Apartment Trends Magazine October 2019 | Page 8

FROM THE PRESIDENT SCOTT KIRKWOOD | GRIFFIS BLESSING Building a Coalition: An Important Government Affairs Strategy C oalition building is an extremely important part of our association’s strategy as we prepare to navigate a challenging 2020 legislative session. We are connecting to organizations and companies that we can partner with who can assist in communicating the need for multifamily housing. These partners are as diverse as our membership – natural partners, non-traditional partners, affordable housing partners, businesses, unions, clubs, and groups. We need your support to help us connect to as many organizations and companies as possible. As we enter perhaps our most challenging era- a time where our industry is under attack- to the point where our business may never be the same - we need partners who can help carry our torch and tell a genuine story about housing and how apartments are a critical piece of affordable, safe, reliable homes for over 1 million Coloradans. We have a great story to tell, but we cannot tell it by ourselves. We need partners and a broad based coalition to move our message in a positive way. You are part of a $95 billion industry (billion with a “B”!). You are part of a pool of 14,000 professionals who operate and provide an apartment lifestyle with maintenance free flexible living. We have to protect our great industry, and we need you and your connections to help build our coalition. Do you know anyone who could be influential in their organization or business? It might be a parent, a spouse, a family member, a neighbor or a friend. If you do, please let me know! I’d like to put you down as a coalition liaison and your colleague, and their organization down as a potential partner. The team at AAMD and Colorado Apartment Association would love to hear from you if you have any suggestions. Please email any suggestions to [email protected] 6 | TRENDS OCTOBER 2019 Here is a list of partners we have or are currently seeking: American Association of Retired Persons Affordable Housing Management Association (AHMA) Apartment Association of Southern Colorado Associated Builders and Contractors Rocky Mountain Chapter Associated General Contractors of Colorado (AGC) Assoc. of Colorado Centers for Independent Living Association of General Contractors (National) Brother’s Redevelopment Boulder Area Rental Housing Association Catholic Charities Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Associates (CAMA) Colorado Association of Homebuilders Colo. Assoc. of Mechanical & Plumbing Contractors Colorado Association of Real Estate Investors Colorado Association of Realtors Colorado Bankers Association Colorado Bar Association Colorado Building Construction Trades Council Colorado Catholic Conference Colorado Center for Law and Policy Colorado Center on Law and Policy Colorado Chamber of Commerce Colorado Children’s Campaign Colorado Coalition for the Homeless Colorado Concern Colorado Consumer Health Initiative Colorado Contractors Association Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition Colorado Health Foundation Colorado Immigration Rights Coalition Action Fund (CIRC) Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunities Colorado Poverty Law Project Colorado Ski Country USA Commercial Real Estate Women Commerical Real Estate Development Association Community Assocations Institute Community Development Housing Association Construction Industry Training Council of Colorado (CITC) Denver Downtown Partnership, Inc. Denver Metro BOMA Denver Metro Commercial Association of Realtors (DMCAR) Denver Regional Council of Governments Denver South Economic Development Partnership Dividend Realty Group, LLC Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs Family Homestead Graham Memorial Community Church Housing Colorado Independent Electrical Contractors Independent Electrical Contractors, Rocky Mt Chapter int’l Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Union NO. 17 Investment Community of the Rockies Investors Realty Resource of Colorado Leadership Program of the Rockies League of Women Voters of Colorado Littleton Leadership Academy Lutheran Advocacy Ministry-Colorado Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Mercy Housing Mountain States Lumber & Building Association National Certified Pipe Welding Bureau Natl Association/Industrial Office Properties 9to5 Colorado, National Assoc of Working Women Northern Colorado Rental Housing Association Price Apartment Investment Group Real Estate Services Provider Council, Colorado Rocky Mountain Home Association Sisters of Mercy South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce The Arc of Colorado Together Colorado Urban Land Institute Urban Land Conserve VAIL Valley Partnership Violence Free Colorado VoLunteers of America Weld County Apartment Association YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard)