Volunteer that “Makes things happen” Honored with Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award

From left to right, Dick Thomas, Urban Peak board member, Terri Taylor, Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award Recipient, Todd Fredrickson, Urban Peak board member, Christina Carlson, President and CEO, Urban Peak, andLiza Kirkpatrick, Minoru Yasui Committee member

According to Terri Taylor, “Urban Peak is just one of those organizations that gets under your skin in the absolute best way possible. You get involved and you just don’t want to walk away. “   

Terri Taylor has volunteered at Urban Peak for almost twenty-five years. Thursday, February 24, 2022, Taylor was honored with the Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award.  

Urban Peak ignites the potential in youth to exit homelessness and create self-determined fulfilled lives. Their vision is that “All Colorado youth have safe housing, supportive relationships and the opportunity for self-sufficiency and success.” Urban Peak provides a full convergence of services solely focused on one of the most vulnerable populations in our community: youth ages 15-24 who are experiencing homelessness. To move from homelessness to safety and stability, these young people require intensive strength-based management, access to physical, mental and behavioral health care, education, employment opportunities, 24/7 crisis support and a place to call home.

Terri was first introduced to Urban Peak while working at the Downtown Denver Partnership. She was struck by the incredible commitment of the team and staff and the significant impact they had on youth experiencing homelessness. In 2010, she joined the board. This was a critical time for Urban Peak. Terri came to the table with a dedication to the mission. She was engaged, dependable and creative. She had the rare talent of getting to the heart of the issue. She was an excellent communicator and people listened. Her contributions were and continue to be significant. Taylor created a board engagement committee which encouraged board members to interact outside of the regular board meetings, providing and serving dinner at the shelter. She was an integral part of the development team. She helped to create and establish Urban Nights, an annual fundraiser which has become a marquee event for Urban Peak, generating revenue, support and volunteers.  She chaired the Board for two years.  She said she was most proud of the role she played in the organization’s current leadership. She co-led the search committee for the new President and CEO. The CEO who was unanimously selected, Christina Carlson started in 2017 and has far exceeded all expectations.  

In his nominating letter, Dick Thomas, Urban Peak past board chair and current board member concluded, “Having been on the Urban Peak board for more than 32 years, I have witnessed the participation of many board members. Terri Taylor is one of those few special people who makes things happen. She is a strong voice when she feels something is not in the best interest of the organization. Urban Peak would not be the vibrant organization it is today without her involvement. You will be hard pressed to find a candidate more devoted to the Colorado homeless community than Terri Taylor.” 

On accepting the award, Taylor ended by saying, “We moved the ceremony inside today because of the weather. But it is important to note that, this is a choice and a luxury most of the youth Urban Peak serves don’t have. It reiterates the important work done at Urban Peak because not everybody gets to move inside when it gets cold.” 

Taylor donated the $2,000 cash award to Urban Peak.

For the past 46 years, The Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award has honored and celebrated volunteers that value integrity and inclusivity. Like Minoru Yasui, they act with vision, perseverance and compassion. They shine a bright light on the good and make a tremendous impact on the lives of so many. 

If you would like to learn more about this award, nominate an extraordinary volunteer or donate to this award, please visit minyasui.org. 

The Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award is a program of Spark the Change Colorado. Sponsors include Liza and Don Kirkpatrick, Lynne Butler, About Time Awards and Minoru Yasui Committee members.