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.
Jump to a section:
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.
Past Keynote Speakers
Each year the YCD Colorado Student Board selects a dynamic and interesting keynote speaker to address the audience; as soon as one is selected, we’ll announce it here. In the meantime, see below a list of past keynote speakers featured at the event:
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 40+ workshops offered at the Conference each year are chosen by the YCD Colorado Board, so that the topics are constantly reflecting the needs, interests, and challenges facing Colorado teens.
Below are examples of workshops that have taken place at the Conference in recent years. We will post the list of workshops for the upcoming event no later than January 2, 2025. Have an idea for a workshop? Propose your workshop idea before December 6, 2025.
The American Dream: How do You Fit In?
In this workshop we will explore privilege, and the many levels of privilege that we may have, by playing, “The American Dream” game. After playing the game, students will have a discussion around privilege, how you use it to help yourself and how can you use it to help others.
Are You as Open-Minded as You Think?
Join us in an exploration of biases, acknowledging both positive and negative aspects of our bias. Small groups will unfold everyday examples of conscious and unconscious bias and stereotypes, and strategies to address them.
Confronting Bias and Prejudice through Poetry
Step inside this workshop and learn how to express your thoughts and feelings through hip hop, poetry, and spoken word. Give voice to our stories of love, struggle, injustice, and celebration. With our words, we can represent our culture and traditions as we strengthen our minds and better our communities.
Disability, Advocacy, and Building Power
Explore how to become an advocate for disability rights or an ally for students with disabilities. We’ll explore the intersection of disability and white privilege. We will give you concrete ideas on how to disrupt disability oppression.
Human Trafficking of Youth
Youth and young adults hold specific vulnerabilities directly tied to their identity. These vulnerabilities connect to age, adult authority relationships, access to economics, sexual and gender identity, race, color, education, etc. This training will explore the root causes of the crime of human trafficking and the inequalities that can lead to trafficking, to help participants recognize the realities of human trafficking.
Hurting vs. Flirting: Do You Know the Difference?
Sexual harassment is one of the most common forms of bullying in schools. Being aware of what sexual harassment is and what it is not helps us all to have a better understanding of how to handle this sometimes subtle behavior and how to help others when they are in an uncomfortable situation.
An Introduction to Women’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Self-Defense
When women are attacked, they are often taken to the ground by a larger, more aggressive assailant and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, known for its devastatingly effective ground fighting techniques, directly addresses this situation. Because of this, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is often recognized as the single most effective self-defense system in the world, especially for women.
Islam and Islamophobia
Islamophobia is the discrimination and oppression of Muslims. This workshop will serve as an open forum for students and adults to ask questions freely as they learn some of the common myths and misconceptions surrounding the Islamic faith and Muslim people. This session will also help participants understand how xenophobia against any race, religion or ethnicity should not be tolerated.
Know Your Rights: Students’ Rights
All people in the United States enjoy the same constitutional protections, regardless of nationality, religion, immigration status, sexual identity, disability and gender. The best way to protect your rights is to know your rights. In this workshop, we share information on students’ rights related to free speech, dress codes, privacy, LGBTQ rights, and immigrants’ rights. We’ll also cover what to do if your school violates these protections.
“That’s So Ghetto”: Exploring Race and Gender in Everyday Language
In this interactive workshop we will explore how race, gender, class and sexuality play out in our everyday language and jokes. Does re-thinking our language really matter, or is it just an example of political correctness?
Transgender 101 and Beyond
How do we talk about gender? It isn’t simple when a transgender or gender non-conforming person expresses their real feelings. This workshop will discuss the gender spectrum through terminology, games, and personal stories. We’ll go from blue to pink and girl to boy and back.
We Hold These Truths: How Diverse and Inclusive is Your US History Curriculum?
This workshop, led by a history teachers and students, will help high school students stretch their learning beyond the textbook to make sense of our past and present. We will analyze our own history class experiences and then identify and develop plans for learning and teaching a more inclusive US History curriculum.
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 Saturday, January 18 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 will negotiate a hotel room block with the Hilton Garden Inn Denver Tech Center, located just a few blocks from the venue. Check back here for more information at a later date, or contact us with questions.
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
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]