GES Coalition

The Globeville, Elyria, Swansea Coalition (GESC) was formed in 2015 by neighbors and organizers around a vision of housing justice. Since then, GESC has organized with a cooperative leadership structure composed entirely of neighbors in the Globeville, Elyria, and Swansea neighborhoods to build power, and prevent displacement. In 2017, GESC formed Tierra Colectiva Community Land Trust to develop, preserve, and steward permanently affordable housing, green spaces, and commercial spaces according to community needs. This model counters exploitative development practices with neighbor-led development to create community stability and agency. 

Our Collective Leadership Model

All of the members of the GES Coalition Board Directors live within the GES neighborhoods and the majority of them have been impacted by displacement. 80% of the Board are BIPOC, of which 50% are monolingual Spanish speakers. 100% of the Board are women. In October 2025 we are hosting our first annual Board of Directors election which is open to anyone who lives in the GES neighborhoods or was displaced from them. This year over 70 neighbors will vote for candidates to fill three open seats in our board. Tierra Colectiva Community Land Trust is controlled by the development committee of the GES Coalition Board of Directors. The GES Coalition Board of Directors appoints members to the development committee according to a tri-partite structure consisting of 1/3 Tierra Colectiva lease holders, 1/3 GES neighbors who do not live in Tierra Colectiva owned homes, and 1/3 development experts. 

The GES Coalition Board of Directors elections are a structure of direct accountability to our neighbors and a vehicle through which neighbors can engage in the collective ownership and stewardship of Tierra Colectiva land.