Something has gone quiet in American education and the silence is costing our children. There is a collective loss of urgency around one of the most important questions a community can ask itself.
Are we doing right by our kids? And if not, what are we going to do about it?
This fall, Donnell-Kay Foundation is launching the Colorado Imperative, a year-long series of in-person gatherings designed to build real community among people who believe Colorado’s children deserve better, and who are ready to help make that happen.
This is not Reform 2.0. We’re not arriving with a predetermined agenda, a policy platform, or a list of fixes. Instead, we’re building the community and leadership needed to come together over the course of a year to ask harder, more honest questions:
What do we actually want for Colorado’s children by 2035 and beyond? Real skills, real knowledge, and the ability to apply both alongside the capacities, character, and creativity they’ll carry into adulthood. And what would it take to make that possible for every learner, regardless of zip code?
We believe that meaningful, lasting change in education doesn’t come from policy alone. It comes from community. People who know each other, trust each other, and are willing to lead together. That’s what this series is trying to build.
We also believe that any honest reimagining of children’s learning has to be grounded in what we now know about how kids actually learn. What conditions unlock curiosity, deep understanding, and joy, and what shuts them down. The science is clear. Most of our systems haven’t caught up. Part of our work together will be closing that gap.
We’re looking for people genuinely unsettled by the results of our current educational system and who are ready to help improve it
We hope you’ll join us.
Here’s how it works:
* Six 90-minute sessions — three this fall, three in 2027
* 50–60 people in the room, small enough for real conversation
* Each session pairs voices from education, neuroscience, cognitive science, futures research, community leadership, and policy
Our first three sessions:
* Session 1 — Sept 29, 3–5pm: What do we know about our current educational system? Opening remarks from Mayor Mike Johnston, with discussants Theresa Peña and Adam Hartman.
* Session 2 — Oct 29, 3–5pm: What capabilities will Colorado learners need by 2035, and how far is our current system from that? Featuring Dr. Babak Mostaghimi.
* Session 3 — Dec 3, 3–5pm: What does thriving actually look like? Featuring Julia Freeland Fisher, Christensen Institute.
Sessions 4–6 land between February and May, dates TBD.
Before You Apply: What This Requires
Filling out this form expresses interest but it does not guarantee a seat. We are inviting 60 participants from those expressing interest in attending. Answers to the questions on the interest form will help us create a diverse group of participants. We are not looking for everyone to have the same perspectives or ideas. For participants coming from outside of the Front Range we will provide travel and lodging expenses as needed.
If selected, we’re asking you to commit to at least 5 of the 6 sessions. This series is built on continuity and trust between participants, and that only works if people show up. Please apply only if you can genuinely make that commitment over the coming year.
Written By: Sarah Johnson
Sarah Johnson is an educational entrepreneur, novice farmer, and mother to two DPS children. She believes that education can be...
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