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The Colorado Project

The Colorado Project serves as a state platform for deliberation focused on challenging issues affecting Colorado. Each year, the Scrivner Institute and the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs will convene a politically and geographically diverse group of civic, political, and private sector leaders to focus intensively on a core series of locally salient public policy challenges. Each group will put civil discourse into action, and work together to produce a set of comprehensive, collaborative policy recommendations to address the challenge. The goal is to establish common ground in order to move forward with practical solutions geared toward the public good. View the inaugural Colorado Project report here.

If you are interested in learning more about the Colorado Project, contact [email protected].

 

Colorado Project 2.0 - Rural Renaissance

We're excited to announce the next phase of the Colorado Project 2.0: Rural Renaissance — a community effort to lift up how the future of Colorado is being shaped in our rural communities, exemplifying their strength and fortitude through innovation, collaboration, and impact-driven action. Over the next two years, we will embark on a statewide Rural Renaissance Learning Tour, uncovering and scaling the most promising economic, workforce, and sustainability solutions emerging from Colorado’s rural communities. Thanks to the support of the LOR Foundation, the Gates Family Foundation, and others this project is spinning up to take on the big questions in rural Colorado. This is not just about research; it's about action—connecting urban and rural leaders, shaping policy, and elevating rural Colorado as a national model of resilience and innovation.

Colorado Project 2.0 will build off of the findings and recommendations in the inaugural Colorado Project report.

The Learning Tour

In the next year, The Colorado Project will visit communities in the Eastern Plains, Southern Colorado, and Mountain Resort Communities with virtual convenings throughout. In these convenings we will hear from local leaders and community partners about their most exciting innovations, collaborations, and breakthroughs aligned to The Colorado Project categories. It will be an incredible learning and discussion with some of Colorado's most forward-thinking leaders.

Learning Tour Dates & Locations

  • Sterling & Northeast CO: June 17-18, 2025
  • Alamosa & the San Luis Valley: August 14-15, 2025
  • Steamboat Springs & the Yampa Valley: October 9-10, 2025

*Note: As a part of the Colorado Project, Rocky Mountain Partnership Cradle to Career is sponsoring two youth in each region to fully participate. Learn more here

Colorado Project 2.0 Collaborators

Conveners: 

  • Scrivner Institute of Public Policy
  • Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs, University of Denver

Project Team: 

  • Fritz Mayer, Dean, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs
  • Naazneen Barma, Denver, Director, Scrivner Institute of Public Policy; Professor, Korbel School
  • Jack Becker, Colorado Project Leader, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs
  • Katie Aker, Assistant Director, Scrivner Institute of Public Policy, University of Denver
  • Sage Brewer, Manager of Strategic Initiatives, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs
  • Grace Luhanga, Graduate Student, University of Denver
  • Mattie Embrey, Student, University of Denver

Participants: 

  • Mindy Baumgardner, Rural Outreach Specialist, Colorado Department of Law
  • Jason Bertolacci, Chief of Staff, Thiry-O’Leary Foundation
  • Sara Butler, Director, Empower Schools
  • Susan Daggett, Professor of the Practice of Law & Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute, University of Denver Sturm College of Law
  • Ella Donovan, Josef Korbel School, University of Denver
  • Ashley Edinger, Senior Director of Strategic Supports, Rocky Mountain Partnership Cradle to Career
  • Lisandra Gonzales, CEO, Rocky Mountain Partnership Cradle to Career
  • Bill Jaeger, Strategic Initiatives Officer, LOR Foundation
  • Michael King, Assistant Director of Electrification & Energy, Colorado Department of Transportation
  • Colin Lacy, Founder & CEO, Homegrown Pathways
  • Javi Lomeli, Community Engagement Coordinator, Kids At Their Best
  • Jessica Maiorca, Senior Consultant for WIOA and Policy Innovation, Colorado Workforce Development Council
  • Ashley Maestas, SLV Pathways Director, The Attainment Network
  • Landon Mascarenaz, Chair, State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education, and Executive Director of Courageous Colorado 
  • Aaron Miltenberger, President/CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of the San Luis Valley
  • Rodney Milton, Executive Director, Urban Land Institute (ULI) Colorado
  • Meredith Moon, Director of Research, Institute of Evidence-based Policymaking
  • Becca Montgomery
  • Natalie Montecino, Stanford University / Climate Democracy Initiative
  • Karen Quanbeck, Vice President of Implementation, Colorado Education Initiative
  • Joe Rice, Director of State & Local Government Relations, Lockheed Martin Space
  • Jake Rissler, Vice President of Advancement, Adams State University
  • Emily Spahn, Principal, Sage Messaging
  • Lola Spradley, President, Huerfano County Economic Development
  • Lee Steinke, Chief Operating Officer / Partner, CisLunar Industries / Elara Nova Space Consultancy
  • Jacob Topping, Southeastern Colorado Regional Representative, Office of U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
  • Chad Vorthmann, Government Relations Representative, Lockheed Martin Space
  • Kurt Walker, Pine Canyon Ranch
  • Sam Walker, Executive in Residence, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser
  • Matthew Walter, Senior Aide, Denver City Council (District 5)
  • Michael Whitehorn, Principal, Mac Group Consulting
  • Heidi Williams, President & CEO / Executive Director, Civic Results / Metro Mayors Caucus
  • Tookie Wilson, Colorado Forum
  • Vanessa Soliz, Northeastern Junior College
  • Kaylee Romero, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority

Colorado Project 1.0 - Inclusive & Sustainable Growth

In 2023, the Colorado Project convened a group of 32 community and policy leaders from throughout Colorado to design a pragmatic strategy to catalyze sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the state. The group took a comprehensive and high-level approach, working together to show how different policy dimensions – from sustainable water and energy use to addressing our workforce and housing challenges – are connected and how we can use those connections to build a more sustainable and more prosperous future for all.

Download the 2023 Colorado Project report here.

In the media:

Conveners: 

Scrivner Institute of Public Policy

Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs

University of Denver

Co-Chairs: 

  • Steve ErkenBrack, Grand Junction, President & CEO, Buell Foundation
  • Lisandra Gonzales, Thornton, CEO, Rocky Mountain Partnership
  • Gloria Schoch, Denver*, Executive Director, The VF Foundation

Project Team: 

  • Fritz Mayer, Denver, Dean, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs
  • Naazneen Barma, Denver, Director, Scrivner Institute of Public Policy; Professor, Korbel School
  • Becca Montgomery, Denver, Director of Democracy and Civil Discourse Initiatives, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs and Scrivner Institute of Public Policy
  • Katie Aker, Denver, Assistant Director, Scrivner Institute of Public Policy
  • Jacob Topping, Denver, Research Assistant, Master of Public Policy Student, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs

Collaborators: 

  • Bruce Alexander, Denver, President and CEO, Vectra Bank
  • Kathy Boe, Colorado Springs, Founder, Boecore
  • Kimball Crangle, Steamboat, Colorado Market President, Gorman & Company, LLC
  • Susan Daggett, Denver, Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute
  • Jim Ehrlich, San Luis Valley, Executive Director, Colorado Potato Administrative Committee
  • Molly Fales, Carbondale, Staff Attorney, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust
  • Carlos Fernandez, Boulder, Colorado State Director, The Nature Conservancy
  • Tom Gougeon, Denver, President, Gates Family Foundation
  • Jill Hawley, Denver, Vice President of Philanthropy and Policy, Gary Community Ventures
  • Sarah Hughes, Edwards, Chair, Colorado Commission on Higher Education
  • Sue Hansen, Montrose, Montrose County Commissioner
  • Hollie Velasquez Horvath, Denver, Regional Vice President, Xcel Energy
  • JB Holston, Denver, Consultant on Sustainable and Inclusive Growth
  • Elise Jones, Boulder*, Executive Director, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP)
  • Zaneta Kelsey, Denver, CEO, Access Mode
  • Jim Lochhead, Denver, Former CEO, Denver Water
  • Jack Johnston, Montrose, CEO, Delta Montrose Electric Association
  • Hallie Mahowald, Salida, Chief Programs Officer, Western Landowners Alliance
  • Jerilynn Martinez Francis, Denver, Chief Communications and Community Partnerships Officer, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA)
  • Landon Mascareñaz, Denver, Chair, State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education & Co-Founder of The Open System Institute
  • Jackie Millet, Lone Tree, Mayor, Lone Tree
  • Andy Mueller, Glenwood Springs, General Manager, Colorado River Water Conservation District
  • Rodney Milton, Denver, Executive Director, Urban Land Institute
  • Donald Moore, Pueblo, CEO, Pueblo Community Health Center
  • Amanda Sandoval, Denver, Member, Denver City Council
  • Jay Seaton, Grand Junction, Publisher, Grand Junction Sentinel
  • Sam Walker, Denver, Executive in Residence, Attorney General Phil Weiser
  • Mike Washington, Aurora, Consultant on DEI, HDR Engineering
  • Bonnie Watson, Telluride, CEO, Energize Colorado
  • Helen Young Hayes, Denver, Founder and CEO, Activate Work
  • Thank you also to Lisa Kauffman, Senior Strategic Advisor for Governor Polis, and Eve Lieberman, Executive Director, Office of Economic Development and International Trade, for their thoughtful engagement and contribution to this process.

Thank you to the generous supporters of the Colorado Project: Walton Family Foundation, Social Sciences Foundation, and individual supporters of the Korbel School's civil discourse programming. 

In 2023, the Colorado Project convened a group of 32 community and policy leaders from throughout Colorado to design a pragmatic strategy to catalyze sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the state. The group took a comprehensive and high-level approach, working together to show how different policy dimensions – from sustainable water and energy use to addressing our workforce and housing challenges – are connected and how we can use those connections to build a more sustainable and more prosperous future for all.

Download the 2023 Colorado Project report here.

In the media:

Conveners: 

Scrivner Institute of Public Policy

Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs

University of Denver

Co-Chairs: 

  • Steve ErkenBrack, Grand Junction, President & CEO, Buell Foundation
  • Lisandra Gonzales, Thornton, CEO, Rocky Mountain Partnership
  • Gloria Schoch, Denver*, Executive Director, The VF Foundation

Project Team: 

  • Fritz Mayer, Denver, Dean, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs
  • Naazneen Barma, Denver, Director, Scrivner Institute of Public Policy; Professor, Korbel School
  • Becca Montgomery, Denver, Director of Democracy and Civil Discourse Initiatives, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs and Scrivner Institute of Public Policy
  • Katie Aker, Denver, Assistant Director, Scrivner Institute of Public Policy
  • Jacob Topping, Denver, Research Assistant, Master of Public Policy Student, Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs

Collaborators: 

  • Bruce Alexander, Denver, President and CEO, Vectra Bank
  • Kathy Boe, Colorado Springs, Founder, Boecore
  • Kimball Crangle, Steamboat, Colorado Market President, Gorman & Company, LLC
  • Susan Daggett, Denver, Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute
  • Jim Ehrlich, San Luis Valley, Executive Director, Colorado Potato Administrative Committee
  • Molly Fales, Carbondale, Staff Attorney, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust
  • Carlos Fernandez, Boulder, Colorado State Director, The Nature Conservancy
  • Tom Gougeon, Denver, President, Gates Family Foundation
  • Jill Hawley, Denver, Vice President of Philanthropy and Policy, Gary Community Ventures
  • Sarah Hughes, Edwards, Chair, Colorado Commission on Higher Education
  • Sue Hansen, Montrose, Montrose County Commissioner
  • Hollie Velasquez Horvath, Denver, Regional Vice President, Xcel Energy
  • JB Holston, Denver, Consultant on Sustainable and Inclusive Growth
  • Elise Jones, Boulder*, Executive Director, Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP)
  • Zaneta Kelsey, Denver, CEO, Access Mode
  • Jim Lochhead, Denver, Former CEO, Denver Water
  • Jack Johnston, Montrose, CEO, Delta Montrose Electric Association
  • Hallie Mahowald, Salida, Chief Programs Officer, Western Landowners Alliance
  • Jerilynn Martinez Francis, Denver, Chief Communications and Community Partnerships Officer, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA)
  • Landon Mascareñaz, Denver, Chair, State Board for Community Colleges and Occupational Education & Co-Founder of The Open System Institute
  • Jackie Millet, Lone Tree, Mayor, Lone Tree
  • Andy Mueller, Glenwood Springs, General Manager, Colorado River Water Conservation District
  • Rodney Milton, Denver, Executive Director, Urban Land Institute
  • Donald Moore, Pueblo, CEO, Pueblo Community Health Center
  • Amanda Sandoval, Denver, Member, Denver City Council
  • Jay Seaton, Grand Junction, Publisher, Grand Junction Sentinel
  • Sam Walker, Denver, Executive in Residence, Attorney General Phil Weiser
  • Mike Washington, Aurora, Consultant on DEI, HDR Engineering
  • Bonnie Watson, Telluride, CEO, Energize Colorado
  • Helen Young Hayes, Denver, Founder and CEO, Activate Work
  • Thank you also to Lisa Kauffman, Senior Strategic Advisor for Governor Polis, and Eve Lieberman, Executive Director, Office of Economic Development and International Trade, for their thoughtful engagement and contribution to this process.

Thank you to the generous supporters of the Colorado Project: Walton Family Foundation, Social Sciences Foundation, and individual supporters of the Korbel School's civil discourse programming. 

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