Perspectives

Featured Story

Jess Ervin-Adkins

August 13, 2024

Listen Up: Families who Receive Public Benefits Can Improve this System

From Jess Ervin-Adkins

Want to improve our social safety net systems? Start by listening to the families who receive public benefits, says Jess Ervin-Adkins, who solicits feedback for our MyFriendBen benefits screening tool on a weekly basis.

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What’s New

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$900,000 in grant funding distributed towards support for multilingual learners and increasing family affordability through tax credits.

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Since 2022, Denver’s SIPPRA program has secured 29,459 days of housing for participants.

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Happy African American high school student walking through hallway with her friends and looking at camera.

Colorado has unique opportunity to design a coordinated system that meets the needs of kids and families before they fall into crisis.

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If you live in Denver, you could be saving thousands on vital preschool services every year.

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Jess Ervin-Adkins

Want to improve the social safety net? Start by listening.

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School of Breaking

9News: My Spark is a program that gives kids an opportunity to experience activities they normally would not have access to.

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Dearfield Fund homeowners

The Black and African American community is filled with assets that have always grown over time. Listen as four Dearfield Fund homeowners share their enriching stories of homeownership.

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MyFriendBen is a fast, simple, and anonymous way to connect to public benefits in just six minutes. Learn more about this Colorado program making a difference.

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School of Breaking

What if we looked beyond measuring problems associated with youth mental health? What if we spoke about youth as they see themselves — whole and capable? This shift could transform how we provide services, funding, programs & policies.

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Might taking a strengths-based approach with young people — one that reaches them early — prevent poor mental health outcomes before they rise to the level of crisis, giving our youth more opportunities to thrive in the process?

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ResilienceVC sees the crisis of increasing financial vulnerability among Americans as an unserved market and therefore a market opportunity.

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Starting Spring 2025, Colorado’s lower-income families could receive an average of $2,500 per year under a state-level child tax credit.

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Case Studies for Impact

As we listen with humility to our community, partners, and each other,  we learn together to drive action that guarantees School Readiness, drives Youth Success, and stimulates Family Economic Mobility. Whether we’re leveraging impact investments, grants, new ventures or Policy and advocacy, we dare to be bold, working urgently with our community and partners to deliver a future where all Colorado kids can grow up healthy and reach their full potential.

Learn more about the breakthrough solutions below that are reshaping the arc of opportunity for kids and families in Colorado.

Rear View Of Family Standing Outside New Home On Moving Day Looking At House

COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project

Outcome Area:
Family Economic Mobility
Approach: Grantmaking

Preventing mass evictions and homelessness during and after the pandemic.

beautiful happy boy with painted hands

Colorado Emergency Childcare Collaborative

Outcome Area: School Readiness
Approach: New Ventures

Providing free childcare to essential workers during the pandemic.

Yes on Amendment B Ballot Measure

Outcome Area:
Family Economic Mobility
Approach:
Policy & Advocacy

Protecting teachers, first responders and small businesses during the pandemic.

The RISE Fund

Outcome Area: Youth Success
Approach: Grantmaking

Helping academic institutions rebound from the COVID crisis and create equitable innovations to improve student learning.

COVIDCheck Colorado

Outcome Areas:
School Readiness & Youth Success
Approach: New Ventures

Creating safe schools for students, teachers and staff during the pandemic.

YES on Proposition EE Ballot Measure

Outcome Area: School Readiness
Approach: Policy & Advocacy

Building a coalition to expand free preschool to every 4-year-old.

Female Owner Of Start Up Coffee Shop Or Restaurant Turning Round Open Sign On Door

Apis & Heritage Capital Partners Fund

Outcome Area:
Family Economic Mobility
Approach: Impact Investing

Helping workers of color own their own futures.

Urban Land Conservancy

Outcome Area:
Family Economic Mobility
Approach: New Ventures

Leveraging valuable real estate to create equitable communities in Colorado.

Denver Preschool Program

Outcome Area: School Readiness
Approach
: Policy & Advocacy

Pioneering childhood education in Colorado.

Learn Start II

Outcome Area: School Readiness
Approach: Impact Investing

Creating the largest, most detailed pipeline of global education technology companies.

Tax Help & Get Ahead Colorado

Outcome Area: Family Economic Mobility
Approach: New Ventures

Increasing access to free tax preparation services and tax credits for families.

Discover New Possibilities

Together, we will create the change our community wants to see. Whether you want to discover more about our ventures, or connect with a member of our team, we want to hear from you.