As Colorado marks 150 years of statehood alongside America’s 250th birthday, communities across the state are finding meaningful ways to celebrate, and the America 250 – Colorado 150 Commission’s Community Grants Program is helping make it possible. Now in its first wave of 43 awards, the program funds organizations spanning arts and culture to wildlife conservation, supporting locally driven nonprofits in all 64 counties as they honor the state’s unique stories and histories. Here, we highlight two awardees and the work they’re doing across the state.
Words to Power | Denver
Founded to amplify the voices of young poets, Words to Power brings written and spoken-word poetry workshops to underserved youth in grades four through 12. The program encourages students to explore their creativity while connecting with their identities, communities, and lived experiences.
The workshops don’t shy away from hard conversations. “With mental health in mind,” says founder Ara Cruz, “the poems we share throughout the workshops speak to the relatable topics of racism, cultural pride, sacrifices of family and ancestors, legacy, substance abuse, community, and finding power within ourselves.” This social- emotional learning approach helps students build a stronger sense of self.
Three times a year, students share their work at showcases where poets perform spoken word and see their writing published in print. One student, Victoria Reyes Rios Guadalupe, age 10, writes: “I am the dream of my family to keep going for a better future. In the mirror, I see a beautiful girl with a tomorrow as bright as the sun. I reach out to my future to have success. In my dreams, I imagine I have the power to stand up.”
This summer, catch Words to Power at their book releases at La Raza Park in Denver.
Durango Botanic Gardens | Durango
The Durango Botanic Gardens used their grant to create a new venue garden dedicated to Colorado native species and to support the launch of Changing DurangoScape 2026, a conference addressing how urban forests can adapt to climate change. Free and open year-round, the gardens champion water-wise planting in response to ongoing regional drought.
“Through our plant selections, conferences, and workshops, we seek to add value to our community by helping people think clearly and constructively about adapting our landscaping and gardens, both private and public, to changing climate conditions,” says Bill LeMaire, the garden’s president.
Visit durangobotanicgardens.org to become a member or volunteer.
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