to-work planning, including job placement assistance
Graduates exit the program with full-time employment, stable housing, financial literacy, and sustained community reintegration.
The People’s Pickles – Workforce Social Enterprise
LTBCO’s award-winning flagship enterprise functions as both a revenue generator and training platform for workforce development. Participants receive 30 days (80 hours) of compensated hands-on training. One of our flagship social enterprises is our close association with People's Pickles, a fantastic example of our mission in action.
Key components:
- Forklift operation and food production training
- Digital literacy and resume creation
- Behavioral interview coaching and workplace communication
- OSHA/CDOT safety certifications
- Entrepreneurial exposure in a culturally rooted business
This model strengthens workforce pipelines while reducing recidivism and stigma.
Vocational Certification Training
Delivered to individuals, nonprofits, corporate partners, and public agencies, these credentialing services address skill gaps in high-demand sectors.
Certifications offered:
- CDOT 4-Hour Flagger Training & Certification
- OSHA-Compliant Forklift (3 Hours)
- Telehandler (2 Hours)
- Skid Steer (3 Hours)
- Digital Literacy 101 (4 Hours)
- Interview Skills 101 (Background Disclosure, Elevator Pitch, Job Prep)
Each course integrates employability skills and safety standards relevant to labor market trends.
Community Advocacy & Policy Reform
LTBCO actively engages in legislative and civic advocacy to ensure long-term systemic change. Our advocacy ensures that the structural challenges facing marginalized communities are addressed not only individually, but legislatively.
Milestone achievements include:
- Policy support for Ban the Box legislation
- Contribution to Colorado’s automatic record sealing law
- Grassroots mobilization behind the repeal of the death penalty
Upcoming Training Schedule
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Gallery & Events
Photo Gallery
A picture is worth a thousand words. Here is a glimpse into our work, our community, and the people we serve.
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Upcoming Events
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Annual 'Seeds of Change' Gala
Date: October 26, 2025
Location: The Community Hall, Denver, CO
Join us for our biggest night of celebration and fundraising to support our vital programs for the upcoming year.
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Community Resource & Career Fair
Date: November 15, 2025
Location: City Park Pavilion, Denver, CO
We are partnering with local organizations and employers to provide resources and opportunities. Free and open to all.
Get In Touch
We would love to hear from you. Whether you have a question about our programs, want to volunteer, or are interested in partnering with us, please use the form below to reach out.
Our Information
Email: contact@lowerthebarrierco.org
Phone: 720-939-2811
Help Us Keep the Doors Open—and the Barriers Down
This year, Lower the Barrier Colorado has helped over 500 individuals receive life-changing support through vocational training, job placement, and transitional housing. Participants have completed certifications in flagger, forklift, telehandler, digital literacy, and skid steer operation—earning $20–$30/hour on average.
Our mission is rooted in giving people a second chance to work, dream, and belong. With your support, we’ve already made that happen for hundreds. But to keep our programs free or low-cost, we urgently need your help.
We’re proud to announce our new shared location with Promotores de Esperanza at 1926 South Federal Blvd, Suite H, Denver, where we’re expanding weekly job trainings and launching our first retail store—opening August 16 to serve our community and our pickle lovers.
Our flagship social enterprise, The People’s Pickles, is gearing up for a major leap—thanks to a new partnership with LOCO Distribution to bring our products into Safeway stores across Colorado this Fall. We’re still making, selling, and teaching people how to work—one pickle at a time.
And on August 15, our Pathway2Progress Workforce Housing Program will open its doors in Green Valley Ranch, offering affordable housing and job support to men 18–55 ready to rebuild their lives.
But growing our impact also means growing our budget—staff, rent, utilities, and production costs have all increased. Your donation helps us keep vocational services accessible, housing affordable, and hope within reach.
✨ Support Us Your Way
Donate NowLower the Barrier, Not the Bar.
From all of us at LTBCO—thank you.