June 2026 Newsletter
Dear Colorado LiftED Community,
This issue opens with Omar Ibarra’s story, and I keep coming back to it. Omar walked through our doors at fourteen, still working out who he was. This year, he stood on the Threshold Gala stage and told all of us he’d found the answer — that LiftED pushed him to grow instead of folding under pressure. That’s the whole of our mission, lived out in one life.
It’s also been a season of real momentum. LiftED Futures’ summer programs are underway, full of new partners and new experiences for our youth. LiftED Horizons is expanding its reach, building on the early success of Restoring Futures with a new City of Denver partnership that will bring wraparound mental health support to youth at Lake Middle School. And as we grow, we’re saying a grateful goodbye to two people who helped build LiftED Horizons into what it is today — Sophie Silver and Lissette Uribe. Their fingerprints are all over this work, and we’re better for the years they gave us.
Thank you, as always, for being part of this community — for showing up, for giving generously, and for believing in what’s possible when young people get the support they need. Read on for more from across our programs.
Ever upward,
Kaye Taavialma, President & CEO
Mission Moment
A glimpse into what we do and why we do it.
At this year's Threshold Gala, Omar Ibarra stood on stage in front of the Colorado LiftED community and said thank you. But what struck the room wasn't just his gratitude — it was who he had become.
Omar has been asking himself a question for most of his life: Who am I?
He was 14 when he first joined LiftED. Sitting with his cohort, talking about social emotional skills, he went quiet — not because he was lost, but because something clicked. For the first time, he was in a space that felt like it was built for him to grow. He didn't have the words for it yet. But he kept coming back.
Year after year, Omar showed up. He volunteered. He served. He leaned into every experience LiftED put in front of him. And somewhere in all of that showing up, the answer to his question began to take shape. A helper. A learner. Someone genuine.
"LiftED has pushed me to thrive and to grow in the environment I'm in, instead of folding or giving in to pressure," he shared from the stage. "And with that realization, I have felt more free — more able to make decisions for myself and be my own person."
That journey — from a teenager quietly finding his footing to a young man standing confidently before his community — is exactly what this work is about.
Staff member Erin Fernandez, who presented the Catalyst Award, closed her remarks with a reflection from Doug Good Feather: "What comes naturally to us is our gift. The purpose of life is to give our gift away." Omar didn't just discover who he was inside of LiftED. He gave that discovery back — to the program and to the people around him.
This is why we do what we do. Because identity doesn't form in isolation. It forms over time, with the right support, in the right community. And when a young person finally sees themselves clearly — and chooses to step fully into that person — it changes everything.
We are so proud of you, Omar. Once a Dreamer, Always a Dreamer
Updates
LiftED Futures
June kicked off the launch of our full-day, seven-week summer programs!
The first week set a powerful tone for the season ahead as our 3rd–11th grade cohorts arrived eager to reconnect. Through team competitions, collaborative challenges, and games, our youth spent the opening days intentionally building a vibrant culture and a deep sense of belonging.
This summer’s packed lineup offers an incredible mix of joy, career discovery, and hands-on learning:
Epic Outings: Colorado Rockies games (sponsored by Alvarado Restaurant Nation), a Denver Zoo trip (sponsored by Saunders Construction), rock climbing, bowling, and visits to the Emerson campus and Kirkland Museum.
Creative & STEM Tracks: Robotics, entrepreneurship, fashion design, movie outings, and more!
We are deeply grateful to our amazing partners—Colorado Rapids Soccer, Destiny’s Denim, DU Rugby, Garver, Junior Achievement, Mad Science of Colorado, and WBA Arts—for creating these meaningful pathways for skill-building and fun.
The momentum and joy building across our programs is undeniable. Our youth are diving into new experiences, forming lifelong friendships, and making this summer truly unforgettable!
LiftED Horizons
The school year has wrapped, and our clinicians are doing the quiet, vital work of ensuring every client has a summer care plan—because mental health support doesn’t pause when school lets out. While summer brings a natural dip in session volume, we are using this time to recalibrate, invest in team learning, and prepare for August. This fall, LiftED Horizons will be expanding to provide therapy across six sites throughout Denver.
Scaling Our Impact
Restoring Futures Program: Launched in December 2024, this initiative has grown into an active partnership with over a dozen youth and families navigating chronic absenteeism and system involvement. We believe that when obstacles arise, there is always more to the story, and our youth deserve a team walking alongside them.
New Violence Prevention Partnership: This coming year, through a new partnership with the City of Denver focused on youth violence prevention, we are bringing intensive, wraparound mental health services to Lake Middle School in south-central Denver to support youth navigating or at risk of system involvement.
Program Transitions & Gratitude
This season, we want to recognize two team members who have shaped LiftED Horizons in lasting ways as they transition into their next chapters:
Sophie Silver, Therapeutic Services Manager
Sophie is stepping back after six years. She leaves behind a thriving therapy program and an internship pipeline she helped build from the ground up, having mentored over 40 emerging clinicians through her leadership.
Lissette Uribe, Associate Behavioral Health Therapist
From afterschool instructor to clinical intern, to the bilingual therapist who pioneered our Therapist in Community model at Ricardo Flores Magón Academy (RFMA), Lissette has made mental health care accessible and welcoming. She is moving into a role as a School Social Worker at RFMA, where we look forward to continuing our collaboration.
To both Sophie and Lissette—thank you, deeply, for your dedication to our youth and community!
Team Spotlight
Megan Gianinetti (She/her)
Behavioral Health Therapist, II
Megan supports youth and families through tough transitions with a steady, calming presence. An LSW trained in EMDR, she holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver. Her trauma-informed, collaborative approach is inspired by her time coaching volleyball, where she loved building youth confidence. Outside of work, Megan enjoys nature, volleyball, traveling, and reading Remarkably Bright Creatures or Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.
Rysa Bryan (They/Them)
Associate Behavioral Health Therapist
After serving as a Clinical Intern, Rysa has transitioned into a full-time role providing trauma-informed therapy grounded in trust, empathy, and cultural humility. They hold a Master’s in International Disaster Psychology from DU and use CBT and mindfulness to support youth through trauma and grief. Outside of work, Rysa enjoys traveling, the outdoors, photography, painting, and diving into books or Asian dramas.
Community Partner Spotlight
Colorado LiftED Foundation is grateful for the support and partnership of Rotbart Law LLC and founder Matthew Rotbart.
Since launching his Denver-based practice, Matt has been a generous supporter of our mission and an active advocate for the youth and families we serve.
Over the past year, Matt has played an integral role on our Gala Committee, helping plan and strengthen our annual fundraising event. His leadership, ideas, and commitment have helped make the Gala a meaningful celebration of our students' achievements while raising critical resources to support our programs.
Through Rotbart Law, Matt provides strategic legal counsel to businesses and individuals across a range of complex commercial litigation, employment, and real estate matters. He brings a thoughtful, solutions-oriented approach to his work and a deep commitment to serving the community.
We are proud to partner with Matt and Rotbart Law LLC and are grateful for their continued investment in Colorado LiftED Foundation. Thank you for helping create opportunities that empower youth to thrive, achieve their goals, and build brighter futures.
Win a Trip to Italy & Support Denver Youth
What if your next donation came with a chance to win a weeklong luxury getaway for six at a private villa in Lake Como, Italy (or a $5,000 cash option)?
We’ve launched the Lake Como Living Sweepstakes, and every entry directly funds our free youth programming and mental health services. Even better: enter this month and you will automatically receive 50% bonus entries at no extra cost!
The sweepstakes closes July 9, but the 50% bonus entries disappear at the end of June.
