Stepping Stones of the Roaring Fork Valley has been awarded an Equity in Arts Learning for Colorado Youth Initiative (EAL) grant from Think 360 Arts for Learning, which will significantly enhance its arts programming.
Think 360 Arts for Learning is a Denver-based nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching arts education for students across Colorado. In its first year of EAL funding, they are granting nearly $400,000 to 21 organizations across 10 Colorado counties. This initiative aims to increase access to arts learning for pre-k through 12th-grade students, with grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 to support creative and innovative arts programs.
The Sopris Sun stopped by the youth drop-in center on Highway 133 in Carbondale to speak with Executive Director Kyle Crawley, who shared insights into the grant and its anticipated impact.
The campus consists of two adjacent buildings — one for middle schoolers ages 10 to 14 and the other for high schoolers up to the age of 24.
Most of the youth served by Stepping Stones are from Carbondale, though the center also attracts students from Basalt and Glenwood Springs and offers transportation for those from farther areas like New Castle. Last year, Stepping Stones served around 375 students with nearly 7,000 visits to the drop-in centers.
The center, known for its commitment to free programming, reaches a large population of underserved youth. The EAL grant will enhance this commitment by offering accessible arts programs at no cost.
“This grant allows us to collaborate with Carbondale Arts, who we’ve worked with on art projects before, to offer an artist residency program throughout the next [school] year. An artist-in-residence will work with our kids twice a week at Stepping Stones, providing a wide range of arts activities,” Crawley explained.
The arts programming begins in August with Carbondale Arts supplying teaching artists and art materials and Stepping Stones providing the students and teaching space.
Crawley emphasized the importance of consistent interactions with positive adults, a philosophy central to the program’s success. “Most of our programming centers around having positive relationships and building a trusting relationship over a long period of time and a closeness with youth, so adding an artist to the mix aligns with that philosophy,” he shared.
Think 360 Arts Executive Director Daisy McGowan highlighted the challenges and opportunities in securing arts education funding in Colorado, especially in rural areas.
Think 360 Arts was established in 1963 as Young Audiences of Colorado to bring high-quality arts education programs to k–12 students. Since 2008, they have partnered with Colorado Creative Industries, a Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade division, expanding professional development programs for teachers and teaching artists throughout the state.
McGowan explained that empowering and funding programs with a proven positive track record in smaller communities, like Stepping Stones, can create more significant impacts. “Frankly, in rural areas, those relationships take time to develop. We’re excited to be able to give the funds to an organization that has built those relationships by doing the work of showing up for their community year after year,” she said.
McGowan noted the significant role of the arts in supporting mental health for youth, stating, “The research and qualitative reporting we’re getting on the support for mental health outcomes and now some quantitative reporting show the arts can diminish those feelings of social isolation that our youth are struggling with right now. The arts can increase positive mental health outcomes.”
Stepping Stones’ holistic approach addresses a broad spectrum of needs, from emergency assistance and case management to recreational and educational activities, solidifying its role as a cornerstone of youth support in the Roaring Fork Valley.
In closing, Crawley said, “We’re thrilled to receive this grant and offer new opportunities for our kids. We’re always looking for new ways to engage and partner with different agencies to provide experiential learning.”
For more information about Stepping Stones, visit www.steppingstonesrfv.org