Unify Montrose Awarded $45,000 from El Pomar Foundation to Strengthen Local Civic Problem Solving
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grant continues a relationship that helped spark the very first idea for this work in Montrose
Montrose, CO | April 23rd, 2026
Some community ideas begin with years of planning. This one began, somewhat serendipitously, in a buffet line.
Several years ago, at Penrose House during an El Pomar Foundation event, a speaker was discussing citizens’ assemblies, democratic renewal, and new ways to strengthen civic engagement. That speaker was Harry Gottlieb, founder of Unify America. At that moment, two people from Montrose were deeply inspired by what they had just heard and struck up a conversation that would help set something much larger in motion.
They invited Harry and Unify America to Montrose to pilot what this kind of work could look like in a rural community. That early conversation led to the Childcare Assembly, the pilot project that helped demonstrate the promise of structured, community-rooted deliberation here at home.
Now, years later, that early spark has grown into Unify Montrose: an independent, locally run nonprofit working to build long-term civic capacity in Montrose through structured dialogue, community deliberation, and practical problem solving.
Unify Montrose is honored to share that it has received $45,000 over the next three years from El Pomar Foundation to support this work.
This funding will help Unify Montrose continue building the local systems, relationships, and capacity needed to make meaningful civic engagement possible in a small rural community. It supports many of the same core needs that make this work sustainable over time: strengthening facilitation capacity, supporting participation, improving access, and building the organizational foundation needed to carry this work forward well beyond any single pilot or moment.
Alejandro Salazar, Executive Director of Unify Montrose, said:
“As a former El Pomar Scholar and intern, this moment feels especially full circle for me personally. It is deeply meaningful to see that long relationship converge with the separate serendipitous connection that first helped spark this work in Montrose. What began as a pilot has grown into something truly local, and this support helps us keep building lasting civic capacity here at home. We are deeply grateful to El Pomar Foundation and its Trustees for their continued belief in our community and in what is possible here.”
The grant reflects both continuity and momentum. Over the last several years, El Pomar Foundation has been a gracious and trusted supporter of this work as it evolved from an idea, to a pilot, to a local nonprofit with a growing role in helping Montrose residents work through difficult issues together.
Unify Montrose exists to help neighbors rebuild trust and solve problems together. Its work is designed to create structured, respectful spaces where people can weigh tradeoffs, contribute lived experience, and shape practical next steps on issues that matter locally. In the last year, that has included youth deliberation work and community conversations connected to homelessness and winter shelter solutions.
This new support from El Pomar Foundation helps ensure that this work is not temporary. It helps build lasting local capability so that civic engagement in Montrose can continue to be more thoughtful, more inclusive, and more action-oriented over time.
Just as importantly, it points toward a larger possibility: that rural communities across Colorado can build stronger civic infrastructure of their own. In a time when many people feel discouraged about public life, Unify Montrose believes communities still want to come together, be heard, and help shape solutions. This work is about renewing some hope in that process and proving that small communities can lead.
Unify Montrose is deeply thankful to El Pomar Foundation for its generosity, partnership, and belief in what is possible here.
About Unify Montrose
Unify Montrose is an independent, locally run nonprofit based in Montrose, Colorado. It strengthens communities through structured civic dialogue and collaborative problem solving, helping neighbors rebuild trust and turn local voices into clear, community-rooted recommendations and next steps.
Media Contact
Alejandro Salazar, Executive Director
Unify Montrose Awarded $320,000 from the Colorado Health Foundation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Unify Montrose awarded $320,000 from the Colorado Health Foundation to grow local capacity for structured, inclusive community problem solving
Montrose, CO | March 2, 2026
Unify Montrose has been awarded $320,000 in operating support over four years from the Colorado Health Foundation. This funding provides $80,000 per year and marks a major step forward as Unify Montrose moves from a volunteer-run pilot into a more formal, professional organization built to serve Montrose long-term.
Unify Montrose exists for a simple reason: neighbors rebuilding trust and solving problems together. We design small-town assemblies and structured conversations that turn everyday neighbors’ experience into clear, shared recommendations and next steps. We are independent and nonpartisan on purpose.
What this support helps us do
This funding helps Unify Montrose build capacity and access so more community members can participate and so deliberations can be run consistently and professionally. That includes:
Training and supporting local facilitators
Paying participants and facilitators for their time and expertise
Improving access to participation, including supports like childcare and interpretation when needed
Building the internal structure to sustain the work over time
Expanding the number of structured community dialogues we can host each year
Concrete examples of local impact
In the last year, Unify Montrose has hosted a middle school deliberation series focused on places for students to just be, creating space for youth voice and practical solutions shaped by lived experience. Unify Montrose has also convened ongoing community conversations connected to Code Blue and winter emergency shelter, bringing residents and local stakeholders into a structured process to understand the problem, weigh options, and identify actionable next steps.
How Unify Montrose is different
Unify Montrose is built to be a constructive alternative to town halls, surveys, and social media fights.
Nonpartisan on purpose: we do not campaign for parties or candidates. We focus on local problems, shared facts, and practical solutions.
Representative, not just the loudest voices: our processes bring a true cross-section of neighbors to the table so recommendations feel like Montrose speaking for itself.
Structured conversations with follow-through: we end with clear recommendations and visible next steps so participation leads to something real.
A tool that helps increase capacity and transparency
Unify Montrose is in close collaboration with a software tool being developed by its executive director outside of Unify Montrose. The tool, inthecommons.org, is designed to help gather community input quickly, summarize it clearly, and track how representative participation is, so community voices are captured accurately and decision-makers can see patterns without noise.
Alejandro Salazar, Executive Director of Unify Montrose, said:
“For a while, we’ve been building the plane as we fly it. Unify has been powered by an incredible group of community members, and a part-time executive director who also does software development full-time. This grant helps us finally grow up and build the plane. We can train facilitators, pay people for their time, improve access, and run more of these structured conversations without burning out the volunteers who got us here. Rural communities deserve a better way to solve problems, and we’re building it right here in Montrose.”
Get involved
• Attend: Join us on March 26 for a special session from 5–7 at The Association
• Partner: If you have an issue that needs structured facilitation, reach out to alejandro@unifymontrose.org
About Unify Montrose
Unify Montrose is a Montrose-based nonprofit designing structured, inclusive community deliberations that help neighbors rebuild trust and solve local problems together. Guided by core values like presuming positive intent, open-minded curiosity, and earning trust, Unify Montrose creates safe, respectful spaces for real listening and community-rooted recommendations.
Media Contact
Alejandro Salazar, Executive Director
alejandro@unifymontrose.org
The Clear Sky
In divisive times, it’s easy to feel like we’re navigating through clouds of tension and uncertainty, with storms constantly looming overhead. But here in Montrose, we believe in a different perspective—a vision of unity that allows us to rise above the clouds and see the clear sky of shared goals.
Life often feels like a whirlwind, yet above every storm lies a boundless clear sky. At Unify Montrose, we see this sky as a symbol of our community’s potential to connect beyond differences. Imagine the warmth of a sunny day or the calm awe of a starlit night—that’s the clarity we’re reaching for. No matter the shapes these clouds might take, whether elephants or donkeys, they’re only temporary. Above, there’s a sky we all share.
Unify Montrose is dedicated to fostering open, inclusive dialogue that lets us focus on what unites us. Join us as we gather to strengthen our community by acknowledging our common ground and engaging in meaningful conversations. Let’s embrace this shared vision together, finding clarity beyond the clouds and building a stronger Montrose.
Our next meeting is on November 19th, 2024, from 6 to 8 pm at Community Options Inc. Reach out if you need a ride; we’re here to ensure everyone feels welcome, no matter the weather.
In divisive times, it’s easy to feel like we’re caught in a storm, with worries and tensions clouding our view of what truly matters. Here in Montrose, we're committed to something different: rising above the turbulence to find common ground and connect as a community. Unify Montrose is bringing people from all walks of life together to focus on shared goals. Let me share an analogy to bring this vision to life—a vision I believe can help us all.
Life can often feel overwhelming, with worries and pressures building up like clouds in the sky. It’s easy to lose sight of calmness and clarity amid the turbulence of daily life. But even in these moments, there's a practice we can embrace: the concept of the clear sky. In this practice, you observe thoughts as passing clouds, gently returning to the calm, clear mind—like the endless clear sky —beyond them.
Imagine the sun's warmth on you on a bright, clear day or the sense of wonder and awe as you gaze into an endless sea of stars on a crisp, starlit night. That is the clear sky, a sense of calm and clarity. We might take this for granted because we are fortunate to experience it so often, but that doesn't mean we don't know what a good wind storm can bring in a flash.
Some clouds may take the shape of elephants, others donkeys, and at times, they might try to convince us that they are the sky above us and that storms are the norm. Don't be fooled; there is a clear sky above. While we come from different histories and points of view, we must remember that we have shared goals we can look up to and that we stand on common ground. This perspective allows us to rise above division and focus on what truly connects us all.
Unify Montrose embraces this vision of looking beyond the clouds. Our mission is to foster meaningful dialogue, bringing together diverse voices to focus on our common goals. By engaging in open, inclusive conversations, we can navigate through the clouds of division and discover the clear sky of unity and understanding that lies above. Join us as we work together to build a stronger, more connected community where your voice contributes to a shared vision of the future.
We’re holding our next meeting on November 19th, 2024, from 6 to 8 pm at Community Options Inc. Please let us know if you need a ride there, as we want people to feel comfortable getting there without having to drive at night or bad weather.
In the coming days and weeks, let’s remember to take a deep breath and look up to the clear sky above. Amid all the noise, we want you to know that your well-being matters deeply. As we navigate through these challenging times, let’s remember to take a deep breath, look up, and find comfort in the clear sky that we all stand beneath.