Overview:
Keith Meyer discusses neighborhood engagement and the Denver Community Film Festival’s screening of "Truth Be Told."
Strong neighborhoods do not happen by accident. They are built through the willingness of people to invest time in the places and people around them. Keith Meyer, president of the local Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation (Denver INC), believes that kind of community engagement is essential for healthier neighborhoods and a healthier democracy.
We’re resharing an updated 5 Questions conversation we did with Meyer, originally published ahead of the first Denver Community Film Festival, as Inter-Neighborhood Cooperation prepares to host its second annual festival on Thursday, May 21, at the historic Elitch Theatre. This year’s event will feature a screening of “Truth Be Told,” a documentary directed by Brian Malone that takes viewers inside Colorado newsrooms and explores how local journalists serve their communities at a time of growing misinformation and distrust.
In the conversation below, Meyer reflects on why neighborhood organizations still matter and what communities lose when people disengage from civic life.
Why are residential neighborhood associations like Denver INC important, and why should neighbors get involved in them?
Neighborhood groups are at the heart of what makes our communities feel like home. They give us a voice, help us build real connections with our neighbors and make sure our needs are heard. More than that, they are one of the last places where people from all walks of life can come together, roll up their sleeves and make real change happen.
As the urbanist Jane Jacobs put it, “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.”
Whether you are in Westwood, Chaffee Park, University Hills or Elyria-Swansea, getting involved in your neighborhood means being part of something bigger—helping to create a community that is stronger, more connected and truly built by the people who live there.
Why should we get to know our neighbors and be active in our neighborhoods?
Great communities are not just about streets and buildings—they are about the people who live there. When we take the time to get to know our neighbors, we create a sense of belonging and support that makes our neighborhoods feel like home.
And on a larger scale, that sense of community is also what helps keep our democracy healthy. Engaging in our community extends far beyond the ballot box to the way we show up for each other every day. It is in the respect we share, the help we offer and the connections we build.
By being active in our neighborhoods, we make them stronger, more resilient, and more welcoming for everyone.
Denver INC is showing a film on May 21 called “Truth Be Told.” What do you hope to accomplish?
Denver Inc. is all about building community among the more than 60 registered neighborhood organizations across the city. After the overwhelming success of our first film festival, we’re excited to build on that momentum and create an even bigger event this year.
People want to connect, but data show that we are becoming lonelier. Why do you think it’s important to be a part of something bigger than ourselves?
We all need connection—it is just part of being human. But over the last couple of decades, a lot of our real-world interactions have been replaced with online ones, and for many people, that’s led to feeling more disconnected than ever.
Sure, social media helps us stay in touch, but it does not give us the deep, meaningful relationships that come from actually being part of something. That is why joining a neighborhood or community group isn’t just about helping your community—it is about finding your people, building real connections and remembering that you are not alone.
What are your favorite and least favorite things about your neighborhood?
I live in Sloan’s Lake now, but Northwest Denver has been home to me for nearly 20 years. During that time, I’ve gotten to experience this community in so many ways—whether chatting with gardeners at a Denver Urban Garden plot, watching families cheer on their little ones at a Saturday morning basketball game at Rude Rec Center or taking in the Harkness Heights’ annual holiday luminary night.
The challenges I see are with prioritizing and valuing spaces and opportunities for people to come together and connect. It can be hard to put an economic value on social connections, and because of this, we are losing a lot of traditional areas where these interactions happen.