YCD Colorado supports high school teens and educators exploring identity, educating their peers and themselves, and making Colorado schools inclusive for all.
Started in 1994 as the Cherry Creek Diversity Conference with just 18 schools attending, today YCD Colorado reaches over 1,100 teens and educators in 185+ schools and youth organizations annually across the state through our program.
YCD Colorado now offers a mixture of virtual and in-person events, workshops, trainings, discussion groups, and resources to empower Colorado teens and educators to advance inclusion and justice in their local school and community.
Students and educators can sign up for YCD Colorado here.
Check out more information about YCD Colorado below, and if you have questions, please contact us!
Thank you to our platinum sponsors
YCD Colorado Student Board
YCD’s activities in Colorado, including the Colorado Youth Diversity Conference, are 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.
Apply today
Ready to apply for your spot on the YCD Colorado Student Board? Click the button below.
Register Your School or Organization
Ready to take action to make your school or community more inclusive? Register your school or organization for YCD Colorado today!
Registration gives your group access to all YCD activities in Colorado for the 2023-24 school year, including the Colorado Youth Diversity Conference, weekly activity plans, virtual discussion groups, webinars, and much more!
Upcoming Events
December 27
Virtual Webinar
Responding to Book Bans and Censorship in Schools
Join this webinar to hear strategies for handling book ban challenges that target youth of color and LGBTQ+ youth.
January 20
Denver, CO
Student Facilitator Training
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 clubs, schools, and communities.
February 3
Denver, CO
Colorado Youth Diversity Conference
Join over 1,000 teens and educators from across Colorado for a powerful day filled with dialogue, education, and community.
Videos
Confronting Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia
Listen to this webinar to hear from Jewish and Muslim community leaders about their experiences with religious and ethnic-based hate and marginalization; the connections between anti-Semitism and Islamophobia; and strategies on how to respond to hate and discrimination when you witness or experience it.
Immigrant Youth Share Their Stories
Hear a conversation between two immigrant youth as they share their immigration stories, and discuss what it was like for them to adjust to life in the United States. This conversation features Angel, who immigrated from Mexico at age 3, and Raima, who immigrated from India at age 10.
How to Start (or Improve) a Youth-Led Inclusion and Justice Club
Whether you are a student or educator, whether you are just starting a club or group or have an existing one — YCD provides a helpful series of exercises and ideas so your group can organize, find resources, and create an action project to advance inclusion and justice.
Partners, Allies and Accomplices
YCD is proud to work with dozens of local, authentic non-profit organizations and community groups to provide workshops and education for our programs. Below is a representative list of the organizations involved with YCD Colorado recently.
Participating Schools and Organizations
Check out the list of 185 schools and youth organizations that have participated in YCD Colorado activities in recent years!
Donations and Sponsorship
The YCD Colorado Student Board is working hard to plan events for the 2023-24 school year, but could use your support. We need to raise a total of $25,000 from the community to make this program a success. Please consider a donation or sponsorship to support these teens’ efforts.
Donations
Individuals may donate online using the form below. Donations will be directed specifically to support this program.
Sponsorships
Sponsorships are available for businesses and organizations at a wide variety of levels and come with significant benefits to show attendees your support of their cause:
Platinum Sponsor: $5,000+
- Linked logo/sponsorship mention in monthly emails to 1,000+ program faculty advisors and participants, throughout the school year
- Full-page advertisement in the Conference program distributed to all participants
- Tour during Conference day by student co-chairs
- Info table for participants to browse during arrival
- Signage for Opening/Closing Ceremonies
- Prominent display of linked logo on Conference website
- Mention of sponsorship over YCD social media channels
Gold Sponsor: $1,000+
- Full-page advertisement in the Conference program distributed to all participants
- Info table for participants to browse during arrival
- Display of linked logo on Conference website
- Mention of sponsorship over YCD social media channels
Silver Sponsor: $500+
- Half-page advertisement in the Conference program distributed to all participants
- Info table for participants to browse during arrival
- Invitation to attend Opening Ceremonies
- Display of logo on Conference website
Bronze Sponsor: $250+
- Quarter-page advertisement in the Conference program distributed to all participants
- Invitation to attend Opening Ceremonies
- Mention on Conference website
For more information about sponsorship opportunities, or to make your pledge, please contact us.
Contact Info
Sybenie Hernandez
Program Manager – YCD Colorado
Denver, Colorado
(303) 335-9585
shernandez@ycdiversity.org