2024 Annual Letter

We are proud of the successes and transformations we’ve witnessed over the past two decades! Working with young people to provide the magic of creative expression and community connection to change lives is a wonderful way to spend our own lives. Your donations directly support our transformational poetry and art programs while also building and nurturing community.

We know there is still much to be done to fulfill our vision of ensuring that every young person recognizes their power to create a life of hope and purpose in an inclusive and accepting community.

The thousands of youth we serve are acutely aware of the tensions building locally and nationally. They are inundated with harsh language used to rally movements against them based on the color of their skin, how they identify, and who they love. These are only a few of the factors that create anxiety about their present and future and the world they will inherit.

This population already has so much to deal with in their young lives: oppressive circumstances that are personal, systemic, or often a combination of both, that contribute to poor mental health and dangerous coping mechanisms. In addition, young people are lightning rods for our stress. And to a generation that is being raised online, the current state of a world in turmoil is overwhelming. Can you imagine having to contend with that at such a young age in addition to other practical, familial, mental, emotional, and societal burdens?

They need community more than ever.

They need adults they can trust.

They need HOPE.

Our Art from Ashes community is cultivated through creativity, which we believe is our best chance at creating hope for youth who are struggling, facing barriers and hurdles that many of us can only imagine. It is a community where young people can dispel the rumors of “never” and instead can create moments where new beginnings rise, like the Phoenix.

At Art from Ashes we want them to know that when the world fails them, THEIR voices are the ones that need to be heard! So we stand alongside them—to guide, to support, to facilitate health and hope.

For more than two decades, we have faithfully shown up for them, thanks to the support of folks like you.

Your gifts not only help keep our workshops free for youth and supplement partnerships with schools and youth-serving agencies, but they make it possible for us to stand with even more young people in the community.

So far this year we are on track to provide 200 workshops for 550 individual young people (1,300 youth contacts).

We now have eight Youth Ambassadors and have added four new board members, including a professional poet, two performance artists, and an additional youth representative.

We provided 24 youth performance opportunities, including monthly First Friday and Third Thursday performances, Denver PrideFest, the 30th Annual Poetry Rodeo, Stout Street Foundation’s Art of Recovery Reception, and the City and County of Denver’s Future Fest for YOUth.

And our 2025 calendar is already filling up with workshops, collaborations, and performances.

When we are struggling, we know that acts of generosity and kindness provide solace. May you find courage and peace this Season of Light, and may any struggles you are experiencing draw you toward the solace of hope.

In Gratitude,
Art from Ashes staff, facilitators, board members & volunteers

PS. You can put your gift to work immediately here at ArtfromAshes.org/donate or through the Colorado Gives Day portal: bit.ly/AfA-cogivesday. If you have a Paypal account, they do not charge any fees at all: Donate with PayPal Giving Fund