Join hundreds of teens and teachers from across Colorado on Saturday, February 1, 2025, for a unique and powerful day planned entirely by and for students.
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At its inception, eighteen high schools gathered for what has now grown into the largest diversity and inclusion conference in the state of Colorado. In 2024 we were pleased to have 82 schools and organizations participating, with a total attendance over 900. This day-long conference is the only statewide conference dealing with issues of diversity and inclusion entirely planned by and for students.
Who Should Attend
The conference is open to all high school students and supportive teachers/adults from across Colorado. In particular, this event is a great opportunity for groups such as:
- Diversity or multicultural student clubs
- Student councils
- Peace/conflict resolution-focused organizations, including PeaceJam and Interact
- Religious student organizations interested in exploring interfaith dialogue and positive social change
- Clubs celebrating specific student ethnicities, including Black Student Alliance, Latinx or Hispanic student clubs, Native/Indigenous student clubs and others
- Gender/sexuality-focused student groups, including gay-straight alliances
- Female empowerment student clubs
- Peer counselors
- Deaf students and their allies, including ASL signing clubs
- Disabled students from all backgrounds
- Creative writing and performance student groups, including poetry, spoken word, hip-hop, dance and other clubs
- Students from a local youth organization, even if they attend different schools
- ANY group of teens interested in improving their school’s culture or making a positive change in their community
Student Board
This event is planned entirely by the YCD Colorado Student Board, a team of some 20-30 students from a wide variety of high schools and identities. Join a group of teens who are passionate about advancing inclusion and social justice, and learn the skills you need to make positive social change in your school and community!
The Board is open to any Colorado-based student who will be in high school during the 2024-25 school year. Weekly meetings take place Mondays from 6:00 – 7:30 pm and are held at Cherry Creek High School (get directions here). Meetings start in September 2024 and run through February 2025.
Applications for the YCD Colorado Student Board are now closed, but we encourage any youth interested in a similar opportunity to sign up for YCD and a chapter near you!
Venue and Directions
The Colorado Youth Diversity Conference will be hosted by Cherry Creek High School; you can find directions to the event on Google Maps here. Make sure you enter the campus at the intersection of Yosemite Street and Campus Drive. You can also download a PDF copy of directions here. The Cherry Creek High School campus is very large and has multiple entrances, not all of which will lead you to the right place. Please follow these directions to ensure you enter campus and park in the right spot.
Keynote Speaker
The YCD Colorado Student Board is thrilled to announce Meta Sarmiento as this year’s keynote speaker!
Meta Sarmiento is a Guam-born Filipino living in Aurora, Colorado. A rapper, poet, speaker, and educator with over a decade of experience, his work explores themes of cultural and political identity, climate change, masculinity, and love. He and his work have been featured by Denver Fashion Week, Indie102.3, Rocky Mountain PBS, Denver Westword, Voyage Denver, TEDxMileHigh, NBC NEWS, TFC’s Adobo Nation, Asian Avenue Magazine, Colorado Public Radio, Aspen Words, Guam Daily Post, Button Poetry, Rap Direct, and Word is Bond.
Meta is a winner of the 2024 Denver Fashion Week Spring Entertainer Challenge. Out of 143 Colorado artists, Meta is ranked #10 on Top Acts of 2023 by Indie 102.3. He is an Official Artist in the Discovery lineup in Denver’s Underground Music Showcase 2023, a featured performer and moderator for the United Arab Emirates #RoadtoCOP28 launch in 2023, and Dignified Storytelling’s feature at World Expo 2020. He is also a recipient of the 2020 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award from Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission; Finalist for the 2019 North Street Book Prize; Winner of multiple cyphers and rap battles; Top Finisher at 2018 WRLD UNDERGROUND MC TOURNAMENT; and a Winner of 2015 Spoken Word for the World, where he was flown to Paris, France to perform at COP21 during the United Nations Climate Negotiations. He is the author of the poetry book Jungle Rules and Other Poems, and Tie Your Shoes Kid. Meta has released several hip-hop albums: Seasonal Depression, Jungle Rules, METAMOB, Nobody Knew, and This Road.
Schedule
We fill the conference day with numerous opportunities for students and their adult mentors to discuss, engage and explore the topics that are most important to them. Click any portion of the day below for more information. You can also download a printable version of the day’s schedule.
Arrival and Parking / 8:00 – 9:00 am
We urge everyone to arrive as early as possible. If your group is not traveling to the event together, agree on a specific time to arrive as a group in advance. Note attendees are required to enter the campus off Yosemite Street and Campus Drive; you can find directions to the event here. Once parked, follow the balloons to enter the West Building near the clock tower.
Diversity Fair / 8:00 – 9:15 am
Each year we invite dozens of colleges, universities, post-graduate programs and the military to join us the morning of the conference for our Diversity Fair. On their way to breakfast, attendees will walk past the tables with representatives who are available to speak with high school students about their commitment to diversity. Students and adult mentors may take as much time at the Diversity Fair as interested. The Diversity Fair is also free and open to the public!
Breakfast / 8:00 – 9:15 am
We provide a light breakfast, including bagels and cream cheese, yogurt, fruit and muffins, as well as water. Participants are then ushered as a school group to the main auditorium to register.
Registration and Morning Entertainment / 8:45 – 9:30 am
Adult mentors register their schools as they enter the Fine Arts building; registration takes a matter of minutes. Each school receives a packet containing materials for the conference day, including nametags. An emcee and various student groups from around the state keep participants entertained as we get closer to starting the formal program. Past performers include the Chatfield Jump Rope Club, Northglenn Step Team, the Denver East Angels Drum Line and the Kalama Polynesian Dancers.
Opening Ceremonies and Keynote Speech / 9:30 – 10:20 am
Opening Ceremonies begin with welcome speeches by the conference student co-chairs and educational leaders. Each year the Student Board works hard to identify and invite a notable public speaker to address conference attendees.
Youth Discussion Groups and Adult-Only Workshops / 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
The first interactive session of the conference day involves informal group discussions of students from all over the state led by trained student facilitators. Students have an opportunity to speak their mind about the social issues they are facing in their schools and communities, and hear from other students from across the state who may be facing similar or different issues. Lunch is served at this time as well.
Meanwhile, adult mentors gather to have their own discussions for professional development or about mentoring youth-led groups and chapters.
Workshop A / 12:10 – 1:20 pm
Students and adult mentors attend a workshop of their choice, chosen in advance. See a list of workshops offered here.
Workshop B / 1:30 – 2:40 pm
Both students and adult mentors attend a second workshop of their choice, chosen in advance. See a list of workshops offered here.
Closing Ceremonies / 2:50 – 3:30 pm
We finish the day by giving out a community award, viewing a video montage, and hearing from an exceptional musical performer.
Workshops
The 44 workshops offered at this year’s Conference have been chosen by the YCD Colorado Board, so that the topics are constantly reflecting the needs, interests, and challenges facing Colorado teens. Click the button below to review this year’s workshop options, or you can download a PDF of the workshop list here.
If your group has not yet registered for YCD for the 2024-25 school year, contact us to learn how you can get involved!
Student Facilitators
One of the exciting ways students can play a leadership role on the conference day is to serve as a student facilitator. Facilitators learn key skills including bonding, how to start a discussion, how to manage conflict, and much more — skills that will help them lead conversations on social change back in their chapters, clubs, schools, and communities.
The first interactive session of the conference day involves informal group discussions of 20-25 students per room from all over the state led by these trained student facilitators. Trained facilitators are paired with one another so they have a partner to help lead the conversation in their discussion group.
Do you know students who are ready to take a leadership role on the day of the conference? YCD will be hosting a student facilitator training on Monday, January 20 (MLK Day) from 10:30 am – 4:30pm at Cherry Creek High School.
Travel and Lodging
In general, school groups within a 3-hour drive of the Denver Metro area can attend the event without requiring overnight stays. For groups coming from further away, YCD has negotiated a hotel room block with the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Tech Center, located just a few blocks from the venue. Use the button below to book double or single rooms for just $109/night!
Registration
Groups
Established youth clubs and groups are encouraged to register as a chapter of YCD, which includes attendance at this Conference as part of their annual membership, in addition to numerous other benefits!
Individuals
Looking to select your workshops at the Conference? Click the button below to reserve your spot if your group has already registered for the 2024-25 school year.
Are you a high schooler or educator without a group? Contact us for help in starting one or to discuss how you can still join this unique event.
Contact Info
Caleb Munro
Executive Director
Denver, Colorado
(720) 507-0746
[email protected]