This poem was written during CYL’s 10th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser on November 9, 2023, and presented by members of the 2023-2024 Youth Advisory Board: Enkh Turtogtokh, Skylar Griffin, Caroline Hagen, and Tuhin Sur. This poem is a snapshot of who CYL is and what we value.
We are Colorado Young Leaders.
We are RURAL and SUBURBAN and URBAN.
We are at the corner of having it all figured out and having no idea what to expect next,
We are living up to expectations and doing the best we can,
We are community seekers, best friends, advocates, and the next generation of changemakers
We spend our days beautifying parks and taking care of our community,
We spend our days serving meals to the unhoused and writing postcards to elected officials,
We spend our days on the Capitol steps and on backcountry trails,
We spend our days painting murals and planting seeds of change,
We are Colorado Young Leaders.
We are at the corner of courage and curiosity,
We are at the corner of empathy and passion,
We are disruptors and community influencers,
We listen more than we talk, and we speak with bold kindness,
The future calls us to envision a world where our youth feel safe, heard, and valued. .
We are Colorado Young Leaders.
We are from the community garden in Montbello at 54th and Andrews,
We are from the parking lot mural in Englewood at Cherokee and Floyd,
We are from the ski slopes in Breckenridge,
We are from the new trees along the Highline Canal,
The future calls us to chase after adventures with open hands and hearts.
We are Colorado Young Leaders.
We will embrace the call to chase after adventure,
We will never stop believing in ourselves and our power,
We will embody love and unity for all,
We will act with compassionate hearts and curious minds,
We call upon those who came before us and those who will come after us to change the world.
We are all in this space together, so we can imagine what could happen if we dreamed our biggest dream.
We are Colorado Young Leaders.