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At WDC, we believe the people most affected by inequities must guide the solutions.
Our systems change work begins with listening, building trust, and honoring lived experience.
We move at the speed of trust, not urgency or external pressure.
We follow the leadership of the community.
Current Focus: Fair Work & Income Pathways for Undocumented Community Members
WDC is a community partner in a collaborative effort led by Juntos Community Organization to address barriers undocumented community members face when seeking safe, stable, and dignified income opportunities.
Many undocumented community members legally operate businesses using an ITIN and pursue entrepreneurship to support their families. However, systemic barriers remain, including:
- Restrictions on contracting in certain industries
- Licensing and certification systems that require a Social Security Number
- Background checks tied to SSN-based identity systems
- Barriers to training, volunteer hours, or clinical hours due to clearance processes
- Limited access to safe banking and payment systems
- Wage theft and labor exploitation in unprotected work environments
- Confusion, fear, and inconsistent information
Many community members are ready to work — but systems create the limitations.
Policy Initiative Advancing for the 2026 Colorado Legislative Session
(Led by Juntos Community Organization; WDC is a supporting partner)
The proposed legislation would allow required background checks to be completed using:
Fingerprinting through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) instead of requiring a Social Security Number.
This shift would:
- Create safer and clearer pathways to work
- Reduce exploitation and underground labor vulnerability
- Expand access to training, licensing, and employment
- Support family stability and economic mobility
WDC’s role is to:
- Support community listening and story gathering
- Participate in partner and stakeholder discussions
- Ensure the work is culturally grounded and community-guided
Juntos is the lead organization.
WDC serves as a contributing partner, centering safety, cultural context, and community voice.
Emerging Priority: Youth Entrepreneurship Access (Exploratory Stage)
Through Youth Development programming, we see young people who are ready to create and lead businesses but face age-based licensing and banking barriers.
WDC is currently exploring:
- Colorado youth business licensing requirements
- Listening sessions with youth and families
- Partnerships with youth entrepreneurship and youth rights organizations
This work will move forward when youth are ready to guide it.
Driver Advocacy & Support
WDC partners with African immigrant taxi, livery, and rideshare drivers to improve health access, economic stability, and safe working conditions. Many drivers work long, unpredictable hours and face barriers to healthcare, fair enforcement, and earning wages that can truly support themselves and their families.
We listen to drivers’ experiences, connect them to trusted resources, and work with community partners to advance solutions that make driving work safer, healthier, and more stable—so every driver can earn a fair living and build a secure future.
Grandparents & Kinship Care License Plate Initiative – Love That Lifts Us
WDC is leading a statewide effort to create a Colorado specialty license plate honoring grandparents and kinship caregivers who are raising grandchildren or struggling to maintain visitation during family conflict. Many caregivers face the dual burden of limited legal support and unexpected expenses while providing stability for children.
This initiative will create a dedicated fund—supported by license plate fees—to help families access legal assistance and cover urgent, essential needs such as emergency housing, food, utilities, transportation, and school-related costs for the children in their care. WDC will coordinate the campaign and administrative process, while all funds raised will directly support these families.
Add your name to help us reach the 3,000 signatures required to bring this plate to the Colorado General Assembly:
Our Commitment
We believe in systems change that is:
We do not rush change.
We build the foundation for change — with the community, not for the community.