August 2026 Newsletter
Dear Colorado LiftED Community,
As I sit down to reflect on where we are and where we’re headed, I’m filled with so much gratitude and momentum. Looking back at everything our team has accomplished over the past year, I am especially proud of the impact made through LiftED Horizons, our clinical program which reached nearly 6,000 total client touches and served over 500 more individuals than last year. Expanding this work to offer Spanish-language, community-affirming, and trauma-responsive care has allowed us to strip away systemic barriers and meet families right where they are.
Alongside this mental health milestone, the energy around our LiftED Futures afterschool programs is incredible. We are on the brink of launching across Metro Denver, including our new partnerships at Westwood Community Center, Ricardo Flores Magón Academy, Blossom House, DSST: Green Valley Ranch, and MSU Denver.
I am so excited for what’s to come as we continue bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world opportunities, fostering deep connections, and empowering the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers. Thank you for your continued vision, partnership, and unwavering support as we step into this next chapter together.
Ever onward, always upward.Ever onward, always upward.
Kaye Taavialma, President & CEO
Mission Moment
A glimpse into what we do and why we do it.
This summer, our high school students visited Emerson's Boulder campus for an immersive career exploration experience, including a tour of the company's Flow Innovation Center. Throughout the day, students learned how innovation, technology, and teamwork come together to solve real-world challenges while gaining firsthand insight into the wide range of careers that make Emerson successful.
Youth connected with professionals across the organization, including engineering, information technology, human resources, legal, and marketing. These conversations helped our young people learn about different pathways into a global technology company and how every role plays an important part in driving innovation.
As one youth shared, "It was really cool hearing that people at Emerson work all over the world. I didn't know you could do something like that."
Experiences like these help bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace, giving young people the opportunity to ask questions, build connections, and envision their own future careers.
Colorado LiftED is grateful for the continued partnership of Emerson Automation Solutions and their Denver-Boulder team. Through both financial support and meaningful career exploration opportunities, Emerson continues to expand what's possible for the youth we serve, and we're thankful for their investment in inspiring the next generation of leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers.
Updates
LiftED Futures
Exciting News: Fall Afterschool Programs are Almost Here!
July wrapped up with a huge wave of energy as our teams prepped to launch Afterschool Programs across four Metro Denver sites this fall. Coming off a summer filled with discovery and creativity, our youth and families are already buzzing about what’s ahead—and our staff has been hard at work setting the stage for an incredible year.
Where We’ll Be Serving This Fall: We are thrilled to welcome students across five tailored site locations:
Westwood Opportunity Center (WWOC): Serving 3rd–8th graders
Ricardo Flores Magón Academy (RFMA): Serving 1st–8th graders (New this year!)
Blossom House (BH) & DSST: Green Valley Ranch (GVR): Serving 9th–11th graders
Metro State University (MSU): Serving our 12th-grade cohort (New this year!)
Expanding to RFMA and MSU marks a major milestone for our organization. These new partnerships open up brand-new pathways for youth to learn, lead, and thrive right in their own community.
Built on Connection & Community Culture: All summer long, our site teams focused on intentional planning, building key local partnerships, and organizing family events that foster deep belonging. Every experience on the calendar was curated directly around youth voice and local culture—ensuring our programs offer meaningful opportunities from day one.
Mark Your Calendars: Launch Dates The countdown is officially on!
Monday, August 31: RFMA Launch
Tuesday, September 8: WWOC, BH, and GVR Launch
The energy across our entire team is electric right now. Stay tuned for next month’s update to see how our launch weeks unfold—we can’t wait to share the joy and momentum ahead!
LiftED Horizons
Reaching New Heights in Client Care
July closed out with 245 points of client contact across our school and community sites. Looking back, we wrapped up FY26 with nearly 6,000 total touchpoints—an incredible 500 more than last year! This growth means everything to us: year after year, more Denver youth and families are finding their way to the care they deserve.
Back-to-School Readiness & Sharper Access Now at the midpoint of August, our team is hard at work getting summer-break clients back on the schedule while welcoming new referrals. While we managed to clear our entire waitlist over the summer, we expect that opening to be brief!
To keep care both affordable and accessible, we’ve expanded our coverage:
New In-Network Providers: Cigna & Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
Continued Coverage: All Medicaid RAEs + flexible Sliding Fee Scale Options
Every new network we add strips away another barrier between our community and the mental health support they need.
A Growing Team Built for Our Community: Our clinical team continues to expand to meet the moment:
Welcoming New Faces: 3 final interns joined us this week, alongside 2 new Clinical Directors leading our services and clinical education!
Back on Campus: Our Therapists in Community are gearing up for day one of classes, while clinicians at our Southwest and Far Northeast Denver sites continue seeing clients as usual.
Expanded Language Access: We have increased capacity to deliver services in Spanish across the organization this year!
Six years in, this is the most diverse, representative clinical team we’ve ever had—allowing us to show up with identity-affirming, trauma-responsive care for the kids and families who need it most.
Team Spotlight
We're excited to share some great news — our team is growing! Please join us in welcoming some new faces to the family. Take a look below and help us give them a warm welcome!
Community Partner Spotlight
Colorado LiftED Foundation is thrilled to recognize the Denver office of WilmerHale! Beyond their generous grant funding and in-kind support, their team stepped up big in July to bring a long-time vision of ours to life.
Building Self-Care Backpacks Side-by-Side: Over 20 WilmerHale volunteers worked directly alongside our high school students to assemble self-care backpacks for youth entering our fall after-school programs. Every single item inside—from journals, water bottles, and fidgets to pens, pencils, and stickers—was generously donated by WilmerHale's Denver team!
More than standard school supplies, these packs are curated to encourage:
Self-Reflection & Creativity
Resilience & Healthy Coping Skills
Belonging
What made the day especially meaningful was seeing WilmerHale employees and our high school students working side by side to prepare these backpacks for younger youth. It was a powerful reminder that strong communities are built through service, connection, and a shared commitment to helping the next generation succeed.
We are grateful to WilmerHale for their continued partnership and for helping turn this vision into reality. Their investment extends far beyond financial support—it reflects a genuine commitment to strengthen the communities they serve and create brighter futures for Colorado's youth.
