EXIT
Our History
When doing anti-violence work, we believe it is important to recognize that pre-colonization, gender and racial based violence did not exist within Indigenous communities. Through violence and oppression, colonization has been used for centuries to falsely justify ownership of the land, bodies, and lives of Indigenous people. Therefore, when doing anti-violence work, it’s necessary to address past uses of power and control, and their direct connection to gender and racial-based violence today.
Español: Reconocemos que el territorio y la tierra actuales no cedidos han sido cuidados, defendidos y protegidos por los pueblos Arapaho, Cheyenne, Očhéthi Šakówiŋ y Ute y las personas de las Primeras Naciones. También reconocemos que, debido a las reubicaciones y traslados forzosos, estas tierras han sido cuidadas por múltiples comunidades indígenas.
Founded in 1977, we are the domestic violence coalition for the state of Colorado
Through our technical assistance and training, we help organizations and individuals across the state to better support survivors of relationship abuse. We also advocate for policy change at the state and national levels so that Colorado and U.S. law may better support violence survivors’ needs.
In honor of our 40th year in 2017, we transitioned from the Colorado Coalition Against Domestic Violence to Violence Free Colorado – a name that reflects the future we want to achieve.
We’re committed to ending relationship abuse by learning from and leading in partnership with survivors and other anti-oppression movements. Preventing violence means changing our society and its institutions—targeting beliefs, behaviors, environments, structures, and policies that perpetuate violence, oppression, and inequality.
Our Purpose
Advancing the well-being of all Coloradans through relationships free from abuse and oppression.
Our Vision
A Colorado culture that values and upholds healthy relationships based in equity and respect.
Our Values
- We RESPECT the inherent strengths and self-determination of survivors.
- We LEAD in partnership with survivors, heeding their experiences and amplifying their voices.
- We STRIVE to end relationship abuse by taking bold, courageous actions.
- We PURSUE social justice, knowing that equity is essential to ending relationship abuse.
- We ADVANCE equality by challenging power-based perceptions, assumptions and behaviors.
- We UPHOLD advocacy and social change as essential to advancing our movement.
- We ACT honestly and fairly, even in the face of adversity.
Our Approach
An accessible, culturally-responsive, trauma-informed perspective is at the center of all we do.
