Meet James Ginsburg | Executive Director, RecoveryWorks

We had the good fortune of connecting with James Ginsburg and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi James, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Nonprofit organizations (NPO) are critical in filling gaps in the community – often serving those left behind by the private and/or public sectors. There are many great NPOs in Jefferson County working with vulnerable individuals and families, and with the growing affordable housing and subsequent homelessness crisis, came a growing need for NPOs serving our unhoused neighbors. It is in that context, as a resident of Jeffco myself with many years experience working with unhoused persons, that we started RecoveryWorks to help begin to fill that gap.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I believe that I have always been driven by a power greater than myself; that anything I pursued professionally needed to have a larger purpose than just my own security. Most of my journey has been driven by individuals who saw something in me, encouraged and supported me and helped me grow in effectiveness. I certainly have dealt with fears – of failure, of now being enough, etc. I think I’m most proud of my willingness to take risks in the face of my fears and doubts. My most profound lesson continues to be the realization that when I’m willing to ask for help, there seems to be an endless number of people there at my side.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a Denver native, I’ve always appreciated the City and State’s open spaces. We would start with a hike or cross-country skiing on top of Kenosha Pass. Then we would go to Buena Vista, go to the top of Cottonwood pass and look for moose, camp for a night or two and hang out at Cottonwood hot springs. Back in town, we would get lunch at La Casita in North Denver and take home a dozen tamales. For night life we would meet friends and go dancing to live music at the Little Bear in Morrison, catch the Colorado Symphany at The Arvada Center and see a play or show at the DCPA. We might do a lazy raft trip out of Golden or white water out of Salida.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents, who showed me by example what social justice and equity means in every day life.

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