Who we are

Our Partners

Inequities in education were created and are perpetuated by institutional racism, power, and privilege. There is no one individual or organization that can tear down and rebuild these long standing mindsets, biases, and behaviors; it must be a collective, community-wide effort

Launch is one of three founding organizations working in deep partnership to close achievement and opportunity gaps in Northeast Denver and beyond. Kids Above Everything (KAE), Collaborative Healing in Community (CHIC), and Launch Network collectively launch the potential of kids and families in coordination with neighborhood schools. Only with champions and allies can we effectively close the achievement gap and impact students, families, and communities.

Kids Above Everything

dane

kirk

Kids Above Everything (KAE) exists to inspire and empower all youth to find and foster their identity. We create environments where relationships are the foundation of everything we do. We recognize that authentic relationships sustain impact, increase positive self-identity, and by doing so, change the life trajectories of young people in our communities. KAE is led by Co-founders Dane Washington and Kirk Stevenson.

Collaborative Healing Initiative within Communities

sade

hilari

Collaborative Healing Initiative within Communities (CHIC) helps families break intergenerational cycles of poverty and violence. We strengthen families and communities by strengthening women and girls. We fill a critical gap in the landscape of institutions and service providers by offering culturally-relevant, whole-family, female-focused supports that directly intervene in the systems that most frequently fail communities: education, workforce, and criminal justice. CHIC is lead by Co-founders Sade Cooper and Hilari Smith. CHIC’s Lead Educator with Launch is Deacon Scott Poindexter.

Our Team

JUSTIN DARNELL, CHIEF NAVIGATOR

Justin seeks to dismantle inequitable systems and close the achievement gap in elementary schools. Before co-creating Launch, Justin helped create and implement the Teacher Leadership and Collaboration strategy (2013-2017) and professional development systems for teachers (2011-2012) in Denver Public Schools. Justin also spent 6 years as a science teacher at Bryant Webster ECE-8 and was selected as the 2010 Colorado Teacher of the Year. He was incredibly humbled and fortunate to have shaken hands with President Obama.

KIRK STEVENSON, DIRECTOR

In addition to being the co-founder of KAE, Kirk works with Launch because he saw a need and wanted to use his 20 years of coaching experience to make a difference in the lives of children who need it the most. He helps children see their value, builds their confidence, and holds them accountable by being a consistent presence and by showing unconditional love and support. Kirk recognizes the importance of developing the whole child and uses non-traditional approaches to engage the family unit to teach social emotional skills. Kirk is passionate and committed to impacting the youth who live in the neighborhoods he grew up in.

ASHLÈ JOHNSON , DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

BIO COMING SOON!

YVETTE CROWE, launch coach

It has been Yvette’s lifelong dream to give back to the Park Hill community in which she was raised by promoting equality and condemning bias and injustices through education and social-emotional practices. Yvette’s professional experience consists of administering social safety-net supports at the Denver Department of Human Services, working for nonprofit agencies supporting low-income families, and at DPS, providing enrichment opportunities for students. Yvette’s goal is to use inclusivity and cultures to “launch” students’ successful futures.

DOMINIQUE EDMONDS, launch coach

Ms. Dom, is a Launch Coach specializing in real life applications of learning while connecting with student and family interests. Dom hopes to empower all students to reach their full potential by exposing students to elementary engineering concepts, problem solving, and design learning through projects and field trips. She has over a decade of experience involving the care, education and well-being of children. Dom initially started as a secretary for DPS. During this short period of time, she recognized the need for all to build relationships: student/teacher, parent/teacher, & parent/staff. Dom moved into the Restorative Practices Coordinator role with DPS, where she had been building relationships for the past 7 years before joining Launch

DANE WASHINGTON JR. , launch coach

BIO COMING SOON!

Kirk Stevenson JR., LAUNCH COACH

BIO COMING SOON!

JAMIKO VERNER, LAUNCH COACH

BIO COMING SOON!

BRINA MILTON, LAUNCH COACH

BIO COMING SOON!

SUZE DERAS, LAUNCH COACH

BIO COMING SOON!

JASON MCBRIDE, LAUNCH COACH

BIO COMING SOON!

Our Board

Katherine Casey

Katherine Casey Consulting – Chair

Janeel Williams

Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies – Parent

Amy Engelmen

Intentional Inquiry

Jonathan McMillian

City and County of Denver and Park Hill Collective Impact

Sarah Craft

Park Hill Collective Impact

Peter Piccolo

Bicycle Colorado

Launch Stories

[Launch] helps me by asking me about my problems outside of education. They help with the landlord and with my sister. Nobody else helps me like that.

Launch Parent

[Our partnership] reminds me of bringing back community, like old school style. We represent that block where everybody used to know everybody. Your parents’ mama holds you accountable. My neighbor’s gonna hold you accountable. This is like that old community feel. The village. That’s how we grew up and where we came from, too.

Community Educator/Partner

I love Launch, it’s the best thing that ever happened to my child. If it wasn’t for the Launch program I don’t know where my son and I would be. We wouldn’t had stand a chance. Thank you so much.

Launch Parent

There was a student who definitely showed up every day combative, struggling, combative to make relationships, combative with his peers, with the adults, just really struggling and that, in my perspective, really prevented him from accessing his academics. And now he sees himself as a learner. His relationships are very solid, and he is spending his time in school learning, right, and addressing his gap.

Teacher from Partner School

I am very good at being myself…discerning myself…being nice when I want to…standing up for people…There is no one else on the planet that can do me better, except me.

Launch Student

To me, it’s like we’re all artists drawing on the same canvas. We’re creating an unbelievable surreal picture. I mean it’s something that’s so deep, and so pretty, with so many colors on it, and it works so well, and it’s unique.

Community Educator/Partner

When I give up, I do get really angry…I will just sit there and think to myself, ‘You ain’t gonna become what you want if you don’t learn this math, bro.’ My consciousness is telling me…‘You gotta get on this math because you can get more than just your phone and Xbox taken away. You can even get your own job taken away in future.’

Launch Student

[My child] loves Launch and her growth is tremendous. She feels so much more secure in her education, rather than struggling and hiding it.

Launch Parent

I think that the trauma-informed and high academic rigor super blend that they bring,the long term commitment, and the perseverance on their part has really started to bear fruit for 5th grade students. They have grown in ways that I didn’t think possible, even with the talent that we have at this table, even with the most committed teacher. The level of supports students so far behind requireto progress academically and social-emotionally from where they were in 3rd grade to 5th grade is a different scale.

Teacher from Partner School

The Launch Story

In 2020 75.9% of 3rd graders from low-income families in Colorado are BELOW grade level in literacy. Yes, you read that correctly, in 2020 these are the actual numbers. Every year, THOUSANDS of kids are failed by the collective actions and inactions of adults…

Meet Mia

After a successful year with Launch, Mia is now thriving in 6th grade. She’s fully immersed in the traditional classroom setting and her grades have improved. She’s even found a love of reading! Mia is accepting of feedback and responds well when teachers push her to do better.

Meet Jakhi

“I can see the growth, I can see the change,” Jakhi’s mom says. “Launch has been very beneficial for Jakhi. Launch has been a breath of fresh air.”

Meet Leila

This year I am in a classroom with the third and fourth grade and sometimes it’s hard to learn like that. But it’s helping me be a leader and get better things for my life.

Our Supporters

Join our list of supporters

Local business and organizations can help Launch Network, too! Please get in touch so we can discuss how your business can contribute.