Colorado Young Leaders (CYL) exists to empower the next generation of leaders. With your support, young people have access to programs that inspire change, invoke leadership, and ignite passion. Through service adventures, Think Like a Genius challenges, podcasting, and more, young leaders find passion and purpose, and discover the confidence to make the world a better place.
Your donation is integral in CYL’s ability to provide youth with transformational experiences. Your gift lays the foundation for youth to build their leadership skills and grow their confidence. Donate today and create a lasting legacy for generations to come!
Any gift is appreciated and impactful! Thank you for supporting young leaders!
Tristan was feeling lost and uncertain about the future. Sure, most high school students have felt this way at least a time or two. But Tristan was dealing with more than decisions about where to go to college or what grades he might get. Tristan was in an adoptive home filled with unhealthy relationships and toxic behaviors. It became too much and he was placed with a new family last year. Unsure if this home would be better or worse, permanent or temporary, the lost feeling festered.
Luckily for Tristan, his new guardian Sarah already knew about CYL. She suggested that he give it a try. With nothing left to lose, Tristan showed up to his first meeting fully himself - skirt flying behind him, a full face of makeup, and energy for days. It felt so good to finally be himself! To Tristan’s surprise, “I walked in and was immediately accepted for who I was. I was seen as a person, not the clothes I was wearing.”
Tristan found a place where he was accepted, and without having to worry about how he presented himself, he was able to focus on making a difference in the world. “That was never something I thought about,” Tristan said, “because I was always worried about trying to fit in wherever I could.”
Together, Tristan and his new groupmates planned a months-long project to collect and distribute items to new immigrants in Denver. On the final day of the project, they put together 500 care packages, and heard from those who would be impacted. “That was really cool,” Tristan remembers, “Because if it was me in their shoes, I’d be really grateful for those care packages. I felt like we made a big impact.”
“When CYL came around, I was broken. I was purposely not putting myself out there, because I was in so much pain. I was on a path to falling into the wrong crowds. But with CYL, I was accepted. I was able to see what an impact I could have on the world. Now I want to find fulfillment and meaning - the dream!”
Your support of CYL’s programs today is vital to the future success of Young Leaders like Tristan. With your help, CYL can continue to be a safe, accepting place where individuals can make an impact on the world around them. Tristan says: “If you truly want to help your community, support CYL!”
To develop young people's leadership skills through our dynamic leadership process: to inspire a sense of adventure through meaningful service-learning opportunities in the local community; and to create community for young people to live out their discovered skills and passions.
Values: Leadership - Service - Community - Adventure - Legacy
We are leaders here to create more leaders.
CYL’s founder, Nicole Mahobian, loved her job teaching high school students. She noticed that the apathy many students felt could be remedied through experiential education. At Montbello High School, she arranged field trips that showcased professions that matched the aspirations and dreams of her students. At Valor Christian High School, she led international service trips where students found confidence and purpose. She saw first-hand how hands-on experiences could shape the students’ views of the world and inspire passionate leadership. In 2013, she established Colorado Young Leaders to bring these experiences to even more young people throughout the state.
Today, CYL is a student-driven organization, grounded in the belief that young people can change the world. We are animated by the core values of community, service, adventure, leadership and legacy.
More than ever, we need a world full of prepared minds and purposeful energy to lead future generations. We are grateful for your support in this journey!
Organization name
Colorado Young Leaders
other names
CYL
2013
Tax id (EIN)
46-4301624
Category
Youth Development
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
250 Fillmore Street Suite 225Mailing
250 Fillmore Street Suite 225Denver County, CO, US
Jefferson County, CO, US
Arapahoe County, CO, US
Douglas County, CO, US
Phone
720-924-6590
Other
303-588-5809