In 2022, a seemingly small grant from students sparked significant growth and impact for a local nonprofit. Student-directed grants through Give Next, a school-based youth grantmaking program for middle and high school students, have consistently supported nonprofits across Larimer County. One such nonprofit, Heart J Center at Sylvan Dale Ranch, received Give Next student grants…
Fort Collins resident Emily Ku has rekindled her passion for art while pursuing her career aspirations in aerospace engineering. Recently, Ku was selected to participate in NASA’s Psyche Inspired program, which began in 2017 at the University of Arizona. The program invites undergraduate students to creatively share the innovation of NASA’s Psyche mission through musical…
Moving is hard. Moving across states as a young adult is even harder. Rebekah Lwanga, a 19-year-old self-taught artist, moved to Colorado from Southern California at the age of 14. “I remember moving from California and feeling very disconnected,” said Lwanga. “California was an incredibly vibrant place to grow up, and I felt a great…
Pianos About Town, a program that brings local art and spontaneous music to the streets of Fort Collins, is excited to announce the artists selected to paint pianos as part of the program’s 2024 painting season. A cohort of 12 artists or artist teams were selected by the City of Fort Collins Art in Public…
Centering youth voice is a critical component of Give Next, a school-based youth grantmaking program for middle and high school students in Larimer County. Since 2021, The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) has done just that, by providing a student perspective on the Give Next curriculum. What is YAC? YAC was created as one way Give…
What is Pianos About Town? Pianos About Town is an interactive public art program in Fort Collins, Colorado. Community members watch as local artists transform donated pianos into public art. The program is seeking artists or artist teams to paint or artistically decorate pianos in 2024. Placed across 20 locations across town in the summer,…
It’s the season of giving thanks, and Give Next wants to recognize the nonprofits who play a vital role in Give Next. Give Next is a school-based youth grantmaking program for middle and high school students in Larimer County. We are grateful for the time, effort and expertise these nonprofits provide. For youth participating in…
Painting a piano is personal for Fort Collins artist and teacher Natalia Popham. Natalia is painting a piano through Pianos About Town, a program that brings local art and spontaneous music to the streets of Fort Collins, Colorado. Taking inspiration from Greek pottery, the main features of Natalia’s design follow the Greek myth of Orpheus…
Art and music are a big deal in the Gonzales family. At a young age, Angel Gonzales started creating art through the encouragement of her father, Jose Gonzales. Now the father-daughter duo will take on their biggest project yet, painting a piano for the Pianos About Town program, a program that brings local art and…
The end of the school year is a time for students to reflect and celebrate. For students participating in Give Next, a school-based youth grantmaking program for middle and high school students in Larimer County, the end of the school year is also a time for students to award funding to local nonprofits. Student-Driven Impact…