Mission Moment

A glimpse into what we do and why we do it

This school year we have a new student who does not speak English. C's first couple of days attending the after-school program ended with her overwhelmed and in tears asking to go home early.

Some of the other kids noticed this and asked the teachers why she was upset. When they learned that their new classmate didn't speak English and was overwhelmed they immediately jumped into action. The kids who spoke Spanish encouraged C to join them and let her know that they could understand her and wanted to be her friend.

Now C arrives at Program with a huge smile on her face and with hugs for everyone!

Toni Herr, Clinical Intern & Communications Specialist

Dreamer of the Month

Kayalah Griggs, Class of 2027

As we settle into the Fall season, longtime program participant Kalayah Griggs has earned this month’s student spotlight.

Kalayh began engaging with CDF programming when she was in 7th grade and has been one of the most consistent and integral parts of high school programming ever since. Now a 10th grader at Rocky Mountain Prep: Rise, Kalayah’s ambition has found her not only in CDF programming but debate club, fencing, and yearbook club.

Although shy, Kalayah is always open to new college and career opportunities, and networking which has led her to develop an interest in forensic science. She is eager to learn more about the field as she matriculates through high school.

October Updates

Support Our Broncos Fun Fund / 30-Days Awards

Taylor Vaughn & Kyara Davis, Site Leaders at Westwood and Z-Place

Thanks to the Peyback Foundation 20 of our youth (and a few lucky Dream Team members) watch our Broncos take on the Carolina Panthers at Empower Field this Sunday the 27th. For the past two years, the foundation has been gracious enough to ensure our kids get to experience the joy of being in the stands cheering their team on.

This year we are using the tickets to celebrate youth who have hit their 30-Day mark of attending Program. A big deal, this marker represents a 90% attendance at Program from the start of the year. Make their day extra special by donating the cost of a box of popcorn or a hot cup of cocoa!

Career Exploration 6-Week Series / Saunders

Summer Wimberly, Director of College & Career

High school youth had some exciting (& spooky) excursions this month that allowed grade levels across sites to come together. In partnership with Colorado Young Leaders, 10th-grade youth journeyed to Metropolitan State University to build Me Modals - 5D models that reflected them, their values, and who they strive to become. 11th-grade youth came together to attend their first college fair hosted at the Colorado Convention Center. While still dedicated to applying to schools like Mines & MIT, youth had the opportunity to become more intrigued by schools such as the University of Utah, Rice University, and The Citadel.

Most recently, all students also had the opportunity to attend the first team building of the year - a frightening excursion through the 13th Floor. While there were plenty of screams and one youth lost his voice, I’m happy to report youth who attended had a grand time and were ready to do it all again.

This month College & Career also launched the second edition of the Your Future, Today Career Series in partnership with Saunders Construction. 11 students have had the opportunity to tour a mental health campus being built in Aurora, hear directly from project managers & construction site supervisors about their path to working in the field, and learn about the phases of construction through hands-on building with Legos.

Beyond Dreams Therapy

Aimee Alcorn, Senior Director of Beyond Dreams Therapy

Beyond Dreams Therapy is thriving with nearly 140 active clients - our highest number ever! Averaging seven referrals a week since July 1st, we are already out pacing our reach from the same period in 2023 by 24%. We know the need is greater than ever in our community and our dedicated team of therapists and interns is working tirelessly to ensure that all of our clients and stakeholders receive the care and attention they deserve.

Aimee has been actively building relationships with community and school partners throughout the city, including the Family & Community Engagement team within Denver Public Schools.

This collaboration opens the door for us to bring our therapeutic services to the members who utilize one of the six Community Hubs located across Denver. We're also excited about a burgeoning partnership with the Montbello Organizing Committee. Stay tuned for more on that next month!

As we head into the final months of 2024, we're filled with gratitude for our community partners, humbled by the trust of our clients, and passionate about continuing to provide holistic, affordable, and accessible mental health care to Denver.

If you aren’t already following us, make sure you do!

Dream Team Spotlight / Personnel

Stephanie Dreiling, Vice President of Operations

We’re starting something new this month - Dream Team Spotlight. Highlighting one of our amazing team members, this will provide you a chance to learn a little more about all the people who fuel our mission and pour love into our kids on a daily basis.

Celebrating her fifth year with us on 11/1 the Spotlight is on Aimee Alcorn, Senior Director of Beyond Dreams Therapy & Emotional Wellness.

“I can not believe that it has been almost five years since I joined the Dream Team! I started my journey here when we were in the whole school model and supported the clinical team members in expanding the Emotional Wellness work that was being done within the program. I brought with me my experience as a classroom teacher and then my work at Children's Hospital Colorado's Pediatric Mental Health Institute, but stepping into the after-school world was a new adventure for me!

In 2020, when the world shut down, our team of six clinical folks pivoted seamlessly, continuing to provide emotional wellness check-ins to the program youth, even adapting to virtual classrooms and socially distanced driveway sessions.

When we stepped out into the Community Sites, Sophie Silver (Therapeutic Services Manager) and I dreamed up and launched the Mental Health Therapy and Clinical Internship Program. Since September 2021, we've done this work alongside an incredible team of seven Licensed Therapists and 48 Masters and Doctoral Level Interns who have poured their hearts and souls into providing over 10,000 hours of 1:1 and small group therapy sessions.

We've expanded our reach, partnering with schools and providers throughout the Denver Metro Area. We've supported the professional growth of degree candidates from a dozen different colleges and universities. We've started billing Medicaid, ensuring that financial barriers don't prevent people from accessing our services. In July 2024 we launched the sub-brand of Beyond Dreams Therapy at Colorado Dream Foundation, have been awarded a handful of grants to support the work we do, and we've even opened a third site to provide services to even more community members!

Beyond work, I spend as much time outside as possible with my adorable goldendoodle named Luna, who I rescued in March 2020 - she was my quarantine partner then and has been the best sidekick since! She's grown into a big, lovable teddy bear and loves coming to work with me at the Grant Street office. I'm a proud third generation Coloradoan with a loud Italian family who I spend as much time with as possible! I am grateful to do this work alongside so many amazingly talented and passionate teammates.”

Meet Our Staff

Welcome New Members / Board

John Wetherington, Chair of Governance & Culture Committee

Monica Lang, Chief of Staff at Alvarado Restaurant Nation, joins us having served on multiple boards including Denver Chamber of Commerce, Women’s Leadership Foundation, and Colorado Business Roundtable.

As a mother to three adult sons, Monica believes in actively listening and meeting the future generations where they are at to inspire them towards greatness. Like us, she also believes everyone matters and is deserving of compassion, love, kindness, and hugs.

We’re excited to have her joining us around the table and know she will do amazing things with the Programs & Outcomes Committee!

Calvin Parshad, National Director of Business Development at DaVita, served on several boards focused on youth in the Bay Area prior to his relocation to the Front Range.

With skills in developing and building community and corporate partnerships, mental health program management, and a passion for supporting the development and growth of young people, Calvin is a welcome addition to our Development Committee!

LoAn Vo, Owner/Partner TransCrude, LLC, returns to our board having stepped off in 2021. Having served on several other boards across the Metro area, including the Colorado Coalition of the Homeless, we are beyond thrilled to have her returning.

A Dreamer from the Class of 1998, LoAn brings a unique perspective to our work. In addition to having a passion for creating events and experiences for people, she is a successful entrepreneur who will have so much to share with our youth and community.

The Development Committee will benefit from her experience and enthusiasm!

October 2024 Newsletter