Highlights from the 2025 Community Summit Sessions

The Mesa County Community Summit is all about inspiring new ideas, building connections and leaving you with tools you can bring back to your work with children and families. Alongside Derek Clark’s keynote, we’ve lined up breakout sessions that bring fresh perspectives to some of the most pressing issues on the Western Slope.

A Day in the Life of Youth

Led by Sarah St. Martin, this experiential workshop puts you in the shoes of today’s young people. Through hands-on activities, participants will gain insight into the daily challenges youth face and walk away with a deeper understanding of how to connect with and support them.

Connect. Inspire. Empower.

Foster Alumni Mentors Baylee Torres & Lexie Butler share how lived experience can be transformed into leadership. Their session shines a light on the power of authentic connection and reminds us how resilience grows when young people are empowered to lead.

Cultivating Queer Joy as a Tool for Resilience

Andi Tilmann & Em Cisneros bring a unique perspective on supporting LGBTQ+ youth and families. This session introduces the Gender Minority Stress model and shows how joy itself can be a powerful response to adversity.

Apprenticeship Success Stories at CMU Tech

Hear from Vail Shoultz-McCole & Mindy Gutierrez about the real-world impact of apprenticeships in fields like IT, medical assisting and early childhood. These stories highlight how workforce pathways are reshaping the future for young people right here on the Western Slope.

Whether you’re inspired by lived experience, eager to hear success stories or curious about new models of resilience, this year’s Summit offers something for everyone.

Come ready to connect, learn and return to your work with renewed energy. Register here!