One year ago the Colorado IAF, Brighton Education Association and Northern Hills Church initiated an organizing campaign at North Elementary School, the lowest ranking of all schools in the 27J School District. Over the course of the year, North demonstrated the largest improvement in academic scores of any school in the district and one of the highest in the state (see article below). As a result, North changed its academic status from "improvement" to "performance."

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On a bitterly cold December evening in Denver, over 100 leaders from 19 diverse institutions gathered at Cleaves Memorial CME Church to pledge their time, money and talent to a new IAF presence in Colorado. Leaders from synagogues, labor unions, neighborhood associations and mainline denominations came together to share stories and build momentum for 2017. Institutions committed to investing nearly $60,000 for the new year and to sending 65 leaders to an upcoming leadership training at Regis University.

As part of an effort to raise the funds required to build power, and have some fun at the same time, leaders of Colorado IAF, in partnership with the owner of the Clocktower Cabaret in Denver, brought the play, Red Hot Patriot: The Kick Ass Wit of Molly Ivins to Denver for three nights. All proceeds of the Sunday night show were earmarked for the CO-IAF effort raising over $3,000.

Over 150 leaders gathered in Denver for the launch of a new Industrial Areas Foundation - Colorado Sponsoring Committee. Leaders came from a wide cross-section of institutions including the Professional Black Firefighters' Association, Colorado Education Association, Iliff School of Theology, and congregations from Jewish, Christian Methodist Episcopal, United Church of Christ and American Baptist denominations. Leaders celebrated the completion of 1,000 face-to-face relational meetings and pledged to work together to found a Colorado IAF organization.