January Peak News
A Christmas Story
During this past season of giving, we were reminded of our amazing community of supporters. One such supporter, 12-year-old Loudon, decided to raise money for charity by producing and selling Christmas trees that he made from recycled fence posts and pickets. He found Urban Peak through our website and was inspired to donate the proceeds from his tree sales because of our “commitment to getting people back on their feet.” Loudon managed to raise an unbelievable $4,000 by selling over 100 trees and even doubled the donation to $8,000 with a 1:1 match from his father’s company, Speaks Orthodontics. We could not be more humbled by and grateful for the incredible support of our community and folks like Loudon!
Peak Spotlight
We in the Urban Peak family want to say thank you for the incredible support we received through the end of 2021. We received monetary donations that several local churches make each year around the holidays; meal donations that have been generously provided at the Shelter on a weekly basis; and even a handwritten letter of support and well-wishes from kids at our neighborhood elementary school. We’re so moved by our community’s seemingly endless generosity of spirit!
No matter what form it takes, every contribution from our community is appreciated because it allows us to continue the essential work of meeting youth where they’re at and connecting them with resources that put them on a path toward self-determined, fulfilled lives. We could not do this work without your amazing generosity and willingness to donate your time and energy. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making 2021 one of our best years yet, and we’re looking forward to an even better 2022!
Partner Highlight
Urban Peak is thrilled to be the recipient of a Direct Effect Award from the Colorado Housing and Financing Authority (CHFA), a program within the Department of the Treasury. CHFA recognizes Colorado nonprofit organizations whose missions align with their work to “strengthen Colorado by investing in affordable housing and community development.” Urban Peak shares in CHFA’s priority of providing services and helping in the growth of Colorado’s most vulnerable youth.
“Our vision that all Colorado youth have safe housing, supportive relationships, and the opportunity for self-sufficiency and success is perfectly aligned with CHFA's vision that everyone in Colorado has the opportunity for housing stability and economic prosperity" said Charles Knight, Urban Peak board chair. "We are very appreciative of this award and feel lucky that Colorado has an organization like CHFA ready, willing and able to help our efforts."
Youth Spotlight
Sometimes we’re lucky enough to get to know a youth at multiple locations and in multiple programs here at Urban Peak. Raymond started out with us at our Shelter and then moved into his own apartment at Rox’s Place.
Through an Urban Peak work experience, he has learned a lot about getting and keeping a job and is showing great growth at Peak Thrift. While there, Ray took the initiative to build a New Year’s resolution display encouraging physical fitness and emphasizing self-care.
He brings the jokes everywhere he goes and is excited about his next adventure when he moves out into the community.
Earlier this week I had the opportunity to go to our shelter, which was a welcome change from Zoom.
As I walked in there was a young man sitting on the patio with a guitar. He wasn’t playing it, it was just sitting on his lap. He was writing in a journal. I asked him if he was writing a song. He told me that he was writing a poem, because poems are lyrics and that learning the guitar meant he could turn the lyrics into a song. He said that music is what keeps him sane in this chaotic world.
I love music. It fills my house, my car, my office and my zoom meetings and has always brought sanity and calm to my wild and chaotic world. This passing conversation has stuck with me all week. It has brought a smile to my face every time I think about it. That young man sat on the patio at our Shelter and wrote a poem that will become a song. It is such a powerful reminder that having a refuge from the streets provides the opportunity to create art and art heals the soul. I am so grateful to be at Urban Peak. I am so lucky to see the resiliency in our youth first hand. And this week I was so fortunate to watch art in the making because it creates some sanity in a complicated, chaotic world for us all.
Gratefully,
Christina Carlson, Urban Peak CEO
