Since its inception in 2015, The Elhi Community Center has focused on supporting communities in Southwest Colorado. The organization has a clothing closet and provides space for many small businesses and programs. In 2024, ELHI hopes to broaden its reach and continue serving as a venue for events ranging from concerts to classes and various kinds of parties. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Serious Texas BBQ and Kroegers Ace Hardware.
Transcript
The ELHI Community Center in Ignacio is hoping to strengthen its roots in the Four Corners nonprofit and business communities in the year ahead. You’re watching the Local News Network brought to you buy Serious Texas Bar-B-Q and Kroegers Ace Hardware. I’m Connor Shreve. The ELHI Community Center has been home to small business and nonprofits otherwise without a home since 2015.
They needed a home. They needed a place to go. They needed a place to be able to offer their services here in Ignacio. So the building was the elementary school. It was elementary school and then it was the high school for a little while. So the kids called it the ELHI, which they later took the name and gave it the acronym that it stands for now.
Today, the center embodies what that acronym represents: education, literacy, health, and inspiration. The importance of having a hub for many of the businesses and nonprofits is critical in an area with low rental accessibility, both from a volume and value standpoint. And it provides for the entire region.
The organizations here bring people from not only the community of Ignacio, but from Durango, Bayfield. I think the gymnastics has people as far as Mancos. Some from Aztec. I actually live in Pagosa. So people from all over, not just the community of Ignacio.
Those organizations include a Clothing Closet, Dancing Spirit Community Arts Center, and Pine River Shares Leadership Project, among others. ELHI is so successful, it doesn’t have room for any more groups right now, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get involved.
Like you want to work with Big Brothers Big Sisters, we go introduce you to Ryan. And then he sets you up with the organization. We have a lot of people that’ll come in and do community service here through the Justice Department or whichever it is that they’re doing. So depending on if they have any skills or if they have like certain hobbies that they like, I try to find an organization that works well with them.
ELHI is always looking for new ways to help, and if you have an idea, the Community Center encourages you to reach out. Volunteers are always welcome, and you can donate. ELHI also serves as an event venue and gathering space. Reach out online at theelhiignacio.org. Learn more about this and other stories at durangolocal.news. Thanks for watching this edition of the Local News Network. I’m Connor Shreve.
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