Case Study

Client: The Center on Colfax

The Center on Colfax has been the Rocky Mountain region’s largest LGBTQ+ community center for nearly 50 years. Pushkin PR has been proud to support The Center and Denver Pride for years, including a landmark campaign to launch the Glass Lawler Mental Health program, a first-of-its-kind free mental health initiative for the LGBTQ+ community.  

What is the Center on Colfax and what new initiative did it launch?

The Center on Colfax is Denver’s nonprofit LGBTQ+ community hub, providing programs and services across mental health, community support, LGBTQ+ history, youth programming, and more. In fall 2023, The Center launched the Glass Lawler Mental Health program, named in honor of LGBTQ+ activists Carmah Lawler and Kathy Glass, offering up to 12 free individual counseling sessions and group therapy to LGBTQ+ adults, with no referral or insurance required. It was the first full-time mental health program in The Center’s history, and represented a significant expansion of its services.

How did Pushkin PR support the launch of the Glass Lawler Mental Health program?

Pushkin PR executed a comprehensive media relations campaign to announce the program’s launch, generating coverage across a wide range of Denver outlets. The campaign reached community-focused digital publications, LGBTQ+ media, and mainstream local news — including 9NEWS, Out Front Magazine, Colorado Newsline, and Denverite. The goal was to reach LGBTQ+ Denverites who needed the program, and it worked. The program filled quickly and now has a wait list.
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Why does an LGBTQ+ mental health program require a dedicated PR campaign?

Because the people who need it most have to know it exists before they can use it. LGBTQ+ individuals face disproportionately high rates of mental health challenges and significant barriers to accessing affirming care. A program that removes cost as a barrier is only transformative if it reaches the community it’s designed to serve. Pushkin PR’s media campaign made sure word got out broadly and quickly, through the outlets and voices the LGBTQ+ community in Denver actually trusts.

What results did the Center on Colfax campaign produce?

The media coverage generated by the launch campaign directly drove enrollment. The Glass Lawler Mental Health program filled rapidly after launch and developed a wait list — a concrete, real-world outcome that demonstrates the campaign’s reach and effectiveness. For a nonprofit with a limited marketing budget, earned media coverage was the most powerful tool available, and the breadth of placements — from local TV to community publications to LGBTQ+ media — ensured the message reached the people it was meant to reach.

How long has Pushkin PR worked with the Center on Colfax?

Pushkin PR has supported The Center on Colfax and Denver Pride for seven years — a long-term partnership that reflects the kind of sustained communications support that allows a nonprofit to build real momentum over time. Work has spanned media relations, campaign development, and communications strategy across The Center’s programs and events, including Denver PrideFest, one of the region’s largest annual celebrations.