Colorado Cares

What happens when you let children design the cities they live in? In this episode, we’re joined by Mara Minzer, co-founder and executive director of Growing Up Boulder. Mara shares how her organization has given over 10,000 young people a seat at the city planning table—from shaping affordable housing and transit to designing public libraries and parks equipped with every kid's ultimate requirement: a zipline!

Tune in as we discuss how children approach problem-solving with uncompromised creativity, how to convince adult decision-makers to fund youth-led ideas, and why listening to the next generation builds a more sustainable future for everyone.

In a world dominated by endless screen time and scroll culture, how do we build real, human connections? In this episode, we sit down with Mark Abraham, the visionary behind Circle Cards and the Spread the Hug movement. Mark opens up about his unconventional journey—from giving spontaneous hugs at an overnight music festival to spending nearly a decade building a grassroots community of kindness across cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Austin, and Boulder.

Picture standing at the edge of a snow-covered mountain peak with students who have never spent a night in a tent before. In this episode, host Ashwin sits down with Ford Church, founder and executive director of the Cottonwood Institute, to explore his incredible journey from survival schools to launching a mission-driven nonprofit. Ford shares valuable insights on navigating the highs and lows of building a nonprofit from the ground up, the realities of fundraising and handling rejection, overcoming pandemic and economic hurdles, and how nature can empower the next generation of environmental leaders. Tune in to discover why a little determination, resilience, and a deep connection to the outdoors can change the world!

What if the secret to solving adult debt lies in teaching children how money works before they ever open a credit card?

In this episode, host Ashwin sits down with Kim McGrigg, Senior Director of Communications at Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain. Kim shares her remarkable career journey—from spending years as "Dear Susan," an advice columnist responding to thousands of adults facing foreclosure and bankruptcy, to shifting her focus entirely toward prevention through youth economic education.

Kim and Ashwin discuss the critical gap between traditional school curricula and real-world financial readiness, the transformative power of experiential learning models like JA Finance Park, and how Junior Achievement is expanding its reach across Colorado and Wyoming. Tune in for an insightful conversation on bridge-building, career passion, overcoming skepticism, and why financial literacy is the ultimate engine for youth empowerment and economic mobility.