Keys to Community May 2026 | Monthly Notes

May was a month of rebuilding, planning, and strengthening the systems that make meaningful participation possible.

While April brought visible momentum through the Sensory Summit and expanding community partnerships, May focused on the behind-the-scenes infrastructure required for responsible growth: staffing structure, summer programming, insurance, safety systems, garden-based participation, financial sustainability, and the next stage of CommuniKeys’ program model.

As we grow, our focus remains the same: building scaffolded pathways for communication access, sensory accessibility across all eight sensory systems, adult dignity, purposeful movement, and meaningful participation in community life.

Student Experiences & Community Engagement

• Continued Seeds to Salsa through both the Loveland Youth Gardeners site and the CommuniKeys Hub garden, supporting outdoor routines, food systems learning, sensory engagement, responsibility, and community connection.

• Continued inviting families and students to visit the Loveland garden as a peaceful community space where they can enjoy the gardens, help keep our garden alive, visit the chickens, and spend time near a beautiful Loveland park.

• Continued developing the CommuniKeys Hub garden as a hands-on learning and participation space where students can observe growth, care for plants, and contribute to shared outdoor spaces.

• Continued planning summer programming, including community outings, lake or beach days, hikes, rock climbing, Open Rec, movement-based activities, adaptive cycling, and partner-supported opportunities.

• Continued developing future Conversation Corner activities in response to the need for supported sit-down conversation, peer connection, shared interests, and structured social participation.

• Advanced planning for a June 24 adaptive bike event, which will help us better understand student interest, equipment needs, confidence levels, and future opportunities for adaptive cycling and mobility programming.

• Continued development of the Temple Grandin Equine Center partnership as a structured participation pathway focused on sensory exploration, repeated exposure, regulation, communication access, and meaningful engagement in an equine environment.

May reflected an important truth at the center of CommuniKeys’ work: participation is not just about showing up. It is about access, practice, support, confidence, and belonging.

Organizational Growth & Strategic Development

• Began restructuring the previous Activities Coordinator role, with Angela, Chris, and Colin temporarily absorbing those responsibilities while CommuniKeys evaluates the next stage of program planning support.

• Continued exploring a future Program Planner role that may include stronger occupational therapy alignment, sensory-informed planning, documentation, and structured support for meaningful participation.

• Moved forward with insurance, risk-management planning, staff expectations, activity preparation standards, and safety protocols to support responsible community-based programming.

• Received a conditional $500 Connecting Community Micro Grant from Larimer County to support emergency preparedness work focused on non-speaking autistic adults and their families.

• Began developing a membership-based activity model to support long-term financial sustainability. CommuniKeys will spend June building this structure, with the goal of beginning implementation during the first week of July.

• Confirmed our first major fundraiser of the year: the Keys for CommuniKeys Concert on Sunday, August 9, 2026.

• Continued strengthening the connection between daily programming, long-term sustainability, donor support, and the broader CommuniKeys Life Scaffolding framework.

This behind-the-scenes work matters. Strong systems help CommuniKeys grow responsibly, protect the people we serve, and create programs that are not just exciting in the moment, but sustainable over time.

Financial Sustainability & Community Support

June will be an important month for CommuniKeys as we develop a membership model for regular activities.

This step is necessary for long-term sustainability. Recurring programming requires staffing, preparation time, insurance, communication, documentation, safety planning, partner coordination, and administrative support.

At the same time, membership revenue alone will not be enough.

CommuniKeys continues to need donor support to keep programming accessible, develop new pathways before they are fully funded, and build the infrastructure required for long-term impact.

Philanthropic support helps us fund:

• Sensory-accessible community outings

• Adaptive movement and mobility opportunities

• Garden-based programming

• Communication access supports

• Staff preparation and training

• Safety systems and documentation

• Partnership development

• Reduced barriers for families whenever possible

As CommuniKeys grows, funding remains one of our most urgent needs.

Save the Date: Keys for CommuniKeys Concert

CommuniKeys has confirmed its first major fundraiser of the year:

Keys for CommuniKeys ConcertSunday, August 9, 2026

This event will support the next stage of CommuniKeys programming, including summer activities, membership development, sensory-accessible community participation, staffing, safety systems, and continued program growth.

The event poster is currently in development, and student artwork will be included as part of the creative process. Students who still need to submit artwork may send a photo of their completed piece to Angela.

More details will be shared soon. For now, we invite families, donors, partners, and community members to save the date and help us make this first major fundraiser of the year a strong step forward for CommuniKeys.

Looking Ahead

June will focus on finalizing the summer calendar, developing the membership model, preparing for July implementation, continuing Seeds to Salsa, hosting the June 24 adaptive bike event, developing Conversation Corner, and moving forward with equine partnership planning.

We will also continue strengthening the systems that support responsible growth: safety protocols, staff preparation, documentation, family communication, partnership development, and funding strategy.

May reminded us that growth does not always look public or polished. Sometimes it looks like building systems, clarifying roles, tending gardens, writing protocols, planning calendars, asking families what students want to do next, and preparing for the next sustainable step.

At CommuniKeys, all of those steps matter.

Thank you for walking alongside us.

Angela Hollingsworth

Executive Director, CommuniKeys

Keys to Community April 2026 | Monthly Notes

April was a month of momentum, connection, and visible growth for CommuniKeys.

This month brought together several major pieces of our work: the launch of our first Sensory Summit: Education Edition, continued growth in community-based programming, new partnership commitments, and steady behind-the-scenes work to strengthen the systems that support long-term sustainability.

As we grow, our focus remains the same: building scaffolded pathways for communication access, sensory accessibility, adult dignity, and meaningful participation in community life.

Student Experiences & Community Engagement

• Continued weekly programming, including Open Recreation, Keys & Pints, rock climbing, and Seeds to Salsa, supporting consistent opportunities for students to participate in adult-centered community life.

• Continued developing Grow & Gather as a primary program area focused on garden-based learning, food systems, outdoor engagement, and scaffolded participation.

• Strengthened Seeds to Salsa through continued partnership with Loveland Youth Gardeners and hands-on garden work at the CommuniKeys Hub.

• Continued building opportunities where students can participate through planting, observing, watering, harvesting, preparing, documenting, and contributing to shared spaces.

• Advanced planning for an Adaptive Cycling and Mobility Pathway, including a signed agreement with the National Sports Center for the Disabled for a June adaptive cycling kickoff event in Fort Collins.

• Continued shaping outdoor participation opportunities with Colorado Youth Outdoors and Outdoor Buddies, with future programming focused on accessible outdoor recreation, caregiver learning, and supported participation.

• Hosted the first CommuniKeys Sensory Summit: Education Edition, a three-day virtual event focused on communication access, sensory regulation, purposeful movement, and meaningful inclusion.

  
  

April reflected what we continue to believe: participation is not just about showing up. It is about access, practice, confidence, and belonging.

Organizational Growth & Strategic Development

• Hosted the first annual Sensory Summit: Education Edition from April 28–30, bringing together speakers, families, educators, advocates, and community members for three days of shared learning.

• Began preparing Summit recordings and materials for a post-event resource library, allowing families, caregivers, professionals, and supporters to continue learning beyond the live event.

• Formalized a partnership with the National Sports Center for the Disabled to support adaptive cycling access for CommuniKeys students and families.

• Continued developing a collaborative outdoor participation framework with Colorado Youth Outdoors and Outdoor Buddies, with future grant opportunities in mind.

• Submitted and refined grant requests connected to outdoor participation, mobility access, garden programming, and long-term program development.

• Continued strengthening organizational infrastructure, including insurance planning, risk-management preparation, training expectations, documentation systems, and financial compliance.

• Reviewed our 2025 tax documentation as part of our ongoing commitment to responsible stewardship and nonprofit transparency.

• Continued exploring future program partnerships, including equine-based participation opportunities and additional outdoor life skills pathways.

This behind-the-scenes work matters. Strong systems help CommuniKeys grow responsibly, protect the people we serve, and create programs that are not just exciting in the moment, but sustainable over time.

Looking Ahead

May will focus on carrying this momentum forward.

We will continue preparing Sensory Summit resources, expanding Grow & Gather and Seeds to Salsa, planning the June adaptive cycling launch, and strengthening outdoor participation pathways with community partners.

We are also continuing the steady work of building the infrastructure needed for growth, including funding strategies, documentation, training, insurance, and partnership development.

April reminded us that meaningful growth happens in many ways. Sometimes it looks like a major public event. Sometimes it looks like a signed agreement, a garden bed, a grant draft, a student trying something new, or a partner saying yes to building something together.

At CommuniKeys, all of those steps matter.

Thank you for walking alongside us.

Angela HollingsworthExecutive Director, CommuniKeys

Keys to Community March 2026 | Monthly Notes

March was a month of alignment — bringing greater clarity to how our programs connect, grow, and support long-term participation.

This month marked an important shift for CommuniKeys. We are moving from offering individual activities toward building a more connected system — where each experience builds on the next and supports real, lasting engagement in community life.

🧩 Student Experiences & Community Engagement

• Continued weekly programming, including bowling, climbing, and community-based outings, reinforcing consistency and social connection.

• Hosted our first CommuniKeys Trivia Night at Prost Brewing, creating a welcoming public environment where participants could gather, connect, and engage in a shared experience.

• Introduced accessible communication supports, including an AAC communication board, to ensure all participants could actively participate in group settings.

• Expanded outdoor and community-based experiences, supporting real-world participation and skill development.

• Continued developing opportunities that feel adult-centered, inclusive, and rooted in meaningful engagement — not just attendance.

  
  

March reflected a clear shift toward participation that is active, supported, and community-facing.

🌱 Organizational Growth & Strategic Development

• Completed the CommuniKeys Life Scaffolding Program Framework, establishing a clear structure for how programming supports long-term development, independence, and participation.

• Introduced a more connected approach to programming, ensuring that activities build on one another across key focus areas.

• Submitted the Community Mobility Training grant in partnership with DriveWays and formalized the first program partnership agreement to support future implementation.

• Advanced planning for the Sensory Summit: Education Edition (April 28–30), with speakers confirmed, scheduling finalized, and outreach efforts beginning.

• Strengthened partnerships with organizations such as Loveland Youth Gardeners in preparation for the Seeds to Salsa program launch.

• Continued exploring outdoor recreation collaborations with Colorado Youth Outdoors and Outdoor Buddies, aligned with future grant opportunities.

• Expanded organizational visibility through improved weekly family communication, website updates, and early planning for broader outreach efforts.

• Continued building internal systems to support long-term sustainability, including staff roles, reporting structures, and operational alignment.

  
  

March was about bringing structure to growth — ensuring that as opportunities expand, they remain intentional, connected, and sustainable.

Looking Ahead

April will bring the launch of the Sensory Summit: Education Edition, the start of the Seeds to Salsa program, and continued expansion of community-based partnerships and experiences.

We are building deliberately, knowing that participation creates connection, and connection builds belonging.

Thank you for walking alongside us.

— Angela HollingsworthExecutive Director, CommuniKeys