YCD Changemakers Gala 2025: Dream Loud, Stand Proud

It is no secret there are powerful forces in our society actively working to shut down youth-led activism and education for social progress on numerous fronts. While so many institutions around our country are bowing to the pressure, our youth are standing strong in their determination for a better future. We invite you to stand with them at this critical moment!

Through our innovative, youth-led chapter model, YCD programs have served over 1,800 youth across Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and six other states in the past year. We now have over 100 active chapters across the country, with trained youth leaders organizing their communities, building their skills, and engaging in the important dialogue and work needed to realize an inclusive and equitable future. YCD chapters have recently finished their youth-designed action projects -- conducting important service, advocacy or education in their communities on the inclusion and justice issues they have identified.

Examples of projects completed in 2025 include:

• YCD Boulder presented for health professionals, educators, and students at the Shared Risks and Protective Factors Summit in Pueblo on consensus building and power-sharing between teens and adults.
• The Brighton Youth Commission, a YCD chapter, hosted SPEAK Week (Suicide Prevention, Education, Awareness and Knowledge), a youth-led series of events promoting awareness in the community and among peers about the warning signs of suicide and resources for those who are struggling with mental health.
• YCD Canon City created a project around social media use and misuse for their school community.
• YCD Center hosted a diversity conference planned by high school students for both middle and high school students.
• YCD Colorado Springs hosted an inclusive prom, to give queer youth a space to engage in this important youth ritual.
• YCD Columbine (Littleton) worked with Sun Valley Kitchen to volunteer and address issues of food insecurity.
• YCD Crested Butte created an affinity space for LGBTQ+ youth to nurture their identity, belonging, and mental health.
• YCD D.C. Oakes (Castle Rock) created a new Social Issues class, where students learn more about leadership, ethics, social justice, and restorative practices. In one quarter, this group established a protocol to improve response to undesired behaviors that aligns better with other systems in their school; conducted Community Circles with the whole school, and led a Restorative Circle following a classroom incident.
• YCD Denver Public Library hosted two interactive sessions led by YCD alumni at two different branches to help current high school students become more civically engaged and to know their rights.
• YCD Fort Collins created an event to educate 8th grade students on how to navigate high school, especially for students with marginalized identities.
• YCD Fort Morgan students shared they are feeling particularly unsafe right now with a strong ICE presence in Fort Morgan, making students and their families feel particularly anxious. Over the course of the next few weeks, they gathered together and shared what brings them joy as a way of passive resistance to the fear and anxiety they are feeling.
• The Jeffco Student Leadership Board, a YCD chapter, hosted a one-day student-led leadership conference that was inspired by YCD's work and events.
• YCD Mead hosted monthly speakers on various topics, culminating in a Fiesta de Los Flores lunch.
• In partnership with the Parks and Recreation department, YCD Nederland created an art installation in parks in Nederland called Listen Longer, providing park users with space to nurture relationships and to listen across difference.
• YCD Roaring Fork students developed a districtwide student perception survey in conjunction with school district leaders to amplify student voices and improve the quality of life for all students in the Roaring Fork Valley. They saw a need to increase representation of Latino students in AP classes so they spoke to rising 9th graders and their families about how to prepare for these classes. These students also create intentional connection spaces for ESL students and native English speaking students taking Spanish classes to address issues of concern within their school.
• YCD Summit County students created “We Belong” events to help students connect across differences. When phones were taken away from students across the district, YCD students used this as an opportunity to reengage students IRL during lunch and other free times.

We invite you to show your support for youth changemaking, by contributing to our annual fundraising campaign The YCD Changemakers Gala: Dream Loud and Stand Proud.

Join us for this special gathering to honor community and alumni changemakers paving the way for young people today; to celebrate the remarkable work done by YCD youth over the past year; and to hear from our special keynote speaker Soledad O'Brien! Tickets purchased for this unique event include a reception, catered dinner, silent auction, and cultural performances at a beautiful venue. Sponsorship opportunities at a variety of levels are available for companies, organizations, and families to show their support of youth-led changemaking. For those unable to join us in-person, we invite you to donate to demonstrate your support of youth changemakers! Use the buttons on this page to make your pledge.

Contact YCD's Executive Director Caleb Munro with any questions at (720) 507-0746 or cmunro@ycdiversity.org.