We had the good fortune of connecting with Jackie Burt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jackie, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born in Denver and feel a deep sense of home now that I have finally landed back in the city I love. My childhood was spent moving from one place to another. Due to the nature of my parents’ careers, we moved every year or two–sometimes overseas, sometimes to small rural towns, sometimes even living in campgrounds. So my upbringing, schooling, and social life was eclectic, varied, always changing, and built of very broad perspective. I think this perspective gave me a sense of how big and wonderful the world is, and how different cultures and social structures can be. This perspective has translated to my out-of-the-box thinking and the embracing of a creative and anti-boring life. My upbringing also fostered a deep belief in the power of goodness and acceptance of others.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is unlike any I’ve encountered before. I dream-up and create systems in which human nature is encouraged and allowed to flourish in positive ways. These visions end up being a combination of creative work, community, and human-behavior studies. I see my work as a creative practice (art) because I envision systems as if they are drawings. And then when the systems are set into the wild, and as humans fill in the gaps and the unknowns, the community creates colorful highways of even better systems working in harmony together.

My art is currently scheming and budding with the lessons of yesterday and the (I know it is a cheesy comment but I fully mean it) promises of tomorrow. Although very new and still in start-up phase, my current project is the biggest one yet. It aims to show the world the sheer power of good by harnessing the power of small actions and authentic community. What can we create if we all simply #showupforgood…? (❁´◡`❁)

I’d love to share more with anyone interested in being part of this community. www.showupforgood.com

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This one is easy! I would take my friend to every corner of Denver. From the Cherry Creek and Highline Canal Trails, to Levitt Pavilion, Red Rocks, and Fiddlers for live music and beauty. I’d take my friend to delicious authentic restaurants, and would watch the sun set behind the Rockies every night from a different spot. I would take my friend to art museums downtown and to Meow Wolf. We would stroll the streets of neighborhoods, stepping in boutiques and breweries. We would travel via light-rail and feet/bikes, and would find friendly faces most places we went. I love this city 🖤

I would also sneak away with my friend to the mountains to ride bikes or ski powder!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Kids! Students! Every young human who has entered my world has shown me what it means to be truly authentic, to love fully, to embrace without judgment, and to reach for our dreams as individuals and as a group. I spent the bulk of my career studying the genuine nature of our bold and beautiful youth. To learn from them, I built a school in which they could think, learn, and thrive in the absence of an oppressive environment. The results are astounding–these kids are currently changing the world one by one. Our young citizens taught me what it means to live an authentic life full of love and creativity. Kids have shown me the potential in collective goodness, in genuine community, and in living creatively. Youth have the power to show us how to build a better future and I’m ever grateful for all they continue to teach me.

Website: https://www.showupforgood.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackiesburt/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-burt-b420b171/

Twitter: https://x.com/JackieBurt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackie.burt.357

Other: https://www.jackieburt.com

Image Credits
All photos are from my own collection.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.