Diverse stakeholders
working together
We are a dedicated, diverse coalition of over 200 stakeholders and organizations working together to ensure Colorado kids get the strongest start possible.
Our work lays the foundation for a stronger, healthier and more productive Colorado. We support nurturing environments for Colorado’s youngest citizens because we know their earliest experiences dramatically influence brain development, social-emotional growth, cognitive skills, and future health and success in school and life.
who is
raise
colorado?
The Raise Colorado coalition is convened by Colorado Children’s Campaign, Clayton Early Learning and a diverse steering committee, that includes Black Child Development Institute-Denver Affiliate, Early Childhood Council of Larimer County, Families Forward Resource Center, Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA), The Original Milk Mentor, Parent Possible, Roots Family Center, and grassroots community members to help expecting families, pregnant people, infants, and toddlers in Colorado thrive.
To ensure positive outcomes for all Colorado communities, we mobilize Coloradans as we advance equitable policies, programs, and practices that help expecting families, pregnant people, infants, and toddlers thrive.
STEERING COMMITTEE
Our Steering Committee helps guide the coalition on a collaborative mission to identify priority policy changes – in legislation, regulation, and implementation. Raise Colorado Steering Committee members include:
Trennie Collins
Community Advocate
Durango, Colorado
Southern Ute Indian Tribal Reservation
she/her/hers
Gretchen Groenke
Community Advocate
Mancos, Colorado
Kinyata Jackson
Advocate,
Black Child Development Institute-Denver
Maegan Lokteff, PhD
Executive Director,
Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA)
she/her/hers
Crystal Munoz
Founder & Executive Director,
Roots Family Center
Laura Knudtson
Director of Community & Government Relations,
Parent Possible
Caronne Porter
Founder,
The Original Milk Mentor
Christina Taylor
Executive Director,
Early Childhood Council of Larimer County
she/her/hers
Jalen Taylor
Program Development Director,
Black Child Development Institute‐Denver
Shawn M. Taylor
Healthy Babies Strong Families Director,
Families Forward Resource Center
Chanell Reed
Executive Director,
Families Forward Resource Center
Staff Include:
Kayla Frawley
Manager, Policy & Advocacy,
Clayton Early Learning
she/her/hers
Melissa Mares
Early Childhood Policy Fellow,
Colorado Children’s Campaign
she/her/hers
Jacinta “Jacy” Montoya Price
Advocacy Manager,
Colorado Children’s Campaign
she/her/hers
Christina Walker
Director, Policy & Advocacy,
Clayton Early Learning
she/her/hers
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
Our community partners reflect the strength, wisdom, and diversity found across Colorado. Their voices represent a range of perspectives from, home visiting, childcare for infants and toddlers, screening and referrals, rural communities, communities of color, workforce, parents, advocates, state and county government representatives, business partners, private philanthropy and providers, among others.
Raise Colorado is proud to be a state partner of Think Babies, created by ZERO TO THREE to make the potential of every baby our national priority.