Growing Up Boulder

Mission: Growing Up Boulder is a nonprofit whose mission is to center young people's rights, voices, and agency to advance equitable and sustainable communities for all.

Vision: ​Growing Up Boulder's vision is to cultivate vibrant communities where all young people thrive.

Growing Up Boulder is a nonprofit program based in Boulder, CO, and they believe that kids create a better tomorrow.  They launched in the spring of 2009 as a program at the University of Colorado's "Children, Youth and Environments Center."  The City of Boulder, Boulder Valley School District, State Senator Dorothy Rupert, local non-profits and businesses, and children and youth ages 0-18 were our key partners in founding Growing Up Boulder. In 2021, Growing Up Boulder left the university to become a nonprofit program under the fiscal sponsorship of the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center (CNDC). They continue to partner closely with their founding organizations.

Locally, Growing Up Boulder has engaged directly with more than 10,000 young people, 1,500 university students, and 70 partner organizations. They have elevated youth voice in more than 100 projects. Globally, Growing Up Boulder has reached 2.5 million people through its publications, TED talk, podcasts, interviews, presentations, webinars and lectures. Growing Up Boulder engages children of all backgrounds, with a focus on youth who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, experiencing disabilities, and living with low-incomes. They work with government entities and communities to include young people's input on local decisions which affect their lives; this includes topics like the design of affordable and sustainable housing, resilience planning, healing from tragedy, policing, transit systems, parks and open space, and productive community dialogue.