During my senior year at Golden High School, I wanted nothing more than to leave Colorado. I had grown up here and all my friends were here, yet I wanted a new challenge. This mindset led me to attend the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. I loved my new experiences in the Pacific Northwest. I was able to travel often and meet people who would become lifelong friends. I discovered a passion for digging into communities and helping solve different issues that affected those around me. This led me to the nonprofit world, and in turn, a career which would be centered around service. However, I always knew Colorado was calling, and the state that raised me would be where I settled down.
I started looking for jobs where I could soak up information about the nonprofit world while simultaneously making a difference. El Pomar Foundation combined both qualities, and the Fellowship seemed like the perfect learning opportunity to set down roots in Colorado. I felt drawn to its mission of “enhancing, encouraging, and promoting the current and future well-being of the people of Colorado.” The mission is broad, allowing our impact to spread across many sectors and organizations. I valued how El Pomar seemed to look at the state as a whole, funding both urban and rural regions. Finally, the emphasis on leadership development was something I desired because of my dream to one day start and operate my own nonprofit.
A commitment to Colorado is fundamental to my time at El Pomar, and it is not something to be taken lightly. Our work impacts people every single day. Whether it be through our grant making or programs, El Pomar’s work is necessary for the well-being of Colorado. For me, the opportunity to get involved with local communities and support them in their work is a privilege. After having such a desire to leave the state when I was younger, I now can’t imagine a better place to dig in and make a difference.
