Celebrating Pride Month at Wind Crest

In June, residents and employees at Wind Crest, a continuing care retirement community developed and managed by Erickson Living, joined together in celebration of LGBTQ Pride Month. 

Beginning outside the community's Town Center clubhouse, a large and happy crowd kicked off a parade around Wind Crest's scenic 84-acre campus. Participants and spectators wore masks and practiced appropriate social distancing as they wove their way through the Mill Vista, The High Line Overlook, and Colorado neighborhoods, waving colorful Pride flags and homemade signs. Spectacular, sunny Colorado weather made for perfect conditions to enjoy the day with friends and neighbors. 

"The joy and love that was experienced is beyond words," said Jenn Anderson, Wind Crest's sales associate. "I'm still flying high with love in my heart."

Special event

The parade was hosted by Wind Crest's Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which works to build awareness, increase understanding, and promote a culture of respect and caring that embraces the richness of Wind Crest's diverse community members and employees. Dottie Wolcott, who facilitates the group and helped to organize the parade, says that everyone on campus played a role in making the special event a success.

"It was just wonderful, more than I expected," Dottie says. "We had a lot of resident participation, staff participation; every department had some sort of contribution. It was so nice to see many of the dining servers and health care workers come out, giving us that energy, dancing, decorating the golf carts, chalk-drawing on the sidewalks. It was marvelous."

'Everyone was so welcoming'

Dottie moved to Wind Crest from Boulder with her spouse last April and quickly joined the Diversity and Inclusion group.

"We felt comfortable here right away; everyone was so welcoming," she says. "And the parade really reinforced that. People are willing to work together, be accepting. It's just wonderful the support we get. Our group continues to grow with an active and energetic membership."

That energy was palpable on the day of the parade.

"It was just happiness. Everyone was cheerful and laughing," says Dottie. "It was so powerful. It's beyond words, how I feel."

To learn more about vibrant retirement at Wind Crest, request a free brochure today.