Philanthropy Expert

There was once a couple that pondered what would happen if Nobel Peace Laureates mentored young people to make the world a better place. And then they did it. No, they really did. And it started right here in your town in 1996. Meet PeaceJam, the little nonprofit that started with Dawn Engle and Ivan Suvanjieff and some little-known figures like the Dalai Lama, Betty Williams and Desmond Tutu. [...]

Years ago, I was introduced to Tonya Quinn, the founder of the Kindness Empire, a do-good company in Denver with a unique mission and product line. Besides being cultured, charming and curious, Tonya was busy identifying and supporting creative talent with artists throughout our great city. [...]

We have lost so many strong Denver institutions over the past few years. El Chapultupec? Are you kidding me? The Market? Noooooo. Bonnie Brae Tavern? Oh, Hello no. I have struggled for years to articulate my feelings regarding the evolution of Denver and specifically the neighborhood of my youth, Washington Park. [...]

The “opportunity gap” is how uncontrollable life factors like race, economic status, and family situations can affect a child’s achievement or life aspirations. Like most cities, Denver has not solved the issue of opportunity gaps and their effect on our children. [...]

Anniversaries for nonprofits are usually ho-hum moments in time touted by the organization as a not-so-subtle tool for fundraising, or for getting good press, or just reminding the world that they’re still around. [...]

In a state known for its optimism and innovation, it’s astounding to learn that one of every two individuals released from prisons in Colorado will return within three years. By comparison, Florida has about half of Colorado’s 50% recidivism rate, a jaw-dropping statistic in this local gal’s opinion. [...]

Middle school doesn’t have to be the worst. That’s one of the many lessons I’ve learned from Kyle Gamba, the founder of La Luz, a new micro-school in southwest Denver that opened this school year. In case you don’t know Dr. Gamba, I will share a few facts with you. [...]

Tattered Cover is an iconic bookstore in Denver, but it has always been so much more for those who grew up in this city. All of us have a special memory or memories of Tattered Cover. It might be the hours spent every weekend for two years in the lower level of the Cherry Creek store reading about different colleges and universities all over the country. [...]

In August of this year, the U.S. government pulled military forces from Afghanistan leaving tens of thousands of Afghans, who had fought alongside our forces, stranded with their families with no path to safety. [...]

I am going to say something controversial. Theater is boring. My dad describes opera in a way that I think embodies my feeling about theater: it’s a really expensive and uncomfortable nap. I don’t even want to be awake past 8:30 pm, which makes most productions of basically anything on a stage feel like a major imposition. I don’t like things standing between me and the Land of Sleepy-Sleepy. [...]