tonight, we're taking you inside the Buena Vista Civic Spee, where middle school students put their knowledge of government and civic responsibility to the test and accessing free therapy for kids and teens.

We'll show you how a Colorado program called Eye Matter is making that possible.

Plus, we are heading to the Colorado Creative Industries Summit in Trinidad to explore how artists are building jobs and helping shape the future of the state.

It's all coming up right here on Colorado.

Stories from studio 12.

From the Five Points Media Center in the heart of Denver, Colorado.

This is studio 12.

Hi, I'm Bosie Keenan, and I'm Ryan Hare.

Thanks for joining us for Colorado stories from studio 12.

Think you know your civics middle schoolers from all across Colorado are putting their knowledge to the ultimate test, from the Constitution to current events.

Students have prepared to think fast and show off what they've learned about government history and what it means to be an engaged citizen.

The competition is fierce, the questions are tough, and a trip to the state championship is on the line.

Tonight we're taking you inside Buena Vista Civic B for all the action.

Take a look.

Look at that 25 stuff here tonight.

That's a record as well.

So we're going to have a pretty good afternoon.

We're going to have a couple of rounds of questions I know I looked up.

There's not one of them.

I'm a very big history geek.

I'm really into history.

Much politics but more into history.

I really want to be a history professor when I grow up.

So I just came here today because I was inspired by my teachers, Miss Meadows and Mister Tipu.

I was inspired by several of my teachers and my parents, especially my family.

They helped me get through this.

What impressed me is like, this is such a huge community turnout and the diversity of the community members and perspectives that show up to to support this.

Yeah.

So when I saw that last year, I was like, oh yeah, I definitely want to be a part of that again.

My topic was about, fair and equitable competition between brick and mortar businesses and temporary vendors.

Here in town.

How surprising is that?

Or maybe it's not the ideas that the kids come up with.

Very surprising.

Because, when you when you look at what the kids come up with and their answers, it gives you a certain amount of pride in not only the kids in this community, but just kids overall in general, because it's so important to me, to my generation, that a younger generation understand the Constitution and understand the government and, and have, have, have a loyalty and, and then excitement over it.

I find today in this generation, we don't know a lot about our government.

I think it is important for kids in this generation, or judging from past generations, to know about our present government.

I definitely think it's good to know, at least about the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

I know they're going to go on to make a difference, not just hopes.

I know as a the these are the leaders.

The these kids are we're going to hear a lot, from them over the next 10 to 20 years.

Why do you think it's important for kids to be talking about ideas like this?

So then, like, overall, the community can be better, and, like, it's not just like adults, like being like, oh, do this, do that, but also, like, kids can also make a difference.

What do you think is your biggest takeaway from going through the whole thing last year?

Just knowing that I can speak in front of people.

And I stepped out of my comfort zone and I did it.

And knowing that people will listen when I, like, propose an idea for how to change our community, I was nervous, like for the first two before me, I was very nervous to come up and talk, but I was just thinking like, wow, those essays are really good.

I was just thinking about how they did and I was thinking about how I did.

I just think everybody did a really good job.

My topic was on road safety.

It inspired me because in fifth grade, I did a whole, study on it with my class and we presented it to the, I think the biggest, board.

And they actually made some changes.

So that was pretty cool.

I've had some of them come to our meetings, and speak at public comment.

So then it's another opportunity for them to, there is some public speaking and hopefully they'll grow into the leaders of tomorrow because I know they will grow and we want them to be the leaders of tomorrow.

Well, we love kids getting involved and we're very strong, you know, wanting to help the education system and kids and having kids to have a voice.

I mean, the league wants everyone to have a voice, and it's much easier for adults to have a place and voice their opinions to elected officials or people running for office.

But kids don't always do that.

As a retired teacher, and I taught many years at the high school level, and that was, really one of my favorite subjects was American government, where kids had a voice and had a chance to get out and talk to people and learn about the system of government.

And then they come and they have to kind of show how good they can be at a multiple choice test.

And all the people in the audience can take this test.

And I've taken it some times, and those are hard questions that these kids, you know, have to take.

So there is a multiple choice aspect up.

And then the top kids after that, after they had their outstanding essays, the multiple choice and then the top 3 or 5 get to give their verbal what they want and what how they feel.

The solution to an issue is.

But yeah, we've had great supporters.

The American Legion has been good, giving us a place to, host this, which is a delightful place, the Chamber of Commerce and that we work in partnership with.

So but the community comes together for many issues, and this is just a really a good one for them.

And also it's a great place in Vista or Buena Vista for people that don't know the history of the name.

I can tell you the history of the name.

I would just say that the League of Women Voters has done just an awesome job with this.

And then when you look around at this, this location with the American Legion, it's because they've they've got a great, facility and they want to serve it with the community.

And also it's it's one of the four pillars, which is, is, an outreach of patriotic for the kids.

Climax.

Molybdenum.

The mine up in Leadville is our other Play Platinum sponsor.

And they, a large segment of their workforce lives in this community, and they like to provide funding for these events.

So we had a few individual like myself who just cared.

They played.

The mayor is one of them.

There are a number of us that gave individually, but the rest of the sponsors are are, community banks, the electric co-op and things like that.

And this year we were able to purchase amazing iPads that each of the 20 finalists get to key.

I definitely think it's worth it.

I definitely think even if you lose, it's still worth it.

I definitely think the civic space is fun, and if you put in a good enough effort, you can win.

What's your advice to all the other kids who are here today?

And they're probably really nervous right now?

Have fun with it.

Good.

It's really scary.

But once you sit down after you give your speech, or once you're done answering the questions, you can say, I did it.

And it's like, so amazing to be able to say that you did it and you can be proud of yourself for that.

And the Civic Spirit, or the annual edition sponsored by the League of Women Voters, can be found here and to be addressed to the Chamber of Commerce.

I just want to look sharp and I want to look good for a competition.

I don't want to I don't want to come up in a t shirt, sweat pants.

They put it on.

The regulation.

Buena Vista is just one stop on the road to the state championship.

We'll bring you more highlights next week from civic B competitions happening all across the state.

The Colorado State Civics is a little over a month away on July 24th at the Cable Center on the Duke campus, where one student will earn bragging rights as Colorado's top young civics champion.

Mental health challenges among young people continue to rise.

But getting help isn't always easy.

Long wait lists cost and uncertainty about where to start can keep families from finding the support they need.

And that's where a Colorado program called Eye Matter is stepping in.

The statewide initiative connects youth with free therapy sessions, helping remove barriers and making mental health care more accessible for kids and teens.

In this conversation, PBS Twelve's Erica McLarty sits down with a licensed professional counselor and eye matter manager, Tripti Sharma.

To find out more about the free program.

A program called AI matter is making it easier for young people in Colorado to access mental health support.

It connects kids and teens with free therapy, removing a lot of the barriers that often stand in the way.

Joining us now to talk about how it works and why it matters is licensed professional counselor and I matter manager Tripti Sharma.

Tripti, thank you so much for being here today.

This topic is very important for viewers that don't even know I'm at or haven't heard about it.

What is I matter?

Yeah, I matter.

Colorado is a program meant for any youth in Colorado who need some service, some mental health services.

We serve anyone up to 18, and actually, if they're receiving special education services, they can receive, until they're 21 years old.

So one of the unique things about the program that caught my eye is it said it was free.

Six sessions, I believe.

How how is that?

And is that is that really true?

It's free.

Yes, absolutely free.

When folks are signing up for services, we don't ask any questions about insurance.

We don't, ask for any payment information.

So it really, truly is free for youth across Colorado.

What makes eye matter different than a traditional therapy?

I would say it's not very different, except for the beginning where you're signing up.

So it is a very quick and easy process to sign up for services.

And then you get to meet with your therapist and it feels like traditional therapy.

How do you actually access it when you tell a youth, yes, we have it.

We got it.

Okay.

What do they have to do?

Where do they go?

It's logging on to your computer.

So, or your phone.

So you go to I matter colorado.org or in Spanish.

You're in Puerto colorado.org.

And there are very easily, easily navigable buttons that you can, select that get you to a survey that asks you questions about how you're doing, how you're feeling.

And then it comes, up with a score for you.

And with that score, then you're matched with, a lot of different therapists, and you can look through their bios and select a therapist, who fits your needs.

And the, the appointment right then in there.

So usually people can finish this, process in 10 to 12 minutes.

Why?

In the very beginning, I go back, was it created in the first place?

How did this come up?

Yeah, yeah.

So this program was created, because, of a response to the Covid 19 pandemic, along with trends in Colorado and across the U.S of increasing mental health needs for, youth.

And so, I think it was just an, a time that these services were really needed very quickly and very, rapid access to these services.

And did they start virtual then?

Just virtual therapy.

Is it all virtual therapy?

No, it's actually, depending on the year, it trends, to be about half and half.

But I think this year it's closer to being, 70, 30 with, 70% virtual, 30% in-person.

What are the mental health challenges that you think kids are facing today?

Yeah.

So the data that comes in to me is, user coming in for anxiety, depression.

They want to learn coping skills.

They want to work on their self-esteem and, they want to manage family conflicts.

When we talk about early intervention, I've heard that a lot.

You've got to be like early intervention.

And what does that mean and how early what do they mean by that?

Yeah.

Early intervention means that when we're starting to spot problems, when we're starting to see that folks aren't coping with day to day stressors, well, we should intervene and help them build those coping skills so that they can manage those things day to day.

And we know that, prevention, can have lasting effects to where, it decreases the amount of time somebody may be in service.

And it, decreases the severity of which their mental health, disorders may get, too.

Can kids really get this without telling their parents?

They they can.

So youth in Colorado, 12 and over can sign up for I matter on their own.

If they're, 11 or younger, they are required to have a parent or legal guardian sign them up for services.

However, we find a majority of youth are even over 12 are signed up by their parents in a case where, a child does sign up, they're 12 or over and they're talking about some really intense stuff.

So let's say they're talking about I have an addiction, I want to get rid of it, but I don't my parents to know I want help.

Situations like that.

Where is the line of when you would contact the parents?

Where is that line of privacy?

Yeah.

So, I matter.

Therapists are all, licensed therapist in the state of Colorado and have the knowledge and skills to manage, mental health disorders as well as mental health crises.

And, they have the discernment to be able to understand when that needs to happen.

For those who don't have a parent or guardian listed, I matter, therapists would follow crisis protocols of calling for a welfare check, and things like that.

So they're very well equipped to be able to manage.

How long is this program been going from beginning to now?

And what sort of progress have you seen with the program?

I matter, was start, started providing services in October of 2021.

And since then, we've served nearly 20,000, youth across Colorado.

The way that the program has changed and evolved is that, you know, as we see people and as they tell us, their needs were then able to respond with what kind of providers do we want in our network?

So, over the last three years, we've tripled the number of Spanish speaking providers that we have.

And, and, you know, in just different areas of need as well.

So do we need, people with more, diverse cultural backgrounds with, specialties in different mental health disorders.

And we make sure that we have those providers in our network.

Six sessions.

Six sessions is great.

It's a great starting point.

What happens if you know, the therapist really recommends that there'll be there'll be more therapy, that they need more sessions than that.

Yeah.

What is the process?

Yeah.

So, the therapists themselves are, allowed to help them find ongoing care.

But we do have two dedicated bilingual care navigators that we can lean on to help families find services that are available through their insurance.

And if they don't have insurance, we can help them find low cost or no cost options.

Tell me the top five ways that kids find out about this program.

They if they hear about our program from school staff, and from pediatric offices, from their friends and from trusted adults, and family members, those are the top five.

Yeah, that's really neat.

So I hadn't heard of it.

But then I was in my son's counseling session at his school with the counselor, and there was a giant poster on the wall, and it said free therapy for anyone who needs it.

And I was shocked that this was the first time I was seeing this poster.

And they were everywhere.

And so I thought, that's really cool that you guys were able to do the poster, but also reach out other ways, and really make yourself known.

So we appreciate that.

What are the biggest challenges in sustaining I matter?

We we really do have a robust provider network.

However, these providers do need to be paid.

And so, the continuing challenges are around funding for a matter if someone is watching right now and they are struggling and they do need help, but they feel like they can't afford it, what would you say to them?

If they're 18 and younger, I would absolutely encourage them to go to I matter colorado.org and get started right away.

What is the difference between like nine eight and I matter?

So how would you know.

Hey I'm struggling.

Do I do 980 or do I do I matter?

Yeah I would say the difference is the the timing and the level of severity.

So if you feel like you're in a mental health crisis, I absolutely would like you to call nine, eight eight and get that immediate care that you need.

I matter can take up to three days to get, an appointment.

So if you have more urgent needs, please call 988.

Wonderful trip to you.

Thank you so much for this interview.

And thank you for everything you do.

If you or someone you know could benefit, you can learn more about how to get connected by going to I matter.

Org.

You can also catch the full interview on PBS Twelve's YouTube channel.

when we think about Colorado's economy, industries like tourism and technology often come to mind.

But there's another powerful economic driver that's helping communities thrive across the state the arts, from working artists to creative districts and public art projects.

Colorado's creative sector supports more than 120,000 jobs and contributes nearly $2 billion to the state's economy each year.

At this year's Colorado Creative Industries Summit in Trinidad, PBS Twelve's Alan Domingues sat down with Colorado Creative Industries Director Josh Blanchard to talk about how creativity fuels economic growth and shapes Colorado's future.

Here's a look at that conversation.

My name is Josh Blanchard and I serve as director for Colorado Creative Industries.

CCI, we're the state arts agency.

Positioned in the Office of Economic Development.

International trade.

Also in the governor's office.

And our statutory responsibility, is to serve and support and extend and expand, the creative industries, arts and culture throughout Colorado.

Great.

And how long have you been in that role?

I've been in this role for about two and a half years.

Okay.

What are some of the things that you've noticed that two and a half year is just how things are evolving, what's what's where?

There's a lot of dynamics around the creative industries here in the state.

I think over the last three years, we've really seen a shift, or an opportunity for sort of a paradigm change in the way that creative industry shows up in community, the way that arts and culture is positioned, as not only a way in which communities can celebrate their identities, their culture, their heritage, but also in which ways can come communities can come together.

The arts and culture really is the is the avenue or the channel to celebrate all the things that make Colorado great?

It's ways to address community challenges and priorities.

And our artists are really are truth tellers, right.

And the ways in which we can really reflect on where are we in this moment of time?

Where are our priorities?

How can we come together?

How can we, you know, share our stories and hopefully, you know, be better, be better communities for it?

Oh that's great.

I really hear you talk about artists as truth tellers, because I think sometimes artists are, begin to operate in this space of independence.

Right.

And so, so I think that really is super helpful, especially when it deals with the whole state.

Right?

Because, I mean, it seems like we're trying to bring all that artistic synergy from all corners of the state and all sorts of backgrounds and cultural backgrounds, linguistic backgrounds.

Yeah.

Talk a little bit more about that.

Yeah, absolutely.

You know, arts and culture in the creative economy plays a really important role in our state's economy.

So I do want to mention that, about, so the creative economy contributes $1.9 billion to our state's GDP.

It's about 3.6% of the total GDP.

An economic activity for our state, and it's over 120,000 jobs.

So it really is an economic engine, throughout our entire state.

Beyond that, we know that our creative workforce and our artists are the ones that, we really rely on when it comes to reflecting our community issues and our community values, telling our beautiful.

And also complex and complicated story here in Colorado and all of the stories in Colorado.

And then an opportunity for placemaking and community development and economic development, which Trinidad is a stellar example of how the creative economy can really be an economic driver for community revitalization and community identity and community pride.

We at our core, at CCI, focus on how we can help make the arts for all.

How can we support so that every coloradan has access to quality arts, programing, engage in art making themselves, and to be in creative spaces, which again support community identity and community development and community pride.

Awesome.

You mentioned Trinidad is kind of like being kind of, laying the foundation like a bit of a roadmap for maybe smaller communities that have been kind of off the beaten path a little bit, but at the same time have a very vibrant culture that has been here for decades and is not going anywhere.

So maybe we talk a little bit about actually maybe even start with where we're at now, like what the KCI conference is, what what's going on the past couple days and then and then and going to Trinidad, how it has been kind of a blueprint.

Absolutely.

Every year our, Colorado Creative Industries hosts our Creative Industries Summit in a different creative district throughout the state.

We have certified 37 creative districts that are in urban, metro and rural communities all across the state.

Trinidad was one of our first designated among the first designated creative districts, in the state.

And within the first few years of the program.

But they also have the distinction of being identified as our, first space to create community.

They have the distinction of being designated as our first space to create Colorado community.

What that meant was, is CCI helped bring together, funding and partners, along with, the Department of Local Affairs and funders, like the Bettcher Foundation, to provide capital investment into the community to build out this amazing space here at the Commons, as well as, units of housing for artists that are above us.

And then, off, outside of the second space, being able to provide affordable housing for the creative workforce.

And that has really been transformational, for Trinidad to not only have spaces for artists to create, to, you know, sell their wares to exhibit, but also to have affordable housing so they can live in the communities that they serve.

And so over the years, as Trinidad has a Trinidad has evolved their creative district.

Working with the city of Trinidad and the Arts Council.

And the creative district, it's really been meaningful to see how the how arts has been an engine for all of these things, for community development, economic development, of community identity.

And now when I'm around the state and I mentioned Trinidad, just the brand of Trinidad across the straight state has changed.

And people who have come to Trinidad will say, oh yeah, it's such a magical place.

And then people who haven't yet ventured down here will say, I keep hearing that about Trinidad.

You know, I need to make it down there.

And so we were thrilled, when we were able to announce that this year's summit would be in Trinidad, because we knew that it would bring so many people into this magical place, and they would get to experience it as part of the summit and then hopefully come back and be a part of this community for many years.

Great.

I think it's cool that that y'all have it in a different place, that sometimes off the beaten path a little bit.

What have you noticed in terms of like the trajectory?

Does it like, you know, does does it really infuse a lot of interest in a particular place?

I'm really curious of what's going to happen in in trend over the next year.

I am too.

Yeah.

You know, I think one of the things that I think makes Colorado special is that to a district, to a creative district across the state, these are incredible communities with wonderful leadership.

The artist community is is so diverse and so passionate and so resourceful and resilient.

And Trinidad is again, just a stellar example of that.

We have had CCI has hosted the Creative Industry Summit in, communities like, steamboat, Grand Junction, Pueblo.

So sometimes it's in larger communities.

And again, it, it brings awareness to communities and also allows the community to come together and say, hey, we're going to we're going to host this event.

So we want to collaborate.

We want to, really demonstrate that we are, you know, who we are.

We want to tell our story.

And so, you know, the convenings, the panels, the, sort of social events that are being hosted in, you know, venues all over, all over the town.

Again, it really gives the opportunity for the whole community to come together and and tell their story.

And I think it's really exciting for folks from Colorado, from all over the state to come here and experience that.

Cool.

Yeah, it seems like I think artists oftentimes feel a lot of isolation, creative isolation, physical isolation and an event like this brings all of that.

All the creative juices kind of flow, and we get to see where the different trends might be heading.

And, you know, just like what other energies are out there, whether it's in our artistic practice or whether it's in economic practice.

I think that's, that's that's one of the coolest things that I, that I've noticed the past couple of days.

I think you're really hitting on a key point, because we have artists who attend this event.

We also have art administrators.

We have policy makers.

We have elected and appointed, you know, city officials.

We have folks in other state government agencies that we intersect with that come in and to learn about creative industries.

You know, again, as an economic sector for the state.

And so it really is a convening of people who touch art in a different way or who experience, arts and culture or the creative economy in a different way.

And so bringing all of these different lenses, perspectives, points of views into one space, where artists can share their story, you know, what are the opportunities?

What are the challenges of being an artist right now for art administrators to come into this space and go, okay, what do I need to be thinking about?

About helping to support, arts ecosystem or infrastructure in my community as an administrator?

What can I learn or what can I bring to offer to other communities?

And then again, policymakers or folks that are in a position of authority to help?

Yeah, either, you know, add incentives or just understand what barriers may exist for a new public art project or to provide grants.

I think it just gives the opportunity for all of this to come together in a really meaningful way.

Awesome.

Great.

If you have anything else to add or this is this is great, great conversation.

I think you anticipated all my questions.

Oh, no, I, I, the CCI summit is really my favorite week of the year.

It's, you know, we plan we plan for a year, in our, in our CCI team in the host committee are just incredible.

And then it comes together.

72 hours and just this incredible synergy, and it's really exciting.

To to be here with the great with creative folks all over the state.

It's a privilege to get to do this work.

Awesome.

Yeah.

Well, thank you, Josh and much.

All the best for continued success.

Yeah.

Thank you so much.

We're glad that you guys are here.

And for sure the partner and mayor.

Yeah.

That's good.

Okay.

Appreciate you.

Yeah.

Thanks so much.

Josh says investing in artists and creative workers doesn't just support culture.

It helps strengthen local economies, create jobs, and foster a sense of identity and pride in communities across Colorado.

To learn more about the Creative Industries Summit and other stories celebrating Colorado's arts and culture sector, head to our YouTube channel.

And for more information about Colorado Creative Industries, its programs, grants and creative districts, you can visit the state's website at o det.colorado.gov.

School may be out for the summer, but education remains in the spotlight.

Beginning next to school year, students in Denver Public Schools will be prohibited from using cell phones during the school day.

This comes after the school board approved a Bell to Bell cell phone ban.

Research has linked cell phone use to declines in student achievement and negative impacts on mental health.

Our Colorado Inside Out panelists have some thoughts on this change for DPS.

Here's guest host Krista Kafer and the team with more.

School is out, but education is in the news.

Starting next year, Denver Public School students will not be able to use their cell phones during the school day.

The Denver Public School Board passed a bill to Bell cell phone ban.

Studies have shown that cell phones pernicious effects on student achievement and mental health.

But how tough will it be to enforce?

Meanwhile, Colorado Public school system has continued to add administrative positions even as statewide student enrollment has declined, according to a new study.

And will Jeff Coe's response to the feds be enough?

Ian.

Well, I, as a former educator myself, spent many years in the classroom.

I can tell you this is so exciting to get cell phones out of rooms.

I think it is challenging, even in a work context, to get a cell phone out of your employees hands in the middle of a meeting.

And so I think that that's going to be really good.

There'll be hiccups, I'm sure, along the way, but they're not the first district that's ever gone to get the bags and have the turn ins and switch outs.

You know, I question maybe like, are they going to be moving to their watches or are we going to see Tamagotchis come back so people can play with something in their class?

The other part that you brought up about administrative positions, like I can definitely say there are way too many administrative positions.

And I think that we need to be spending more money into the classrooms.

And we're having a shifting debate about the size of classrooms.

Which ones are closing?

Charter schools are also, I think, at the heart of some of this, where you have a school open closes within four years, the community is left wondering where they're going to go.

And so it doesn't allow for resources to be spent efficiently for constantly opening and closing schools.

Thank you.

Luigi.

Yeah, I think it's a great move for Denver Public Schools to actually ban cell phones.

I have a 15 year old kid at their school.

They have a cell phone ban.

They put it in a pocket.

That's what they call it.

They put in a pocket.

They go into the classroom.

They can't access it while in the classroom.

But what Denver Public Schools is doing differently is that it's called a bell to bell ban.

It can't access your cell phone at any time of the day.

Like everything else in life, it all boils down to enforcement.

I, I think the end is right.

There's going to be some hiccups at the very beginning, but kids are very malleable.

They will adapt.

And Regius Jesuit, school has implemented as, cell phone ban.

They don't confiscate cell phones.

They just don't allow their use, while, on school grounds.

And what the school master there immediately saw was the students started talking to each other and playing games.

Hey, look at that.

Isn't that great?

I love it when my college students try to like, do it under the table like I was born yesterday.

Christi, you've got kids.

How do you feel about the cell phone ban?

Oh, sure.

And actually be on the state Board of Education, too.

It's actually a top issue we've talked about in our last two meetings.

And I think to Luigi's point, we actually heard from three districts who talked about how they had implemented this ban and what it had done for their high school students in particular.

And it's the hardest to enforce among high school students.

They get, you know, you got to watch for their headphones, their Bluetooth headphones and all those kind of things.

But once you figure out how to enforce it, it's exactly what Luigi said.

You see relationships getting built.

And I think when Colorado remains one of the top states with mental health issues, this is one way to help our youth overcome those issues is build back the community, and the relationships that we're missing.

Have to deal with people face to face.

Learn to work through those issues.

That's something that's very healthy for our kids.

So if we could move from solving that to to then move to solve the admin issues in Colorado, our student count dropped by 2% from 21 to 25, and yet admin grew by 13% in that same period of time.

So we need more reading tutors.

We need more teachers in the classroom.

We need to pay our teachers more our dollars.

Instead of being focused on administrative spend, should go into the classroom for students and higher teacher pay.

Thank you Patty.

Well, we talked about the horrors that in Cherry Creek last week with schools DPS, with the top heavy.

The administrative issues are going to be big.

The funding is great, and I think kids will adapt much quicker than their parents, who will not be able to get their little sweethearts on the phone or tell them to go do certain things.

So it's going to be retraining for parents.

The really interesting district right now, I think, is the Jefferson County district.

With the feds still threatening funding, and it turns out we still don't quite know what the numbers, but there were not 61 boys transitioning to girls who wanted to play sports.

Many of the people on the list and the majority of the people on that list that the feds said were boys applying, trying to play as grant girls teams were managers and mascots.

And that's outrageous that the Jeffco is looking at such a funding cut over.

Basically what was bad bookkeeping by the feds.

We'll stay on top of that issue.

Thank you.

Turning now to our Business of Colorado segments.

They're recognizable around the world.

We're talking about Crocs.

The Colorado based global shoe brand is rethinking what it means to make everyday items more sustainable.

From the materials in their iconic clogs to how those shoes are being reused and recycled.

Crocs is committed to reducing its environmental footprint.

At Climate Week on the CU Boulder campus.

Frannie Matthews caught up with Crocs Chief Sustainability Officer Deanna Bratten to learn more.

Here is that conversation.

Deanna, thank you for joining us, Deanna Bradshaw.

You are the chief sustainability officer at Crocs.

Yes.

Hi.

Thanks for having me.

Nice to be here.

So if I look back five years ago on what the makeup of the material that Crocs were made from and what they are made from today.

How is that?

What's that journey been like?

And where have we come from and where we go?

Sure.

So maybe a little grounding in Crocs.

So Crocs, Inc.

is the company where about 4 billion in revenue publicly traded company.

We have about 8000 employees worldwide and, around 600 in Colorado specifically.

And we sell our products in 85 countries around the globe.

So pretty big global footprint, roots here in Colorado, which is awesome.

And, the shoe itself has evolved quite a lot over time.

The product we refer to as the icon is the classic clog.

And that's made of a material we call cross light.

And cross light is a fossil derived material.

And it's a molded footwear product.

So a lot of people think about it as a monomer material.

And when you start thinking about Crocs, what you imagine when you hear the Crocs footwear brand, you see this shoe.

The material itself is designed to be durable, designed to be highly comfortable and designed to be worn for a really long time.

And so over the last couple of years, as we've thought more about our carbon footprint around our targets in these spaces, materials make up a significant part of that.

So like many companies, the vast majority of the emissions we create is through our products, the manufacturing of our products and the distribution of our products.

So the materials in the shoe is something to look at.

So, about four years ago now, we started incorporating, renewable material oils into the classic clog.

So instead of fossil materials, every pair of classic clogs is 25% bio material or bio circular material.

So I say that and a lot of people are like, what's bio?

What's circular?

What does it mean?

So when we're talking about bio circular materials, the primary source of this is actually used cooking oil.

That oil was made.

It was used for frying or whatever purpose.

And it becomes a waste stream.

We're able to capture that oil and essentially one for one, replace that cooking oil, into where we would have used fossil oil.

So we have a commitment to be 50% bio materials and our classic clogs by 2030.

And as of 20 to end of 2025, or 25% of the way there.

So from a straight materials perspective, you don't see a difference.

You don't feel a difference in the shoe, which is amazing because what I like to say is same style, same comfort, same Crocs, now 25% better materials.

So it's a really great story of innovation and it's contributing to reducing the carbon footprint of every pair of shoes.

And you briefly mentioned the word, circular.

Talk to us about what circularity means in Manufac factoring and, and how you're looking at this, in, in totality.

So traditional models, look at what we call take make waste.

You buy something, you use it, you throw it away.

Circularity starts to bring in a more robust concept of how do we create products more responsibly?

How do we use them at their highest and best value for as long as possible?

And then when it comes to the end of use or the end of life of a product, what happens to it instead of waste?

And that might be reuse, that might be recycling.

In some cases that might be putting those materials right back into the product.

So the concept of circularity is literally thinking about closed loop solutions for products in materials, but also open loop.

So sometimes you can't put it right back into the product.

But there are other best uses of the material to keep them out of nature and out of landfill.

What is Crocs doing in this space?

So in the design, better materials in is that 25% plant based or bio based material.

Then we want to keep shoes on feet as long as possible.

So we make them durable and then we take responsibility for end of life.

And we do that in partnership with recyclers, with consumers.

And so we launched a program called Old Crocs New Life.

And consumers can actually drop off Crocs in any condition to any of our stores across the U.S.

and Canada.

We launched, in 2025 to stores across 8 or 9 countries in Europe, and this month, we're actually going to be launching our first Takeback program in Singapore and Korea.

In the Asia-Pacific region.

So the idea here is we take back Crocs in any condition.

So your kid outgrew the shoes too fast.

They didn't get worn enough or you wore them and they're just at the end of their life.

And then we take them back and we sort them.

So if they're still wearable, we put them through a program with a great nonprofit partner called soles for soles, who distributes wearable shoes to people in need through their programs.

And if they're not wearable any longer, we recycle them.

And then what do we do with all that recycled material?

So we have, a new product that, we're just launching two new colorways this April as well, called the Keep It Going classic clog.

And so that is not only made of 25% plant based material, it also includes 25% recycled Crocs shred from shoes we've taken back.

So that is a perfect example of closing the loop of taking back Crocs, shredding them, and putting them right back into a new pair of Crocs.

And everyone is one of a kind, because the shred comes through in these really cool little, sort of sparkles and different colors and same idea.

You know?

We know that people love our product for its comfort and for the self-expression and different colors and how they can decorate them with the charms called gibbet.

And so this idea of we can do the same thing with our Crocs, but make them just a bit better for the environment, is really at the core of our circularity program.

Are there are areas to gain efficiencies in where things are manufactured and how things move, and maybe shortening supply chains in some respects for sure.

So when we think about our climate commitment, so we do have a net zero by 2040 target.

And as we're looking at that, where the impact of our emissions come from, where the opportunities are from a cost efficiency perspective and an environmental perspective, efficiency and transportation and distribution is way up there.

Most of our products are made out of the US.

I should probably say the majority of our products are made in other countries.

Vietnam primarily.

And it's really important that we think about, the value chain and the supply chain holistically of how we can engage our suppliers, how we pick and choose logistics partners who also have sustainability goals.

And then when it comes to the recycling program specifically, we don't want to be collecting shoes and creating shred or creating waste and shipping that all around the globe.

So we're creating a really regional focused program where we're processing and recycling right here in the US for shoes collected in the US and Canada, and then we're actually putting them back to keep it going.

Classic clog is made in the US.

Our first sort of go at this, but it helps keep, this idea of these shoes are made better thanks to you.

So really connecting it to consumers.

You gave us old Crocs.

We made them into new Crocs, and now those are available, as well.

So we're, we're hoping and working on scaling that same regional approach in Europe and in Asia as we go.

You know, you've given some examples where it's really increasing efficiency.

A lot of times I think people think sustainability has its trade offs, particularly in the capitalist environment.

Is it creating more cost or is it creating, opportunities for less cost through innovation?

Can you talk a little bit about that?

It is about investing over time and really thinking about the the products, the programs and the impact that we can have in partnership with our partners, our suppliers, NGOs, industry collaborations.

One example of that is we work with a group called the Footwear Collective, where we're actually at the table with competitors all trying to solve problems around circularity infrastructure together.

And so the business case is there.

Do we have to get creative?

Yes.

Do we have to think about that return on investment sometimes on a longer horizon or a different horizon?

Absolutely.

But I think when companies are focused about, are focused on short term in service to the long term, sustainability makes sense.

It is a cost of doing business.

It will make us stronger in the long term.

And as we mentioned before, consumers have expectations that continue to grow.

So when when there's a lot of surveys out there.

So I know probably some consumers of Crocs or consumers of other products are out there.

Do you always say I'm going to buy the more sustainable product?

No, the data doesn't show that you do, especially not if it costs more.

So the opportunity here is to think about how we embed sustainability in our product.

That doesn't make it a trade off or a choice for consumers.

That is just part of how we do the business and how we are uniquely Crocs.

But just a little bit better.

When we look at the survey and you ask people, do you care about sustainability?

The numbers are wild.

85 to 95% of consumers say, I would like to buy more sustainable products.

But when it comes to a choice or a trade off at the shelf, it's not going to translate, especially not in the current economic times, with trade offs, discretionary spending.

What we're choosing to spend our money on.

Our shoes are affordable.

They are accessible.

You can find them in, you know, the folks in their backyard, in the garden.

And you can also find them on the runway.

And keeping them that unique and that accessible really speaks to who are consumers and what they're looking for.

It's also interesting that we're seeing a lot of innovation just in general in the sustainability area.

If you look out, say, five years from now, what are you most excited about and what, expectations do you have for some breakthroughs?

Sustainability is going to continue to evolve.

I definitely use the phrase probably too often.

It is a journey, not a destination.

There's no such thing as a as a 100% the most sustainable, right?

We need to be thinking about sustainability as a journey, as we make business decisions, as we grow, as consumer interest change, as stakeholders and investors, questions evolve and really think about how we can best position ourselves to meet the needs of our stakeholders and make our product better.

The next generation cares more than ever about sustainability.

Those are our future shoppers.

And so really drawing those connections, I think, from a sort of broader level where sustainability is going is it ebbs and flows.

There's a really interesting study out called, Riding the Waves.

And the idea is that sustainability comes in waves.

It doesn't mean the impact comes in waves, but the narrative does.

So we might be hearing more pressure in the media.

We might be hearing more or less news around the importance of sustainability.

I think what is most important is that companies stay true to their values and the vision and the opportunity that being more sustainable brings for both environmental topics and also social topics.

And I think in the next five years we we may hear less, we may start to hear more again, but we may hear less.

But companies are still doing the work.

And I think that is what gets me most excited is sometimes when you're focusing a little bit more head down, you're able to deepen your impact and really drive that change.

Transformation and the credibility in your program so that when we're ready, as an industry, to sort of start talking sustainability more out there.

That will have even more to say and even more impact to be proud of.

Well, Deanna, thank you for joining us today.

And thank you for your impact on the state of Colorado and on our world.

And my pleasure.

Thanks for having me.

Funding for the Business of Colorado on PBS 12 is provided in part by Collegiate Peaks Bank, Ibotta.

And from the generous support of viewers like you.

Thank you.

Crocs says it's on track to increase the use of Biobased materials in its products and expand recycling programs worldwide as part of a broader goal to reach net zero emissions by 2040.

At a time when so many people are feeling disconnected.

One simple idea is bringing strangers together through conversation.

It's called grandma stand a grassroots movement where volunteer grandmas show up in public spaces to listen, offer support and remind people that they are not alone.

A new documentary captures these powerful unscripted moments conversations about grief, anxiety, loneliness and life's biggest transitions.

And right here in Denver, in Cheesman Park was one of those grandma stands.

PBS 12 photojournalist Rico Romero went to meet Grandma Kathryn, who is creating that space for connection and community right here in Colorado.

Take a look.

And for shoes in the park brings the, the people that are fearless on the weekends.

You.

I see all age groups.

This is my big, you know, Denver park that I that I go to.

It's a pretty good spot.

I will say if you're going to be outside, this is.

This is the place to be.

Yeah.

This is a good spot.

I came here because I felt comfortable with with being in Cheesman.

Hi.

What you doing?

Thank you, thank you.

This Cheesman Park has been so good to me.

I had no idea what it was going to be like when I came to Cheesman.

I set my little stand up, and I was.

It took five minutes before somebody stopped to talk to me.

I don't have time, but appreciate what you're doing.

Oh, you're so welcome.

Yeah.

I just didn't know what to expect.

And I thought, okay, this is going to be really depressing.

If I'm sitting here and nobody starts to talk to me and, you know, they're, you know, I'm just kind of.

But again, that hasn't happened.

So I'm really, really glad.

Oh, and who is that?

Oh.

Oh my goodness.

He's he's having a nap.

He's having a snoozer.

Yeah.

And what's your name?

Ruby.

That's a fun name.

I like that you don't.

You don't hear that very often.

When I first started, I was only answering questions about what is it that you're really doing here?

I remember one of the first ladies that walked by and she said, what kind of mannequins are you up to?

The good kind.

Well, I'm glad you stopped by to chat.

Yeah.

So, if you're ever in Cheesman or if you follow me on Instagram, people also wondered if I was selling something or if, you know, if I sit down here.

Or does this cost money?

No, it does not.

So I'm Katherine Kendall, and I started the grandma stand in Denver in late summer of 2025.

The grandma stand started with Mike Matthews, and, he started it in New York.

And so my grandmother, who, was missing the social interaction with people after she had moved from New York and he came up with this wonderful idea of setting up a purple lemonade stand.

Hello.

I can have a conversation with somebody who's my age, and the next person is 19.

You know, you're to be commended for stopping and talking to me.

A lot of people look, but don't stop.

So thank you.

Thank you.

When I saw it and I read about it, I just.

It wouldn't leave my mind.

Come here and talk to me.

The grandma's stand is a group of volunteers that are wise, older women who set up a stand with a question that draws people in to connect, to build community, and to have a safe place that they can feel like someone is listening and they're being heard.

Question of the day is you need to let go of.

Today's question was, what do you have to let go?

And I thought for a minute and she said, well, let me start.

Sometimes when people struggle, I offer up an answer so you can think, well, I so I one of the things that I need to let go of is my feeling that, turning 70, is a downward slide.

And I need to let go of how I sometimes, not all the time that I can get there if I really think about, you know, having a seven in front of my number or how old I am.

So the, the limiting thoughts of being in my 70s, that's how I'll say it.

I need to let go of the limiting thoughts of of what being in my 70s can be.

She absolutely nailed it.

I'm, of her age and then quite a few, and we're recently married and very compatible.

And I thought of, well, this is has a finite end to it.

It is concerning in my retirement, I really felt like it would give me some additional purpose as a 71 year old woman.

Having somebody tell you that they really value you.

And what you have to say, it means a lot.

You don't realize until you age how, invisible sometimes, you can feel.

And when people stop and they sit down, they're here because they want to talk to me as Grandma Catherine.

Thank you.

Like.

Yes.

Yes.

Okay, guys, did I, I mean, I knew it.

I knew what I could tell, I could tell you I oh, okay.

All right.

The joy that it gives me, I hope I can reflect that.

And with people and they get that same kind of joy and caring when they leave.

My grandma stands alone.

This is not therapy.

This is, listening, being heard and, feeling like you have a space to do that.

It's all ages, all walks of life, all lifestyles.

And I love that.

I love that that's that's the Denver that I know.

Thank you.

That's the the to do list is back here.

Oh yeah.

While you're while you're at least while you're walking through the park.

Right.

There you go.

What I have.

Yeah.

Good for you.

If nothing else, they can get something off their chest that's really bothering them to someone who's empathetic and caring and creates a space that they can feel safe to do that.

By by.

A powerful reminder of how a simple conversation can make an impact, even with a complete stranger.

Thank you for spending part of your evening with us.

For more stories from across the state, visit PBS 12.org and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

For all of us here at Colorado Stories on Studio 12.

I'm Ryan here and I'm Bob Canady.

Have a great week.

But.

You.