Background Statement
Colorado UpLift was founded in 1982 as a summer jobs program for urban, at-risk youth and has now grown into a comprehensive teaching and mentoring program providing year-round services. The "whole child" approach we utilize supports and guides youth as they travel the continuum from elementary school through high school graduation and beyond, building on the concept that just one caring, responsible adult can be incredibly powerful in shaping a child's life.
Our founder, Dr. Kent Hutcheson, discovered that although teens were successfully placed in jobs, they lacked the skills to succeed in the workplace such as respect, time management, and vision. UpLift shifted its focus to build these skills into its programs through staff-student relationships and student leadership in the classroom. These key components have resulted in a successful model now being replicated nationally.