New digital report includes insights from Aspen’s youth

The Aspen Community Foundation and the Jonathan D + Mark C. Lewis Foundation debuted EMPOWER on April 28, a digital report highlighting insights from local youth on barriers to engagement, support systems and youth empowerment projects.

EMPOWER was spearheaded by the Youth Empowerment Alliance, a partnership between 21 nonprofit organizations and youth from the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys, according to a press release. Over the course of a year, the alliance, in collaboration with the facilitating team at Human Service Innovations, collected data from over 1,200 youth from Aspen to Parachute. 

The report serves to uplift youth through identifying their most pressing needs and shedding light on local opportunities and resources, the release states.  

“Too often in philanthropy, we move quickly to solutions without fully understanding the problem,” Mark Lewis of The Jonathan D + Mark C. Lewis Foundation shared in the release. “This work, of intentionally and truly listening to young people from Parachute to Aspen, reinforced the importance of asking the right questions, hearing what they are saying and letting that shape how we invest. It only happened because young people showed up, shared honestly and pushed us to listen, and because organizations listened closely and evolved how they work in response. It’s work we’re committed to continuing. We hope EMPOWER serves as a tool for communities to better understand and respond to what young people need.”

The creation of EMPOWER involved significant outreach that included surveys, focus groups and interviews — all led by youth, according to the release. Key points from the report include an increased need for time, communication, transportation and affordability. 

“EMPOWER and the process that led to its production is both exciting and transformational,” said John Dougherty, founder of Human Service Innovations, in the release. “It not only changes the way we understand youth and their needs, but serves as an example of how we as advocates, supporters and funders should think about investing in meeting those needs, with and through young people, as the experts of their own experience.” 

Tracy Anderson, director of Community Initiatives at Aspen Community Foundation, added, “By centering young people in this work — from data collection to design and storytelling — this report reflects what youth are experiencing across the region.”

She also noted in the release that the report can but used as a tool to deepen conversation and collaboration with young people.

Youth Empowerment Alliance contributors include:

• Aspen Center for Environmental Studies
• Aspen Community Programs at the Aspen Institute
• Aspen Family Connections
• Anderson Ranch Arts Center
• Aspen Science Center
• Aspen Valley Land Trust
• Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club
• Buddy Program
• Carbondale Arts
• Challenge Aspen
• Cook Inclusive 
• Farm Collaborative
• Garfield 16 School-Based Family Resource Center
• Highwater Farm
• Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers
• Roaring Fork PreCollegiate
• Roaring Fork School District Family Resource Center
• Stepping Stones
• The Arts Campus at Willits (TACAW)
• VOICES
• Youthentity

For more information and to see EMPOWER in both English and Spanish, visit empowercoloradoyouth.org.