Below is a list of the various workshop options available to students and educators attending the Colorado Youth Diversity Conference in January 2026. You can also download a PDF document of this list of workshops here.

Adult Mentor Training

Are you new to YCD’s youth-led model? Looking for help and training on how to empower youth leadership without taking over or doing everything yourself? Join this adult-only workshop to learn from those who have been coaching youth for years to learn tips, tricks and ideas that will help you become a better adult mentor! This workshop is for educators and adults only.

Advocacy 101: Showing Up for Change

Explore the foundational aspects of advocacy through interactive discussions and collaborative scenario-based exercises, and delve into the principles of community organizing. This workshop will provide real-world examples, and each participant will be equipped with a personalized advocacy action plan to drive meaningful change in their communities. Whether you’re new to advocacy or looking to refine your approach, this workshop will inspire and prepare you to show up for the causes that matter. This workshop is for educators and adults only.

Allyship+

In this workshop, we will explore identity and the lenses by which we see the world. We will then walk through concrete steps in which we can not only be allies to one another, but what we call allyship+. Gone are the days when we can simply say “I’ve got your back.” Today, we need someone next to us, listening to us, and using different things in their toolbox to be an Ally+. Finally, we will conclude with ways in which we can transform organizations into places of authenticity and belonging.

The Asian Pacific Islander Experience

With the recent spike in anti-Asian hate crimes, a lot of our Asian American community is feeling demoralized and unsafe. Although we have been here for generations, racism has reared its ugly head to target our community once again. This is not a new phenomenon and will probably not be the last time we see it happen. In this workshop, attendees will learn more about the history of Asian American discrimination, resources available to the Asian American community, and things we can do to make sure that we keep our community safe. The workshop will include a discussion/reflection activity, interactive polling, and a worksheet to create an action plan. Despite our challenges, our community will do what it has always done- persevere and stay resilient.

Becoming You: The Power of Embracing Your True Self

In a culture full of expectations, comparisons, and noise, discovering who you truly are is one of the most powerful journeys you can take. This presentation explores the inner barriers that keep us from authenticity: self-doubt, perfectionism, and the need for approval, and offers practical, research-informed strategies to connect with your values, strengths, and identity. Participants will learn how to quiet the inner critic, honor their unique qualities, and step into a more confident, aligned version of themselves through activities and discussions. This session inspires personal growth, deeper self-trust, and the freedom that comes from becoming unapologetically you.

Being Bilingual is My Superpower

This session is for participants who speak more than one language and who have used their bilingual skills to help others. We will share how language has been used as a tool of oppression and what you can do to pursue language justice in your community. Community interpreters will share their experiences taking a language justice training through the Community Language Cooperative and how this impacted their identities, confidence and skills. They will share how they are influencing their communities towards language justice where everyone speaks with the language of their heart. Participants will look at how they can pursue language justice in their schools, and explore more training and career opportunities in the future.

Belonging and Equity: Unscripted

Equity and belonging work can be fun and exciting.  We will play improv games to explore empathy, perspective-taking, voice, and belonging without lecturing or politicizing. Whether you have a background with acting and improv or not, you will use your creative side to have fun and learn a new strategy. Be prepared to move around, connect with others and let go of your inhibitions!

Beyond the Hype: Human Trafficking of Youth in Colorado

Hidden in plain sight is the cliché for situations involving trafficking and yet, in 2026 minors who have been trafficked are filling up our youth detention centers, dropping out of school and using substances to cope with their trauma. How can we recognize trafficking when it’s happening right in front of us – from survival sex to forced criminality to the labor trafficking of unaccompanied minors? We need to see beyond the hype, understand the nuances of the crime and know the existing resources to support survivors. This workshop will bust through myths perpetuated by social media and Hollywood; illustrate the realities of trafficking in Colorado’s rural and urban communities; and encourage new ways of thinking about vulnerability, marginalization and exploitation of youth. We will end with a call to action for young leaders attending the conference.

Beyond the Moment: A Space for Reflection in Polarized Times

This session creates space for adults who work with youth to pause, reflect, and tend to themselves amid heightened pressure and uncertainty around equity work.  Participants will explore how to stay grounded in purpose, manage fatigue, and sustain their commitment to the work without sacrificing their integrity (or well-being). This workshop is for educators and adults only.

Building Awareness with Ojos de Dios (Eye of God) Portals

Participants will delve into the rich history, cultural significance, and traditions of Ojo de Dios (God’s Eyes), exploring its roots and meaning. Through the mindful practice of weaving with yarn, we will create our own unique patterns, infusing each piece with personal intention and authenticity. This journey encourages a deep connection to ancestral heritage while fostering awareness of the spiritual and meditative aspects of the craft. By being fully present in the moment, we will experience the art of Ojo de Dios as a pathway to self-expression, inner stillness, and a celebration of cultural wisdom.

Confronting and Dismantling Ableism

People may experience disability at any time in life, regardless of age, gender, race, sexuality, etc. Disability may also affect people along a spectrum, whether it be temporary or permanent, hidden or visible. In this workshop, staff from the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC) will help participants gain a working knowledge of disability and how ableism affects all of us. We will use clips and themes from the Oscar award-nominated documentary, Crip Camp, to facilitate a conversation that encourages participants to identify the challenges involved in dismantling ableism. Participants will then work in small groups wherein they will identify instances of ableism in their everyday lives/environments and create actionable steps they could take to address this form of oppression. This workshop will be highly participatory and action-oriented.

Connect or Die: The Power of Relationships

Strong relationships are the foundation of well-being, resilience, and leadership–yet young people and adults are often navigating isolation, stress, or a lack of meaningful connection. This interactive, trauma-informed workshop is designed to help students and educators understand why relationships matter, how they shape our mental health, and what it takes to build healthier connections in their communities.

Exploring Social Justice Careers

This session will feature a panel discussion, where you will have the chance to hear from different people who have succeeded in building a career connected to social justice work.

Finding Your Voice and Skills for Conflict Resolution

Everyone experiences conflict—over who we are, what we believe, and so many other things. Sometimes that conflict grows until it harms or even ends those relationships. It doesn’t have to be that way. We will discuss conflicts that you are experiencing and effective ways to deal with them. We will use small-group discussion and practical tools to help each other address conflict in positive ways.

Fostering Inclusivity through the Arts

In this workshop, we will explore ways to build and foster an inclusive space and culture through discussing the key elements that contribute to creating environments where diverse identities are respected and valued. We will also engage in conversations about how to celebrate expressions of identity across differences, examining how we can support and honor cultural diversity through creative outlets like the arts.

From Lived Experience to Action: Reimagining Solutions and Fueling Statewide Change

What issues matter most to Colorado teens right now? Step into this collaborative interactive workshop to find out–and add your own voice to the picture. Through movement-based activities, small-group conversations, and identity-centered reflections, students will surface the challenges impacting their lives and explore how identity shapes what we notice and experience. Participants will then dig deeper into the issues they choose and brainstorm bold, equity-centered, and actionable solutions. Ending with a brief qualitative survey, students will contribute their ideas to Colorado’s statewide YouthScan initiative–where youth insights influence decision-making that’s happening right now on the issues they care about. Students will leave with new connections and more confidence in a wide variety of avenues where they can help create positive change.

Genocide, Racism and the American Medical System

We will review terms related to race, racism, imperialism, and genocide. We will explore the ways the American medical system upholds systems of oppression, and how groups continue to fight against this. This workshop is suitable for teens and adults. This workshop will involve some aspects of information learning and plenty of time for discussion.

Hate Crimes? Youth Decide the Verdict

In this workshop, lawyers will lead an interactive session on Colorado’s Hate Crimes Statute.  The lawyers will present a case involving criminal hate crimes. At the conclusion of the trial, small discussion groups of students will become “juries” to discuss the issues presented and, with the assistance of an adult facilitator, reach a verdict. The group will also discuss diversity in their community and the value of preventing the spread of racial slurs and hateful actions.

Healing The Path Forward: Reparations, Housing (In)Justice and the Racial Wealth Gap

In this session, we’ll look at the long shadow of slavery and its continuing influence on the criminal (in)justice system – specifically the inequities Black and brown people have faced from slave patrols and the convict leasing system to the war on drugs and school to prison pipeline, and the many other unjust conditions we face today. We’ll take a brief survey of our history, look at the reparative solutions being proposed across the country as part of the reparations movement and then work together, using a unique creative writing process, to design healing solutions together.

Heroes Don’t Fight Alone: Building Diverse Coalitions for Effective Civic Engagement

In this workshop, students will learn how to use their different life experiences to build community and create coalitions to help change their communities. The workshop will work to help students use their lived experiences to connect to others with common goals, as well as those with different identities so that they can create multi-cultural networks that are likely to be more effective in creating change on local levels. The workshop will be based in finding joy and resilience in the face of challenging times so that movements keep their momentum. Throughout the workshop, we’ll use examples from the Rainbow Coalition to help students think about their identities, their strengths, and the need for community in civic organizing.

Hip-Hop and Social Justice

Learn the art and history of hip-hop elements (dance/lyrics/beats/visual) and their social justice context in a full body immersion. Create a rap, dance or graffiti social justice piece while exploring your own sense of style and expression!

Interactions with Police: Know Your Rights

In this workshop, we will talk and walk through the do’s and don’ts of surviving a police encounter, within the framework of knowing your rights.

Intersectionality and Rape Culture: Addressing the Unique Challenges Faced by LGBTQIA+ and Disabled Youth

This workshop will explore how rape culture impacts marginalized youth identities, specifically LGBTQIA+ and disabled youth. Through an interactive needs assessment, participants will gain insight into the unique barriers and challenges these youth face in terms of sexual violence. In small group discussions, attendees will brainstorm and develop practical, community-based solutions for creating preventative environments. By the end of the session, participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how to address the root causes of sexual violence and actionable strategies for creating safer, more inclusive spaces for these vulnerable populations.

An Introduction to Reproductive Justice

In this workshop, students will learn about the “her”story of reproductive justice and its roots in human rights and how it is a form of social justice. This workshop will define reproductive justice by exploring how our multiple identities inform our diverse experiences. We will also review how laws can either create barriers or opportunities for reproductive justice and how YOU can make a change in your community.

An Introduction to Women’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Self-Defense

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is ideal for women.  Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was created specifically to allow the smaller person to overcome the bigger, stronger, more aggressive opponent through the proper use of timing, positioning, leverage, and technique.  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.  Take advantage of this opportunity to introduce yourself to the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu!

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.

Lessons Learned from Home: You Must Be Carefully Taught to Love or Hate

How have the lessons from home, spoken or unspoken, shaped who you are? How have the lessons from home affected how you interact with people who are similar and different from you? This interactive workshop features activities, panel discussions, and audience participation. Panelists/audience will share how lessons learned from home affect their everyday life choices and experiences. Basic tools required to become accepting of yourself and others will be provided.

Leveling Up Your Impact: How to Turn Passion into Real Change in College and Beyond

In this interactive workshop, students will team up with college students and faculty to explore how their current activism, leadership, and passions can translate into real impact in higher education spaces and beyond. Through hands-on activities like passion mapping and small-group case studies, participants will see how young leaders shape campus culture, influence policy, and build communities in college. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for turning their ideas into meaningful change–both now and in their future college careers.

Many Roots, One Self

This session creates space for biracial and multiracial teens and educators to celebrate their uniqueness and reflect on where they come from, what they carry, and how their identities shape their experiences. Expect time for deep conversation, connection, and moments of – finally, someone gets it.

Native American Representation and Misrepresentation in Media

This workshop will show the history of misrepresentation of Native American Peoples in media and storytelling and how this creates stereotypes and misunderstandings of Indigenous communities.  We will have an interactive and frank discussion on how these stereotypes have been formed, where we are now, and more importantly how we can end them.

Our Stories Are Our Power

This workshop is designed to help students and educators own who they are and support themselves and others in standing in their power through the art of storytelling. We will kick things off with three students who will share their personal stories, tackling topics like: What it’s like growing up Black in Denver, the confusing pressure of “Black excellence”, and Navigating Queer Black Identity across different cities. Storytelling can happen in many ways, so after hearing students’ stories, the audience will choose one of three creative groups–Poetry, Community Circle, or Art–to jump into and practice sharing their own stories. This will allow everyone a chance to connect, create, and express themselves in ways that feel authentic to them. This is more than just a workshop–it’s a space where your cultural capital becomes the central textbook. Our goal is that every person leaves our space feeling affirmed, heard, and empowered to see how personal stories hold transformative power. This workshop is for educators and adults only.

Pieces of Me: Art, Identity, Curiosity and Compassion

This creative workshop invites students and adults to explore “the pieces of me” — the values, identities, and lived experiences that shape who they are. Through mindfulness and artistic collage-making, participants express both the visible and unseen parts of themselves. Participants then practice curiosity and compassion through guided partner conversations that help them understand others’ stories. The session ends with each participant creating a short values voice statement to confidently communicate who they are and what matters most to them. Participants leave with a meaningful piece of art, self-awareness, and stronger empathy skills.

Privilege and Intersectionality

During this workshop, we will explore frequently talked about points of privilege such as race, gender, and abilities and less often discussed, including skin tone, neurodiversity, housing, religion, and others. We’ll discuss how we can apply intersectional thinking to justice work. Lastly, attendees will get an opportunity to identify how to leverage their privilege and uplift the needs of the most marginalized.

Queer Joy! We Are All in This Together

The audience will be polled on topics similar to the Privilege Walk in order to gain an understanding of themselves and their peers. Each individual will be encouraged to engage in story sharing and deep, meaningful conversations regarding their identities and experiences. Ultimately, the audience will leave with some resources needed to begin the healing process.

Restorative Practices in Schools: Shifting Mindsets

In this brief overview of Restorative Practices, we will talk about the importance of the 5Rs in building an environment that helps everyone, teachers and students alike, learn from mistakes and embrace conflict as an opportunity to learn and grow. We will cover how things like power imbalances and implicit bias, which are interwoven in the schooling system, create more conflict in schools and discuss opportunities that students and teachers have to disrupt the status quo and create a more understanding and supportive community. This workshop is for educators and adults only.

Rise Up! Ignite Change Through Youth Advocacy

This workshop empowers young people to use their voices to create meaningful change in their communities. This workshop provides practical tools and strategies for effective advocacy, inspiring participants to take action and lead movements for justice and equality.

Teaching Safe Spaces and Acceptance

Join Lulu Buck, a first-generation Mexican-American and the acclaimed author of the award-winning children’s book “Sue’s Sky,” as she shares her inspiring journey and powerful message of acceptance and inclusion. In this interactive session, participants will have the unique opportunity to listen to Lulu read her captivating book, “Sue’s Sky,” which beautifully illustrates the importance of creating safe spaces for all. Delve deeper into the themes of bias and identity with engaging lessons. Through dynamic activities and discussions, attendees will explore strategies for fostering a sense of community and supporting diverse identities. In the “Paint Your Sky” activity, participants will unleash their creativity as they craft their own unique identity skies, symbolizing the rich tapestry of identities within our communities. Let’s come together to paint a brighter, more inclusive future!

Thriving as a Trans Person in an Unkind World

We are a trans couple who want to have an open discussion with trans youth and families about the current state of the world. We want to help trans youth to find self love and protect their truth through conversation, honesty, vulnerability and compassion. This workshop is meant to give anyone with questions and feelings about trans existence a space to express, feel heard, and hopefully feel more confident about their identity and how to support trans people in their life.

Utilizing Creativity to Empower Neurodiverse Youth

In this discussion, we will examine the evolution of education, how and why youth crave creative education, the importance of a strengths-based mindset, how to remove shame from the classroom and program settings, and why a culture of empathy is crucial to community development. We will examine how these mindsets develop real life skills, while also discussing how to build upon these skills, and craft lasting success. Finally, we will examine how to pull in community voices to build a truly communal setting that benefits all people, no matter their lived experiences.

We Are on Native Land

Have you considered the history, identity, and cultural significance of the land you live, work, and recreate on? In this session, we will explore the cultural and spiritual significance of land to indigenous nations with a specific focus on the land in northern Colorado and Wyoming. We will understand the importance and role of Land Acknowledgements and Land Back movements. Finally, we will collaboratively generate actions we can take to support local indigenous communities in relation to land. 

What Interfaith Dialogue Really Looks Like

Join interfaith leaders and learn about how people from all the world’s religions can work together to create a more just and unified world. This participatory workshop will include leaders from a variety of faiths, and together, we will do more than just talk about religions working together—we’ll get to do it.

Yoga IRL

This workshop delivers the benefits of Yoga, In Real Life. Those who attend Yoga IRL can expect to gain knowledge and perspective of their individual existence, and how that relates to their environment and those around them. We will feature body awareness exercises, on and off our mats. We will learn strategies for experiencing everyday emotions—fear and excitement, anger and joy—in more than just our heads. And we will explore how all of that fits into the complex world around us. This is the Yoga no one talks about … yet.

Young Leaders Making a Change

We’ll explore the critical role young leaders play in shaping and strengthening our communities. We’ll discuss the unique perspectives and energy young leaders bring and how their fresh ideas can address pressing challenges and drive positive change. Attendees will learn about the benefits of youth leadership, from fostering inclusivity and innovation to creating sustainable community improvements. Through interactive discussions and activities, we’ll highlight the importance of stepping into leadership roles early and how these contributions can make a meaningful impact on the world around us.

Youth Mental Health, Social Media, and AI

Modern technology is a disruptive force in our lives, shifting what we thought we knew about human connection, relationships, education, and authenticity. Young people are accustomed to this technology and use it in myriad ways, and it’s important to spotlight the harms that may be lurking around the corner when considering over-reliance on these technologies. We’ll discuss social media and AI’s impact on mental health and education, personally reflect and consider our personal values, and brainstorm solutions youth could build to ensure we have agency in shaping the future of innovative technology, rather than being victims.

You can return to the Colorado Youth Diversity Conference main page here.