Ednium: The Alumni Collective

Building a community in Denver has been a game changer. For the past four years we’ve been hard at work; building trust and organizing. We’re a group of public school alumni who want to create opportunities for alumni to contribute to Denver’s future. We believe if you grew up in Denver, then your voice is an asset in how the city paves their way forward. We’ve done this by serving five cohorts of public school alumni in our Leadership Launchpad. A program that gives alumni the tools to become the leader they want to be. Our biggest policy win yet is successfully advocating for Financial Literacy and Cultural & Ethnic Studies as a graduation requirement for DPS students in 2024 and beyond. From our staff to our board, we’re full of public school alumni. Like David Martinez, who was a member of the Leadership Launchpad, and is now a full time staff member! During this season of giving and as we get ready for Colorado Gives Day, we are asking you to directly support our work. You can directly support us by donating; on our website: https://lnkd.in/gXKEyfgz Our goal is to get 30 unique donors who are new to Ednium! Donate here and please share with a friend who values community: https://lnkd.in/gXKEyfgz

Here’s a hack to improve public school outcomes.. Listen to your alumni base! Big shoutout to all 12 of our Advocacy Accelerator Homies! Thank you for trusting us and we’re excited to build off your 4 months of dedicated research. We created the Advocacy Accelerator to ensure our next policy priorities were informed by the needs of alumni. Stay locked in for more updates. Cheers to David for leading his debut Ednium program with such dedication and heart!

Dear Ednium Family, Over the last four years, Ednium has grown from a bold vision to a transformative movement—one that amplifies Alumni voices and drives change. What started as a research project to uncover the shifts needed in education has become a powerful collective shaping the future of Denver and inspiring action across Colorado. As we reflect on 2024, we’re not just closing out a year—we’re turning the page on a chapter in our leadership. It’s with a heart that is content and confident in what has been built that I share the news: I will be stepping down as Ednium’s Executive Director to pursue an exciting new opportunity that feels like the right next step in my journey. This decision wasn’t easy, but it comes from my deep belief that Ednium is far bigger than any one person. Our work is rooted in collective power, and together we’ve built a sustainable, thriving ecosystem that will continue to elevate Alumni voices for years to come. I leave with unwavering confidence in Ednium’s bright future—thanks to our incredible team, passionate community, and the strong foundation we’ve built together. I want to also express my gratitude to our funders and partners who have doubled down on their commitment to Ednium’s mission, vision, and community. Your belief in us has positioned Ednium to continue growing, learning, and transforming how we partner with homegrown talent. Know that I would not be taking this step if I didn’t fully believe in the strength and resilience of this Collective. What’s Next for Ednium: I couldn’t be more excited to announce our next Executive Director who has been a leader at Ednium from day one! (Announcement coming in a separate post soon) Know that I am fully confident in Ednium’s leadership moving forward and the vision that has been mapped out for our next steps. Thank you for believing in Ednium, in this movement, and in the power of Alumni voices. - TeRay

Do you know who you want to be and are you on the right career path? If you’re asking yourself these questions, then the leadership launchpad might be for you! Traditional leadership programs center the individual as the decision maker and power holder. For Ednium, community is the core value that we view all of our work, and how we as leaders can inspire and empower others to create change. Through six sessions you will interrogate leadership through a theoretical and practical lens. You will hear from leaders that grew up in the same neighborhoods as you, while also engaging in activities that will challenge you to define and refine your concepts of leadership. You'll leave the program not only with a better self awareness of your own leadership style, but with a plan on how you will continue your leadership journey with Ednium and beyond. Share this post with a Denver Public Schools alum you know. Link for the application: https://lnkd.in/eHkhbyPk

Imagine a leader who genuinely loves her community and is passionately committed to Denver’s growth. That leader is Cristina Chacon, the 2024 Table Builder Homegrown Award winner. Cristina’s ability to listen to the needs of her community is admirable. It’s what’s allowed her to deeply impact the lives of the people she interacts with. Born and raised in Southwest Denver, Cristina is a proud Lincoln Lancer and graduated from Regis University on a full ride scholarship—she’s Homegrown through and through. Cristina is a former classroom educator, and has spent numerous years in the nonprofit world serving students across Denver. Presently, you can find her amplifying BIPOC stories at YEBO and using her passion for yoga, herbalism, and mindfulness to support her community in their well-being journeys. We’re grateful and beyond excited to honor Cristina and all she has done for the Denver community. Homegrown Talent looks like Cristina Chacon. And Cristina is this year’s 2024 Leader of the Year: Table Builder Homegrown Award winner. Bravo and keep up the great work Cristina 🥳

This year the Ednium squad was able to launch our inaugural cohort of the Advocacy Accelerator! We brought together 12 passionate alumni from school districts across the Denver Metro Area who had previously participated in our Leadership Launchpad, Denver Deep Dive, or internship programs. Together, we embarked on a 4 month educational and community engagement journey to craft Ednium’s policy agenda for 2025 and beyond in three focus areas: K-12 Education, Post-secondary Experience, and Socioeconomic Mobility. At Ednium, we don’t believe in telling our community what they need, but working alongside them to build out the future we hope for and envision. Our most recent podcast guest, Lesley Del Rio, dove deep around her experience. She highlighted the emphasis on leveraging our lived experience not simply as a venting space, but as strong foundations for action! Click the link to listen to the podcast - https://lnkd.in/eUjZYkdZ #Podcast #Ednium #Denver #HomegrownTalent #Education

Meet Chanelle: A car enthusiast, community advocate, and one of our incredible Alumni Partners! Before joining our community, Chanelle seized every opportunity to advocate. She’s worked with University Professors and presented on topics like Healing Justice and Youth Activism in New York City and Philadelphia. This summer, Chanelle joined our Leadership Launchpad Cohort #5, diving into what it means to lead authentically, build trust, and embrace the power of storytelling. But what really stood out for her? The sense of community. “I connected with people from diverse backgrounds—I especially appreciated meeting others with similar experiences in the education system,” Chanelle shared. Chanelle has elevated her journey by joining our Advocacy Accelerator, helping shape Ednium’s next policy priority to better support our city’s Homegrown Talent. Ednium is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit based in Denver, we’re passionate about creating spaces where alumni like Chanelle can grow, connect, and advocate for a better tomorrow. Your support makes this possible. After completing the Leadership Launchpad and Advocacy Accelerator, Chanelle landed a marketing role at a local non-profit! 💛 Your support helps make moments like this possible. Join us in empowering alumni like Chanelle to lead and inspire—donate today: https://lnkd.in/gXKEyfgz

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2024 Homegrown Awards! Five incredible DPS alumni were honored, yet the heart of the celebration was our vibrant community. More pictures and inspiring stories from our community to come soon. For now, let’s all take a moment to celebrate the magic of giving back to the spirit of our Denver community.

New Podcast Episode‼️ Good morning and happy Monday! We are honored to have shared space with such a thoughtful and intentional community leader! Episode 77: Building a Collective Mural centers story teller, trendsetter, and mother – Lesley Del Rio. Throughout this listen, you will be immersed in conversations around the transformation of our identity, environment, community, and reaping the blossoming benefits that come when generations before us choose to uproot. Click the link to listen: https://lnkd.in/gj6VCpR9 #Denver #HomegrownTalent #Community #Roots

The next big trend in Denver is celebrating Homegrown Talent. We believe Denver’s Alumni voices are essential to ensuring our city is sustainable and live-able for future generations. We're challenging how cities view their Homegrown Talent. Big thank you to the Denver Scholarship Foundation, CBS News Colorado, and CareerWise Colorado for supporting us on the 2024 Homegrown Awards. Our team of partners have put a lot of time into ensuring Saturday, December 7th is filled with magic and feelings of connection! Because of our partners, our sponsor, and YOU; we’re able to put on such an event like the Homegrown Awards and celebrate Denver’s Homegrown Talent. We’ve reached event capacity and RSVP’s have closed! If you RSVP’d check your email for parking info and more details. We’ll see you at 6:00 PM on Saturday, December 7th, 2024 at the University of Denver Community Commons!