Category: Organizations for social change

Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Solutions Summit in Jackson, WY

Mountain Towns 2030 Climate Solutions Summit on October 15-16, 2024 in Jackson, WY. Climate activist and author Ayana Elizabeth Johnson headlines this year’s summit, organized by Mountain Towns 2030, bringing together over 500 stakeholders from 60+ mountain communities. The summit, hosted at the Center for the Arts, will feature 30+ breakout sessions focused on climate action, clean energy, and collaboration. Keynote speakers include EPA’s KC Becker, Indigenous leader,James Rattling Leaf, and Benji Backer of the American Conservation Coalition. The event will close with a discussion between Ari Matusiak, CEO of Rewiring America, and David Roberts,host of the Volts podcast.

Meet Pepper Pong

Pepper Pong, an innovative game created in Denver, emerged from Tom Filippini’s journey of overcoming addiction and mental health challenges. Positioned between the complexities of ping pong and the simplicity of pickleball, Pepper Pong offers a unique, fun, and accessible experience for everyone.

Advocating for Arts Education: A Call to Support Fiscal Year 2025 Initiatives

“Advocates push for increased funding and policy reforms to bolster arts education in American schools. Urging Congress to support initiatives like the ‘Arts Education for All’ bill, they highlight the transformative impact of arts learning on student engagement and well-being. With a focus on equity and access, these efforts aim to nurture creativity and inclusivity in education.”

Liz Lawrence

Liz Lawrence, a talented designer based in Colorado Springs, channels her passion into her brand, Lizigns. With a focus on graphic and fashion design, Liz creates wearable art by repurposing thrifted finds. Overcoming challenges as a Black female designer, she emphasizes the importance of authenticity in her work. Liz recently launched Been Thrifty Vintage Mystery Boxes, curating personalized thrifted items. Committed to supporting the Black community, she advocates for genuine connections and inclusive opportunities. Discover her designs and unique approach to creativity at Lizigns.

Start Where You Stand, Support The Cultural Enrichment Center

Jamal Skinner, founder and Executive Director of FoCo Cultural Enrichment Center asks, “Initially, I challenge the community. 170,000 people are living in this community. Probably point zero-zero-2% of that are Black teenagers. So my idea is, can we find 1% of 170,000 people who are willing to contribute $5 a month?”

Big Trouble Little Dumpling Opens with Socially Distanced Driveway Soup Kitchen

If you ask Sam Graf, he’ll tell you dumplings are the perfect food. In fact, he’ll tell you he doesn’t think he’s met anybody who doesn’t like dumplings. This isn’t an idle statement. Graf will also tell you how the dumplings he cooks in his driveway never stick around for long.

Graf has spent ten years exploring dumpling houses. Growing up, he ate potstickers, typically the frozen ones. His first taste of an authentic Asian dumpling was in New York City, in a counter shop lined by steam tables filled with dumplings. You pick out a bunch and they go into a box. From Chicago dim sum to SoHo, Graf has sampled dumplings in big cities and dumplings cooked in shacks to experience the art form. Learning along the way, it reaffirmed he was on the right track but still had to taste more.

RamaMama restaurateur gets what he needs, if not what he wanted

After the pandemic’s arrival and abrupt shutdowns, Lawyer used the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program to float payroll for his core employee base. But when the non-profit Homeward Alliance reached out with a plan to provide two meals daily to homeless people at the Northside Aztland Center in downtown FOCO, he found an opportunity to coordinate with the rescue mission and Catholic Charities to minimize the downtown FOCO homeless population footprint. For 68 day days straight — the beginning of April and into June —, he woke at 4:30 each morning to prepare individually boxed, ready to serve meals. A tight budget required menu creativity, and with little to no employees, he pulled it all together. Lawyer said he was lucky to have the equipment and the commissary — the hub of his company’s food truck and catering operations.

Fort Collins is the Startup City Built on Rock-n-Roll

Fort Collins, Colorado is a collaborative, non-competitive, startup music city without a big ego. Fort Collins is a city built for musicians by musicians. For over ten years, musicians laid the groundwork for the next golden era of “musicprenuers“ by constructing an ecosystem built on encouragement, support, and empowerment. This shifts the paradigm and disrupts the music industry systems of the past.

Grassroot Soccer Zambia Harnesses the Power of Soccer to Educate

Grassroot Soccer-Zambia: This is a NGO (Non Governmental Organization) in Lusaka, Zambia that educates youth about positive choices while using the power of sport. The messages learned in soccer can translate over to other areas of the children’s lives. Using the power of soccer to make a change they can reduce HIV dramatically in the community. HIV is 100% preventable, and Grassroot Soccer plans to teach the youth how.

Bike Zambia 6: Ending HIV/AIDS, Empowering Women, and Girls in Zambia

Bike Zambia 6: Ending HIV/AIDS, Empowering Women, and Girls in Zambia

Bike Zambia, a 350+ mile ride across Africa, aims to combat HIV/AIDS and empower women and girls. Now in its sixth year, the event has raised over $650,000 for organizations like World Bicycle Relief, Grassroot Soccer-Zambia, and Zambia Health Education and Communication Trust. Riders raise $4000 each, supporting access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities through bicycles. The ride, organized by Chooda, takes place from June 29 to July 9, 2017. Participants visit Lusaka to build and distribute Buffalo Bicycles, highlighting the transformative power of reliable transportation in impoverished communities.