How a job training program and affordable housing made a difference for one Denverite

This “Hogwarts” campus in Denver offers affordable housing just steps from free job training

Denver resident Marina Benavides once stood at a crossroads, uncertain about her future. She sought stability, purpose, and a place to belong. Her path led her to the Mosaic Community Campus in east Denver.

The Denver nonprofit Work Options is at the heart of this diverse place. It is a program that equips individuals with essential culinary-job skills, and confidence. Through Work Options, Marina discovered Helping Hen Café, Work Options’ welcoming campus eatery, where she began her hands-on training. Here, she learned the intricacies of food service skills, from preparing meals to engaging with customers, while earning a wage and building her self-esteem.

But the changes for Marina weren’t limited to her professional life. In 2024, Marina secured an affordable apartment right on the campus, as the nonprofit housing developer Archway Communities opened 154 new homes for households earning 30-60% of the area median income (AMI). This safe and stable environment allowed her to focus on her growth, free from the stresses of housing insecurity.

“We saw pictures, and … we were like, ‘Yes, we’re going to start living here, we want to live there.’ It’s like Hogwarts, you know, Harry Potter,” Marina said of the historic campus buildings.

“It looks amazing. I love it.”

The synergy between the free job training programs at Work Options and the affordable housing provided by Archway Communities exemplifies the holistic role that the Mosaic Community Campus has assumed since 2021, when Urban Land Conservancy (ULC), Denver Public Schools, and the Denver Housing Authority purchased what was then the Johnson and Wales University campus. Urban Land Conservancy (ULC) and its partners work to ensure that spaces at Mosaic are occupied by organizations that are of, by and for the East Colfax and South Park Hill communities, and beyond.

Other on-campus opportunities for those living in affordable housing at Mosaic include: free and low-cost English language acquisition classes through Emily Griffith Technical College, employment at Dirt Coffee Bar, K-8 education at St. Elizabeth’s School, and middle school and high school at Denver School of the Arts.

Marina has since graduated from the Work Options program and is pursuing a career in culinary service. After she graduated, her wife enrolled in the program.

Be Part of the Change

Today, you can contribute to the diverse and multifaceted missions of the Mosaic Community Campus:

• Dine with purpose: Visit Helping Hen Café and enjoy a meal that supports job training initiatives.
• Support Work Options: Consider donating or volunteering to help more individuals gain valuable skills.
• Learn about Archway Communities: Discover how affordable housing transforms lives.
• Explore ULC’s impact in action: Understand how strategic real estate stewardship fosters community development.