We asked members of the community how their organizations help the community. We’ve shared some of the responses below.

Ariv Gupta | Builder & Life Practitioner

As a Boy Scout, I got to appreciate the outdoors, brave bus fires, and canoe through islands alongside some fantastic people. However, with its paperwork, hierarchy, and uniforms, Scouts was designed to turn boys into men. Our constant pursuit for Eagle undermined my real reason for being in nature: introspection, conversation, respiration, deconstruction, recreation, connection, reconnection, manifestation, and realization. Read more>>

Mariê Balbinot | Street and visual artist

I see my art as a tool to change society and this world we are all trapped in. Through my characters I seek to give back self confidence and power to every woman who has lost it or never had it. I believe art in general has the power to rise questions among communities leading us to wonder and discuss important topics. Besides appreciation, art comes to free us, to make us think, and also to change and grow as human beings. And this is what makes art so special! Read more>>

Sylvia & Wayne Jennings | Medora Art Gallery Owners

Our mission is to encourage people to live artfully. When we celebrate artists, nurture creativity and create community, we are living artfully. We believe that art is at the center of who we are as human beings. We are striving to infuse art into our daily experiences out of the belief that creative expression is essential, and the desire to have a beautiful environment is universal. Medora’s product is inspiration. Read more>>

Melody Mesmer | Founder and CEO of Foundation 1023, Firefighter Paramedic, EMS Coordinator and Nationally Registered Peer Support Specialist

Foundation 1023 is a non profit organization founded in 2016. In 2015 Colorado experienced a significant number of First Responder deaths due to suicide, accident and illness. One of those deaths was Kristin McLain, her badge number was 1023. These deaths, that were so close together effected the First responder community a great deal. Read more>>

Cindy Sarai | MSW, Founder, Executive Director & Artist

We are a private non-profit child placement agency licensed in the state of Colorado. Based in Fort Collins, we serve birth parents and adoptive families all over the state. Our core belief is that children deserve safe, loving and permanent homes to become the best they can be in life. Read more>>