About the Collaborative
Working together to improve health equity outcomes in communities across the state.
We believe that everyone deserves a chance to grow up healthy and thrive. However, this is not a reality for many of Colorado's residents. That's why we’re providing changemakers and communities with the stories, data, and resources they need to improve the lives of all Colorado residents.
History of the Colorado Equity Compass
The Colorado Equity Compass began taking shape in 2019 under the leadership of The Colorado Trust and Change Matrix. In its first year, the Compass was piloted in four places in Colorado: East Colfax neighborhood of Denver, Larimer County, Pitkin County, and southeast Colorado Springs. The pilot engaged these communities to explore needs, resources, and data that would inspire and enable action toward building healthier and more equitable communities. The insights gained through this process helped form the Colorado Equity Compass (CEC).
Several organizations made early contributions. Thanks to the Colorado Futures Center, which developed the initial resource library and provided data analyses; Shift Research Lab, which led the data work; Junious Williams Consulting Inc., which provided strategic coaching, program design support, and thought leadership around equity and community engagement; and Change Matrix, which provided project management leadership and capacity-building support across the initiative.
Consume & Create joined in 2020 as the marketing and branding partner, followed by the Colorado Health Institute (CHI) in 2021, marking the official statewide public launch of the CEC. Currently, The Colorado Trust and CHI steward the platform and manage the annual data refresh of the Equity Data Navigator, ensuring local communities have reliable, up-to-date data to inform strategic planning, programs, and advocacy initiatives.