CITY LIFE

In August 2024, Denver Area Youth for Christ (DAYFC) opened a new youth center, ACO House (A Christ Operation) in Aurora, CO. It is intentionally located in an area with higher needs, gang activity, and gun violence. Data shows that violent crime in this ZIP code is three times above the national average. The center is just one block from New Legacy High School, a charter school that supports teen parents and their children aged 0-5 years, and is a partner of DAYFC. 

Local youth expressed a strong need for a safe space to experience community, access comprehensive support and resources, receive parenting training and resources, and build connections with each other. Statistics show that 4% of youths aged11 to 19 years old in the community have a biblical worldview; 75% face loneliness as a mental health issue at a higher rate than any other generation. 

ACO House is accessible to all young people in the community, regardless of their religious beliefs. It offers a place to build relationships with peers and trusted adults, a space for overall healthy growth, and a hub for resources that a youth might need, such as homework help, laundry support, or an after-school meal. The youth center services reflect what the youth identified as their main needs, as resources have permitted.

ACO House in the news