We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Haleigh & Maggie a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Haleigh & Maggie, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
Our optimism comes from a deep love for Denver and the different perspectives we each bring to it. Haleigh is a Denver native, Maggie moved here 5 years ago, and those lived experiences give us a really unique, well-rounded understanding of what it feels like to build a life here. Even though our paths into the city were completely different, the common thread has always been the same: we’ve both found big, deeply rooted friendships and a sense of community that has shaped our lives in meaningful ways.
Because we’ve each experienced Denver’s warmth firsthand, we know what’s possible here — and that’s where our optimism comes from. We believe, fully and genuinely, that the connections people are searching for already exist in this city. Sometimes all it takes is intentional space, the right vibe, and a little encouragement for those relationships to start forming. Creating those spaces through Denver&CO. feels less like building something new and more like opening the door to a community that’s already waiting to be found.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
At its core, Denver&CO. is about making connection feel easy, intentional, and genuinely fun. We create co-ed community experiences designed to help people find their “CO.” — whether that means company, collaboration, community, or Colorado itself. Our events are crafted to feel welcoming and real, not overly curated or exclusive. We want people to show up as themselves and walk away feeling like they found something meaningful — a new friend, a spark of inspiration, or simply a good time with good people.
Denver&CO. is also built to uplift and support the businesses within our local communities. While helping facilitate connection for individuals, we aim to champion the commerce that keeps Denver creative, vibrant, and ever-growing.
What feels most exciting about what we do is that we get to challenge the narrative that Denver is hard to make friends in. We’ve both experienced the opposite — big friendships, deep community, and room to grow in this city — and we love creating spaces where other people can discover that for themselves. Every event we host is built with intention and a lot of heart, and seeing strangers connect so naturally reminds us exactly why we started Denver&CO. in the first place.
We’re also thrilled about our upcoming event, Jingles & Jackpots, happening December 6 at Number 38. It’s a festive Casino Royale–themed night filled with live music, raffles, auctions, and holiday energy — with proceeds benefiting the Volo Kids Foundation. Details can be found on denverand.co, and we can’t wait to bring the community together for something this special.
Whether it’s a themed mixer, a watch party, or a full-scale holiday event, our goal is always the same: to make Denver feel smaller, warmer, and easier to connect in. We want people to know there’s a place for them here — and that they don’t have to navigate life in this city alone.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back (and forward!), the most impactful qualities in our journey have been our complementary skillsets, our shared passion for Denver, and our willingness to take risks.
We both come from professional backgrounds that naturally support what we’re building. Maggie brings experience in strategic operational growth and marketing while Haleigh comes from hospitality and brand marketing. Those strengths — combined with our curiosity and love for building community — gave us a solid foundation to launch Denver&CO. Finding a partner whose skills and values genuinely align with yours is one of the biggest advantages you can have. We’re grateful our paths crossed in a way that made both the personal and professional partnership feel easy and meaningful.
Another essential piece of this journey has been learning to take risks and bet on ourselves. It’s much easier said than done, and we’re still learning how to do it every day, but that bravery is what ultimately pushed Denver&CO. from an idea to something real. If you’re starting something of your own, give yourself permission to try, to experiment, and to trust your instincts. You don’t have to have everything figured out — you just have to be willing to move.
We’re still very much in the learning phases, and we’re excited about that. Growth, both personally and professionally, is what keeps this whole experience meaningful.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Absolutely — collaboration is at the heart of everything we do at Denver&CO. We believe that Denver’s creative pulse comes from the people who dream, build, and show up for this city, and we want to partner with the folks who feel that same energy.
We’re always looking to collaborate with local businesses, makers, artists, creators, musicians, venues, nonprofit organizations, and anyone who wants to build experiences that bring people together. Whether it’s donating a raffle item, co-hosting an event, creating something custom, or dreaming up an entirely new experience, we love working with people who care about community as much as we do.
Our goal is to highlight the incredible talent and creativity that already exists in Denver — and partnerships are one of the most powerful ways to do that. If you’re someone who has an idea, a service, a space, or a skill you want to bring to our community, we would truly love to hear from you.
The easiest way to connect with us is through our website or to email us at [email protected]. Our inbox is always open, and we’re excited to keep building this city’s community — together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.denverand.co
- Instagram: dnvrandco
- Other: TikTok: dnvrandco
Image Credits
Boxcar Photography
Felipe Garcia Media
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
