Check out what is going on at the A.W.A.R.E. Center!

A place where members make friends and a difference!

The A.W.A.R.E. Center (formerly known as the Rainbow Center) is a peer run drop-in center where members of mental health services can find an accepting community, purpose, and empowerment. Our services are rooted in the belief that people can, and do recover, and that empowerment is a critical aspect of recovery.

Activities Calendar

Happy Holidays! Check out the festive activities we have going on this month.

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AWARE Center Events

Friday Events

12/4 - Christmas Movie & Hot Chocolate Bar

12/11 - Birthday Bash Bingo

12/18 - Christmas Dinner/Wear Your Ugly Sweater Day*

12/25 - CLOSED for Christmas

*Due to COVID-19, we are limited to the number of members we can have in the building. Please call us at (303) 451-4288 to check for available seats and more information.

Member Meetings

12/10 - Member Forum: come and share your thoughts and ideas for what groups, events, and meals you'd like to see at the AWARE Center.

12/8 - Community Advisory Panel: a great opportunity to share your questions and comments with Community Reach Center.

Quebec Food Bank Outing

12/9 & 12/23: a great opportunity to get food for your home from Quebec Food Bank.

*Due to COVID-19, we are limited to the number of members we can take. Please call us at (303) 451-4288 to check for available seats and more information.

Announcement!

We will be returning to normal hours on Thursdays! However, modified hours will remain on Mondays. Please see schedule below and let our case managers know if you need help changing your transportation times.

Monday: 11:15am - 4pm

Tuesday: 8:30am - 4pm

Wednesday: 8:30am - 4pm

Thursday: 8:30am - 4pm

Friday: 10:30am - 4pm

Member Spotlight

Jackie B.

How has the AWARE Center helped you with your recovery?

"If I need someone to talk to I can come here to speak with someone I trust. I feel safe here. I don't feel like I am on guard. When I come here I am less stressed. When I am here I can socialize and my mind doesn't wander. I've made a lot of friendships here and we support each other."

What else has helped with your recovery?

"Support. I like my support. Not being judged so I don't get angry. I don't like being angry. My animals also love me for me, not what I can give them."

A.W.A.R.E. Center Village

The A.W.A.R.E. Center is creating a holiday village. Come add to our creation!

PEER CORNER: Coping with the Holidays

The holidays are here and can already be a challenging time for many. Complex feelings around grief, family dynamics, finances, time management, and expectations are the perfect combination for adding additional stress. This year all of these matters are compounded with the hard realities and hard conversations in regards to safety and the coronavirus situation we are facing in Colorado. Every year at the A.W.A.R.E. Center, our peer support specialist team leads a group to support our members, and ourselves, in navigating holiday challenges that many of us face, and yet, are still unique and personal to each of us. Some of the questions we have been asking ourselves include:

What does holding space for and processing grief look like this year? The year 2020 has been a year of loss in numerous ways. This not only means the loss of life and loved ones, but also includes the loss of connection, tradition, and normalcy. Greif can come with feelings such as sadness, anger, frustration, hopelessness, confusion, and apathy. Anything you are experiencing emotionally is valid and understandable. It is common to have an intense emotional experience to these unusual times. Grief can compound and previous loss can increase your experience of grief this year. Honoring your feelings, sharing your feelings with people who can support you, and being gentle with yourself are possible ways to navigate feelings of grief this year.
What does creating meaning look like this year? Meaning is unique and personal to each person. For some people, it is about connection with people they love and for others it is focused on spiritual and religious meaning. Whatever the meaning of this holiday season is for you this year, there are many resources to create new traditions and avenues of deepening into whatever might add to your wellness this holiday season.
What does coping look like? Do you have a holiday wellness plan? Practicing coping skills, balancing time and money, connecting to a sense of meaning, and safely engaging with others socially often requires planning. Placing something on paper can often help when the stress becomes overwhelming. When writing what you can do, it supports a frame of mind that can keep you from ruminating on what you can’t do. Knowing who can support you emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually, and financially can be a nice reminder of who is on your team. As always, if you feel like additional support is needed, professional support can be an avenue to explore solutions and work through the gaps of wellness in your life.

Whatever challenges you are facing and however you chose to navigate them, all of us at the A.W.A.R.E Center wish you a happy and healthy holiday season.

Meet the Staff

Grace Zolnosky - she/her/hers

Grace is the AWARE Center manager and has been with us for 3 years!

What is your favorite way to spend time outside of work?

I really enjoy hiking. When my boys were little, we lived in Evergreen and we discovered some amazing areas to explore. I love the sense of nostalgia when I am once again in those mountains, on those trails, breathing that clean fresh crisp air. It is even better when my friends can join me, allowing us to reminisce, catch up and enjoy one another’s company.

Whenever possible I delight in spending time with my family. I realize how fleeting time is and how essential it is to create time to be with those you love most. I cherish our heritage and find comfort in our shared memories and experiences.

What is your favorite thing about the A.W.A.R.E. Center?

There is so much that I love about the AWARE Center. But if I must choose my favorite it would be our staff. I feel so very blessed to work with these amazing individuals. Mary Ann, Dominique, Allyson, Zully, Sarah, Brennen, Erika, Sarah…they are the reason that I come to work each day, their support and love have held me up through difficult times and have rejoiced with me in joyous ones. I could not have asked for a better more supportive team.

How have you kept positive during this difficult year at A.W.A.R.E. Center and in your personal life?

2020 has been a rollercoaster: ups and downs, blind curves and sudden stops…but through it all I keep in mind all that there is to be grateful for and the hope that this too shall pass. Hope cannot be shaken or changed by a virus or the actions of a few. I am grateful for my teammates, for our Members, for my family and friends and I am grateful for the cards this life has dealt me. My hope throughout all that we have been going through is that goodness and compassion will rise up through the ashes of 2020 and show us just how much we have to be grateful for and will fuel us to continue the work that we do to make a positive, lasting difference in the lives of others.

December Inspiration

"Kindness is like snow. It beautifies everything it covers." - Kahlil Gibran

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