2026 Community Forum
On April 15th, the Estes Park Community Support Group (CSG) hosted its inaugural forum, bringing together a diverse group of over 50 Estes Park community members. Through the collective efforts of visa sponsors, host employers, housing providers, local businesses, community members, the Chamber of Commerce, Visit Estes, and the mayor’s office, the Estes Park CSG aims to foster a welcoming, safe, and culturally enriching experience for exchange visitors in Estes Park. These exchange visitors come to the United States through a cultural exchange program that includes a work component and is designed to promote mutual understanding between Americans and people from other countries.
Community Support Groups originated as a religious organizations’ outreach effort to offer friendship and weekly meals to exchange visitors and evolved into a structured organization. The group was formed to address threats to exchange visitor well-being, create resources to orient exchange visitors to the area, and continue the tradition of offering events that help integrate exchange visitors into the community and introduce them to American culture. Today, there are more than 15 CSGs across the United States, sharing a common mission while adapting to the unique needs of their communities. CSGs serve both exchange visitors and communities. They create safer, better-informed, and more culturally enriching programs for exchange visitors, while helping communities maintain a reliable seasonal workforce to support their tourism industry.
The Estes Park CSG will launch its first initiatives this summer with a welcome week, a World Cup party, and an Exchange Day event. The welcome week, beginning on June 15th, will feature a Community Fair where exchange visitors can learn about local resources, apply for Social Security numbers, and receive ID cards identifying them and their U.S. emergency contacts. The World Cup party, hosted by a local business, will celebrate how sports bring people together across cultures. The Exchange Day event, on August 3rd, will bring exchange visitors together for an afternoon of American barbecue, field day games, and volunteering. Future initiatives include educational resources, housing advocacy, and emergency preparedness.
The forum concluded with testimonials from community voices:
“I support this support group initiative completely. The exchange visitors are a critical part of Estes Park’s summer economy. We need them. We love to have them. They are wonderful for our town, both from a cultural standpoint and from a commerce standpoint,” said Mayor Gary Hall.
“I first came to Estes Park as an exchange visitor, and that experience truly shaped my life,” Amanda Moulden, Director of Talent Acquisition & International Programs at YMCA of the Rockies, said. “These programs create meaningful cultural exchange while also supporting the local workforce, and I’m proud to now support others in having that same opportunity.”
“Exchange visitors are a vital part of Estes Park,” said Kiley Jo Schroeder, Operations Manager for the Estes Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development and Workforce Council. “They support our businesses, they contribute to our economy, and they bring energy, diversity, and global perspective to our town.”
The CSG depends on community participation to thrive. You can support its work by joining the leadership team, hosting cultural activities, or donating goods or funds to its summer events. If you are interested in participating in any of these opportunities, please contact EstesPark@CSGNational.org.
