As we step into a new year, I’ve been reflecting on what 2025 meant for us. This past year was all about gaining clarity. We got sharper in naming what we do, why we do it, and what it looks like when Ednium is operating at its strongest.

But 2026?
2026 is about amplification.
It’s about taking everything we have built over the last five years and turning up the volume—not for the sake of noise, but for the sake of impact.

And at the center of that impact will always be the voices of alumni.

Amplifying Alumni Voice—Everywhere Decisions Are Made

One of the biggest priorities for 2026 is being more intentional and strategic about how we elevate alumni voice—especially those who came through our programs and are now stepping into leadership and decision-making roles across the city.

We’re seeing alumni serve on boards, lead teams, influence policy, and build new pathways for young people. They’re stepping into spaces with confidence, with agency, and with purpose.

In 2026, we’re doubling down on that momentum. That means:

• Making alumni stories the centerpiece of our conversations
• Sharper program impact data, especially around growth in Leadership Launchpad, Advocacy Accelerator, and Denver Deep Dive
• Deepening partnerships with metro-area districts—Cherry Creek, Adams 12, Aurora, Jeffco—so alumni voices shape policies that affect students across the region
• Positioning Ednium as a convener and collaborator in the advocacy space around postsecondary and workforce readiness, education accountability, and better integrating K-12 and workforce pathways
• Building more spaces where alumni can learn, build, grow, and influence systems

Your Story Matters—Tell It Loudly and Authentically

One thing I’ve learned, not as an executive director but as an alumni of our first Leadership Launchpad cohort, is there is value in sharing your story loud and authentically.

I’m a deep believer in Ednium, not only because I lead the organization, but because of what telling my story did for me—personally and professionally. And I’ve heard the same from countless alumni who have gone through our programs. Before and after. There is always a difference. Always.

In 2026, we’re encouraging alumni to lean into that even more.
Be loud.
Be honest.
Be proud of where you come from and what it took to get to where you are.

Your voice influences how systems evolve.

Rooting in Why We Exist and Who We Support

Walking into the Homegrown Awards this year was one of the most beautiful reminders of what’s possible. I didn’t know half the people in the room. Community is doing its thing. Alumni are bringing people in. The ecosystem is expanding.

It reminds me of our initial reason for existing.
We are the product of the public education system, but the system still doesn’t ask us what we think.

So let me be clear:
We will continue to champion the voices of alumni.
We will stay rooted in our original mission—reinvesting in homegrown talent and making sure their lived experiences change the way the city educates its youth.

That will not change.

We know what our community needs because of our lived experiences. And we won’t have to ask for a seat at the table, because it will be our table. 

A Bigger Table in 2026: Here’s How You Can Get Involved

The ceiling of 2025 is the floor for 2026.
We are only going up from here.

1. If you have a lived experience or perspective that needs to be shared, let us amplify it.
2. If you read through our policy priorities and you think “this resonates with me,” join our Policy Committee.
3. If you want to share about the impact Ednium has made in your life, become an Alumni Ambassador and represent us in the community.

We are building a force of alumni who are shaping Denver’s future.

If 2025 was the year we clarified our message, then 2026 will be the year we amplify our impact. And we want you right there with us.