What is Growing Up Boulder?
Our MissionGrowing Up Boulder is a nonprofit whose mission is to center young people's rights, voices, and agency to advance equitable and sustainable communities for all. |
Our VisionGrowing Up Boulder's vision is to cultivate vibrant communities where all young people thrive. |
We elevate ALL child and youth voices,
centering those most impacted by
centering those most impacted by
How We Work
1. ENGAGE
Engage with Children and youth on a city project, and establish them as experts.
Engage with Children and youth on a city project, and establish them as experts.
2. CONNECT
Connect city leaders with young people then discuss recommendations.
Connect city leaders with young people then discuss recommendations.
3. INTEGRATE
Create a report of recommendations; the city then integrates them into plans.
Create a report of recommendations; the city then integrates them into plans.
3. IMPACT
Children and youth become more civically engaged; the city becomes more child-friendly.
Children and youth become more civically engaged; the city becomes more child-friendly.
Our Values and Beliefs
At Growing Up Boulder, we value:
At Growing Up Boulder, we believe:
- People’s strengths, which include their identities
- Integrity
- Equity and inclusion
- Joy and playfulness
- Balance between work and life
At Growing Up Boulder, we believe:
- That children and youth are experts on their own lives, that learning from their lived experience offers valuable insights to all of us, and that these unique insights help create child friendly cities that benefit all members of society.
- That when young people help design their cities, they feel seen, valued and that their voices matter. As a result, children and youth become current and future civic leaders.
- That our work happens best when we collaborate deeply with community partners.
Growing Up Boulder is a nonprofit program based in Boulder, CO, and we believe that kids create a better tomorrow. We launched in the spring of 2009 as a program at the University of Colorado's "Children, Youth and Environments Center." The City of Boulder, Boulder Valley School District, State Senator Dorothy Rupert, local non-profits and businesses, and children and youth ages 0-18 were our key partners in founding Growing Up Boulder. In 2021, Growing Up Boulder left the university to become a nonprofit program under the fiscal sponsorship of the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center (CNDC). We continue to partner closely with our founding organizations.
Locally, Growing Up Boulder has engaged directly with more than 10,000 young people, 1,500 university students, and 70 partner organizations. We have elevated youth voice in more than 100 projects. Globally, Growing Up Boulder has reached 2.5 million people through its publications, TED talk, podcasts, interviews, presentations, webinars and lectures. Growing Up Boulder engages children of all backgrounds, with a focus on youth who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, experiencing disabilities, and living with low-incomes. We work with government entities and communities to include young people's input on local decisions which affect their lives; this includes topics like the design of affordable and sustainable housing, resilience planning, healing from tragedy, policing, transit systems, parks and open space, and productive community dialogue.
Locally, Growing Up Boulder has engaged directly with more than 10,000 young people, 1,500 university students, and 70 partner organizations. We have elevated youth voice in more than 100 projects. Globally, Growing Up Boulder has reached 2.5 million people through its publications, TED talk, podcasts, interviews, presentations, webinars and lectures. Growing Up Boulder engages children of all backgrounds, with a focus on youth who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, experiencing disabilities, and living with low-incomes. We work with government entities and communities to include young people's input on local decisions which affect their lives; this includes topics like the design of affordable and sustainable housing, resilience planning, healing from tragedy, policing, transit systems, parks and open space, and productive community dialogue.
Growing Up Boulder in Action
To understand why child friendly cities matter, watch Mara Mintzer, Growing Up Boulder's Co-Founder and Executive Director, share below.
Who We Are
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Growing Up Boulder's staff, consultants, board, partners, and funders are the ingredients in the "secret sauce" that makes us successful. Our past team members laid the foundations for who we are today. Learn more about our:
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