By Andrea Palm-Porter, RFL Executive Director

On Friday, August 22nd, I had the opportunity to attend the Colorado Civic Collaboratory gathering at the Iliff School of Theology, thanks to the warm hosting of Dr. Jeni Rinner and for Civic Canopy for creating the collaboratory. Twenty-five civic innovators came together to explore stories of upheaval—personal, collective, and civic—and to lean into the kind of meaningful dialogue that strengthens our communities.

What made this convening unique wasn’t just the agenda, but the spirit of connection. This wasn’t “just another meeting.” Instead, it was a space where we built relationships, moved below the surface of small talk, wrestled with disagreement, and made concrete commitments to support one another’s work. Together, we were reminded that civic life is about much more than a ninth-grade social studies unit—it’s about creating a thriving civil society here and now.

For me personally, the highlight was meeting individuals from across the state who are doing deeply meaningful work in the civic arena. From cultivating diverse and ethical leadership to strengthening civic health across Colorado, every conversation carried both inspiration and urgency.

At Roaring Fork Leadership (RFL), this experience resonates deeply with our mission. We believe leadership is about action, not titles. By participating in statewide conversations like the Civic Collaboratory, we put leadership into practice—sharing our voice, representing the perspectives of our mountain communities, and contributing to a stronger civic fabric for Colorado.

RFL is deeply embedded in helping to build leadership and civic ecosystems across the state. In addition to the Civic Collaboratory, we are actively engaged in discussions with CiviCO about building a statewide civic learning community for Colorado leaders. We are consistently connecting with CSU’s Community Development Director, Patti Schmitt, for the Office of Engagement and Extension to expand our understanding of issues across the state. We are also honored to be part of the Denver Foundation’s Belonging Colorado Leadership Network Cohort, where we are working alongside peers to address equity and belonging at every level of civic and community life. Our work extends further into the Boettcher Foundation’s Rural Leaders Collaborative and the Leadership Practitioner Convening, where we join with others committed to strengthening leadership pathways in every corner of Colorado.

Through these networks, RFL both contributes to and learns from the statewide movement to strengthen civic leadership. Our role is not just to develop leaders in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valley, but also to ensure that rural and mountain voices are included in statewide decision-making and innovation. Leadership ecosystems are built when local voices connect to statewide platforms—and we are committed to making sure our communities are represented.

As RFL’s Executive Director, I am also personally dedicated to staying in tune with trends, research, and emerging practices in leadership and civic engagement. Our state is navigating rapid change, and it is more important than ever to ensure that leadership development is grounded in inclusion, adaptability, and collaboration.

I look forward to continuing this work at the next Civic Collaboratory convening on Friday, January 16th and to finding even more ways to connect our local leadership with statewide efforts.

Because when leaders come together—whether from Aspen, Parachute, Denver, or Durango—we remind each other that leadership is about more than vision. It’s about voice, connection, and the courage to act for the greater good.

The Colorado Civic Collaboratory is a local pilot of the National Civic Collaboratory model, launched by The Civic Canopy and other partners in April 2025, to build a network for collaborative, ecosystem-based solutions to Colorado’s complex challenges. The Civic Canopy is a Colorado-based nonprofit focused on cultivating collaboration and dialogue between diverse groups to foster systemic change and create stronger, more just communities.

What is the Colorado Civic Collaboratory? 

A Collaborative Ecosystem:

It’s a model for creating a collaborative ecosystem with shared resources and mutuality to tackle complex civic issues.

A Pilot Program:

Colorado’s effort was a pilot of the National Civic Collaboratory model, which began with a launch event in April 2025.

The Civic Canopy‘s Role:

The Civic Canopy was instrumental in piloting this model at the local level, bringing together diverse participants from various sectors and regions of Colorado.

What is The Civic Canopy?

Community-Based Nonprofit:

The Civic Canopy is a Colorado nonprofit dedicated to fostering a culture of collaboration and dialogue.

Mission:

Their goal is to connect people seeking change, equip them with tools, and facilitate collective action for lasting, systemic change in communities.

Community Learning Model (CLM):

They use a research-based CLM, which emphasizes results, stakeholder dialogue, and action planning within a culture of trust and collaboration to achieve positive community change.

Focus:

The Civic Canopy supports resident-led efforts, youth engagement, authentic dialogue, and community organizing to improve neighborhoods and communities across Colorado.