We Fortify’s 2nd annual fundraiser coming to ProRodeo Hall of Fame
By Brianna Corrine
We Fortify, a poverty-tackling nonprofit, hosts its 2nd Annual Gala-Not-Gala at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs on Saturday, Nov. 16. The event is come as you are and is intended to be an elegant, yet fun, showcase of the charitable group.
Shelley Jensen is the founder and CEO of We Fortify, an organization she created after Jensen and her husband had worked with struggling families that faced various challenges. It was during that time that the couple realized that the “dysfunction of some government programs” delayed people rebounding from tough times. For some, those problems include increased electric bills, car trouble, addiction, abuse-induced trauma and other issues.
Eventually, Jensen’s side quest of helping those in need evolved into We Fortify in December 2019.
Since its conception, We Fortify has boasted a new kind of model that is backed by intense research and additional support that 18-25 year olds often need.
The We Fortify model is all about creating small communities in which people can learn to thrive and gain the skills and tools they need to go forth and prosper both financially and emotionally.
“We do something that’s really special,” Jensen says, “It’s called an empowerment plan, and when a resident comes into the village, after a couple of weeks they create an empowerment plan, which is short-term goals and long-term goals and they are able to work on those in parallel.”
Simply put, it's a method to make everything that needs to happen less daunting. “Our team meets with everyone weekly, and we track those empowerment plans,” as well as their therapeutic notes provided by the trauma-informed care they provide, she adds.
Part of the plan involves providing folks a safe home with all the tools they need (including dishware and linens that become theirs to own even after they have moved out of the village) to discover who they are and what they want to be. Financial needs and emotional needs are addressed. So are some of the smaller things, such as learning to cook and drive. “Because we are small and intentionally small, we can be nimble and extraordinarily individualized,” Jensen says.
While they are a proudly small team, the company welcomes volunteers, especially those who have a genuine desire to work long-term with the village.
Operations manager Claire Franco works largely with the volunteer sector of the organization. “We are learning as we go and we are very humble. And at the end of the day we are just here to support our residents first and foremost,” she says.
Beyond attending the upcoming Gala-Not-Gala, those interested in helping out should visit the volunteer page on their website. “Most importantly, we are looking for volunteers who not only care about our mission and our organization,” says Franco, “but they really have a heart to support young adults, they have a heart to treat people the way they would want to be treated, and to meet them where they are.”
As more funding is secured, future plans include expanding into Denver and Fort Collins, Jensen says.
“The community has really surrounded us - they believe in what we are doing, they understand the need and they really like the model - because we are really just trying to help create this healthy whole human,” Jensen says proudly.
Over the past five years, the We Fortify team has managed to serve 35 people with quality care. One resident who recently graduated from the organization told the We Fortify team, “You stood in the gap. This was exactly what I needed when I needed it.” While the number may seem small, We Fortify is doing what it can to make a lasting difference in people's lives.
Join the We Fortify team at the Gala-Not-Gala to see their vision for the future, hear their plans for the coming year, and see the successes from the past year. It is the last fundraising event of this year and it’s designed to ensure that next year will be successful. For more details on the event, visit the 2nd Annual Gala-Not-Gala – We Fortify.