Help America support Convivir Colorado!

About Me

My name is America, and I am and proud founding board member for Convivir Colorado! As many of you know, I am undocumented in the United States but currently benefit from DACA protections. While much of my life has been spent living in fear and planning for a future in limbo, much of my life has also been nurtured by people (like many of you) who have cared enough to advocate for me and my family’s safety and rights.

Thanks to many of you, I feel empowered today to advocate for my community. It’s because of this that I deeply believe in Convivir's mission and have witnessed the reach of Convivir's impact—whether it’s through intergenerational healing or community empowerment.

As I launch my fundraising campaign this year, I am asking for your support. Will you donate and help me meet my goal?

Why Convivir Colorado Exists

25% of nationwide minors are part of an immigrant family, including 1 million undocumented children and 4.5 million US-born children of undocumented immigrants. In Colorado specifically, 10% of the population is foreign-born and more than half are not citizens.

False narratives - fueled by xenophobia at worst and misinformation at best - add mental health challenges to the long list of obstacles our youth face such as language barriers, income instability, and educational inequity. But we can all agree that *all* students, regardless of their national origin or immigration status, deserve the opportunity to succeed.

What Convivir Colorado Has Been Up To

In fact, this summer program is Convivir's signature learning experience. Students commit to at least 40 hours over 25 days to deep dive into how immigration has impacted them and the world around them. Through this lens they share stories, create art, and connect their immigration journey to their own identity, their family's experiences, and the policies and media portrayal that surround them. A big component is understanding their own role in creating change, so students apply their leadership through a community-based art project.

Last summer, 25 students across metro Denver had the opportunity to weave their personal stories into a mural that reflects their immigration journey. They collaborated with local muralist Diego Florez as part of our annual "Immigrant Impact" summer program. 

In years past, these community projects have been relatively small and financially manageable. This year, Radian offered us the opportunity of a lifetime to paint the wall of the co-working space, BUILD, on 33rd and Larimer with our students - and of course we said yes! But it's a big financial endeavor, including the supplies needed to paint, the expertise of our artist-in-residence, and the meals provided to the students painting during this summer heat.

While we have been able to raise some funds from local foundations, we are still in need of additional funding. We hope we can count on community to help us complete this project!

 Testimonials

• "Convivir has helped me get out of my comfort zone by exposing me to things that I never thought I would be capable of doing. They also paid me!!!" - Mentorship Program Student
• "This discussion has made me think about my own stories and put them to further use. I never thought how powerful my story could be. Thank you for reminding me of my power." - Youth Summit Studen 

Ask of You

If you are asking yourself how you might be able to get involved, below are some ways you can support Convivir’s efforts.

1. Volunteer your time
2. Sponsor a lunch/dinner for students
3. Donate tickets for activities in Denver for students
4. Help provide school supply donations
5. Provide a monetary donation  

Your Impact

As a local startup, we would love to count on your support to help us maintain operations and programming for immigrant, refugee, and first-gen youth.  If you are interested in volunteering your time, please contact us directly and we will follow up with you to discuss future opportunities. 

Financial contributions allow us to continue providing:

1. Free programming for low-income 6th through 12th grade students in Aurora and Denver
2. A diverse range of opportunities, including our summer program, mentorship program, advocacy campaigns, and trainings
3. Alignment of our curriculum with social-emotional learning and migrant education standards
4. Wrap-around support, including bilingual family engagement and educator resources
5. Continued organizational leadership of immigrants, women, and youth 

Any amount you donate will have a powerful impact!

• $20 covers supplies and shipping for one student
• $25 covers a dinner gift card for one student
• $50 covers one student’s honorarium for a public speaking engagement
• $100 covers one student’s stipend for a quarter in the mentorship program

Thank you for believing in Convivir and in the power of our youth! Your continued support will make a significant impact in the lives of so many.