A Denver native, after stints as a Peace Corps volunteer and an elementary school teacher, Grant earned her law degree from Temple University (she worked for 15 years in the Denver District Attorney’s office under Dale Tooley and Norm Early), and with housemate Doris Burd, moved to her longtime S. Lincoln St. home where she has raised her daughter, Rashni (22), and son, Previn (21).

Almost from day one, Gertie has given generously of her time and talents to her community. Grant has been a dedicated member of the West Washington Park Neighborhood Association since its days as the South Central Improvement Association in the late 1970s, focusing on zoning and related issues. In addition to her WWPNA involvement, she has worked tirelessly to support the Washington Street Community Center, Lincoln Elementary School, and Inter-Neighborhood Coopera-tion, among other worthy organizations. She was instrumental in working for the passage of the Washington Park View Preservation Ordinance.

An environmentalist before the term became part of our popular lexicon, in 1983, concerned about the ongoing loss of Denver’s tree canopy, Gertie founded Denver Digs Trees, operating early on as a one-woman tour de force out of her S. Lincoln St. garage.

Since those early days, Denver Digs Trees has distributed over 20,000 free and low-cost trees to Denver residents. Grant is now working with a new organizaton, Trees Across Colorado, providing trees to surrounding metro communities. In 2002, she was honored for her work by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

It is without question that Denver and West Washington Park are better places to live because of the efforts and accomplishments of our good neighbor, Gertrude Grant.

Tickets for the 2008 Washington Street Community Center Good Neighbor Award Celebration cost $25, including wine and hors d’oeuvres. For more info, call the Center at 303-733-4643 or visit www.wscc-denver.org.