DENVER - Kids living in Denver's projects, in Sun Valley, know it best: Finding a positive role model, regardless of where you live, takes a lot of time and a lot of trust.

Frankly, life in the projects isn't easy.

"It's rough out here," said Paulette Ellerbee, a parent who lives in the Sun Valley neighborhood of West Denver. "It's district 1, some of the roughest communities with the highest crime level here."

With most families in the Sun Valley neighborhood living in poverty, crime and gang-related activity usually comes with the territory, according to parents. Role models are a hard thing to find.

So when Kris Rollerson stepped into this neighborhood as a stranger, promising an afterschool activity that would provide a positive, safe place for kids, it was natural for some parents to be a bit skeptical.

Nine years later, Kris and a team of volunteers have proved the skeptics wrong.

"I just believe that God called me to do this, and you can't say no to your calling," said Kris Rollerson, a volunteer and activity coordinator at Sun Valley Youth Center. "If your calling is to love and serve kids, no other questions asked, then that's what I need to do."

Sun Valley opens shortly after the end of the school day, when students head home from classes. The day begins with a half hour of time to run around in the park or play on the basketball court before the kids settle down for homework and reading lessons.

"This community is so rough, and she has absolutely all the patience in the world with them," said Ellerbee. "I don't know what I would do without her. I've been [in this neighborhood] for two and a half years, and if it wasn't for her, I don't think I would be able to make it."

One of the reasons Rollerson is such a blessing to parents is because many of them dropped out of school themselves when they were younger. At the same time, some parents don't have the confidence to show their children how to read or finish a complicated math problem. Kris is there in their stead.

"Kris and [other volunteers] have helped me with academics," said Annette Espinoza, 12, who's visited Sun Valley for six years. "They've helped me stay out of what other kids are doing at my age right now, with gangs and everything. It's helped me stay on track."

Annette is one of about 60 kids, kindergarten through high school, who visit the Sun Valley Youth Center every week. During the summer, the center opens into a full time day shelter for neighborhood kids.

"It's not just about homework," said Rollerson. "It's about all the life issues they come up with. We're trying to step in and help them wherever we can.

"Hopefully, we can build that relationship with those kids and when there's any life crisis, whether it's something like a fight at home or even boyfriend and girlfriend problems, we can step in and help. That's what it's really all about for me."

The youth center is located near Rude Park on the corner of Decatur Street and West Holden Place in Denver.