Audio for poems.
L.I.F.T. (Live. Improve. Flourish. Thrive.) Aurora better known locally as Culture Stock has a goal to enrich the community through arts.
Nicole Mullins is the founder and board president of the nonprofit. She said the building they were hoping to secure last year was acquired by another buyer.
“It was a church building on Fifth Street on the east side of Aurora, they ended up getting a cash buyer, unfortunately, that was willing to pay their asking price,” Mullins explained. “So obviously, that made sense for them to jump on that opportunity.”
Activists say housing insecurity, food insecurity, insufficient youth services and limitations to affordable mental health and medical services are contributing to the increase in crime and gang activity in Aurora.