Michelle Gabrieloff-Parish and Ramon Gabrieloff-Parish stood in the center of a circle, inviting community members to share their visions for a just and sustainable future. The discussion, part of 5 to 500: A People’s Plan Workshop, was more than a conversation — it was a call to action.
As founders of FLOWS and Once & Future Green, local organizations focused on environmental justice, the Gabrieloff-Parrishes are working to align Boulder’s first People’s Climate Justice Plan with the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP), a long-term regional growth blueprint that undergoes major revisions about every two decades.
“Planning for the future of Boulder can’t be done in a silo — it has to be deeply informed by the people who have been historically excluded from these conversations,” said Ramon Gabrieloff-Parish at the Feb. 22 workshop. “The communities most impacted by environmental challenges and economic inequities have solutions. Those solutions need to be at the forefront of our city and county planning.”
His wife and co-organizer, Michelle Gabrieloff-Parish, framed it as a fight to give more people a voice. “Environmental justice is community justice,” she said. “This is about reclaiming our power, our voices and our right to shape the future we want to see.”
While the plan is still taking shape, organizers have submitted an initial report to city officials and expect to deliver a full summary of community input within the month. They plan to continue workshops and meetings throughout the year to push for broader representation in Boulder’s long-term planning.
Boulder launches paid community assembly, but will its ideas shape policy?
For decades, Boulder’s planning processes have been shaped by academic research, environmental data and input from established stakeholders. But as climate change worsens and economic disparities persist, efforts are shifting to ensure those most affected have a stronger voice in decisionmaking.
Vivian Castro Wooldridge, a planning engagement strategist with the City of Boulder, attended the Feb. 22 workshop and highlighted Boulder’s push for broader participation. The city recently mailed 10,000 yellow envelopes to residents, inviting them to apply for a “community assembly” — a new initiative designed to bring a more diverse group into city planning. Selected participants will receive $1,000 for their time and contributions.
“So often, the people making decisions on our behalf don’t represent us completely,” Castro Wooldridge said. “This assembly is about bringing together a representative cross-section of our community, giving them time and resources to learn about issues, discuss them and figure out what’s best for Boulder. We believe in the power of collective wisdom.”
While Boulder’s push for inclusion and financial compensation for engagement represents a shift, activists say the real test will be whether their ideas lead to concrete policy changes.
“We need to ensure that these ideas and strategies — developed by the people most affected — aren’t just heard but actually implemented,” said Michelle Gabrieloff-Parish. After delivering their report to city and county officials, she and her team will continue advocating for follow-through, accountability and the development of the People’s Plan.
Community-driven ideas
Housing, infrastructure and food security were central to discussions at the Feb. 22 workshop. Mike Wird, a green builder and advocate for biotecture — a design philosophy merging biology and architecture — challenged attendees to rethink conventional development models.
“We need to stop building dead structures and start designing living spaces that move with the forces of nature instead of resisting them,” Wird said. “The sun, wind, rain and earth aren’t obstacles to overcome — they’re resources we can integrate into how we build.”
Examples of these principles can be seen in Earthships, which regulate temperature using thermal mass; green roofs, which provide insulation and filter air; and passive solar homes, which maximize natural heating and cooling.
Wird argued that these principles go beyond high-tech eco-homes and could be applied to everything from mobile homes to existing neighborhoods. “If we reimagine how we insulate, harness the sun and collect water, we can make any structure more sustainable and resilient.”
Water access was a recurring issue, particularly for mobile home parks, where residents struggle with aging infrastructure and unreliable clean water sources.
Food security also took center stage. Candi CdeBaca, a former Denver city councilmember and advocate for economic and environmental justice, pushed for a radical shift in how communities view food access.
“Food needs to be considered a utility,” she said. “Just like we invest in water and electricity infrastructure, we should be investing in community-led food systems. If cities committed to this, we could ensure that everyone — regardless of income or background — has access to food.”
“Boulder has the opportunity to lead by treating food as a public good, not a commodity,” she said.
For Yessica Holguin, executive director of the Center for Community Wealth Building, the conversation was just as much about local businesses. She emphasized the importance of keeping money within the community.
“We have wealth in our communities, but we need to recognize it and use it strategically,” Holguin said. “That means buying bread from the neighborhood bakery instead of a corporation that underpays workers. If we want real power, we need to stop being the invisible giant and invest in our own communities.”
She also pointed to the challenges of relying on federal and state funding. “Even when money is promised, it arrives too late to make a difference. That’s why we must support local businesses and grassroots organizations — they are the ones who will still be here when federal initiatives come and go.”
The next 5 to 500: A People’s Plan Workshop will be held on March 8 at the Junkyard Social Club in Boulder. Organizers plan to feature regenerative farmer Andre Houssney and musician Stephen Bracket as they continue blending creative expression with strategic planning.
Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled the last name of Michelle Gabrieloff-Parish and Ramón Gabrieloff-Parish. Their last name has only one “r” in “Parish.”
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