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

Keys to Community: Februaury 2026

February was about strengthening our foundation while expanding meaningful, real-world engagement for our adults.

This month balanced visible community activity with steady infrastructure work. We continued creating spaces where our adults can participate fully, while reinforcing the systems that allow this work to grow responsibly and sustainably.

🧩 Student Activities & Community Access

• Continued weekly bowling, hikes and climbing meetups, reinforcing structured, adult-centered social engagement.

• Hosted a relaxed movie experience featuring Cool Runnings, creating shared connection without traditional “shush” expectations.

• Participated in a snowshoe try-on experience with the City of Fort Collins, following research and informational preparation led by Julian as part of his outdoor programming focus.

• Combined that exploration with a hike at Maxwell Nature Trail, where students engaged in geology discussions drawn from Julian’s interpretive materials.

• Organized a community cleanup during our McMurry Natural Area visit, reinforcing civic contribution and environmental stewardship.

• Hosted a Palentine’s Day gathering centered on friendship and community.

• Continued expanding partnership conversations with Colorado Youth Outdoors (CYO) and exploring a potential Relaxed Comedy Night concept in collaboration with Comedy Brewers.

February demonstrated that participation here is active, informed, and community-facing.

🌱 Organizational Growth & Strategic Development

• Continued modernization of payroll, vendor, and tax systems to support clean processes and long-term sustainability.

• Confirmed our October 16th event booking with the City of Fort Collins Parks for the Public Sensory Summit & Stroll.

• Made strong progress on the Sensory Summit Education Edition (April), conducting speaker outreach and moving toward confirmed dates, times, and a preliminary event schedule.

• Held a productive meeting with a potential funder to explore long-term event collaboration and growth opportunities.

• Initiated promising conversations with Grow Colorado around a potential Seed to Salsa collaboration focused on structured, hands-on engagement.

• Continued evaluating grant opportunities and vocational alignment pathways to ensure future growth is both mission-aligned and sustainable.

This season continues to be one of intentional growth — clarifying systems, strengthening partnerships, and building durable infrastructure to support long-term inclusion.

Looking Ahead

March will focus on finalizing Summit scheduling, advancing outdoor and agricultural programming partnerships, and continuing to formalize strategic funding relationships.

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

Thank you for walking alongside us.

— Angela Hollingsworth

Executive Director, CommuniKeys

Keys to Community: January 2026

January was about listening, building, and quietly laying the foundation for a powerful year ahead.

As I continue stepping into this role, I’ve spent much of this month paying close attention — to our students, to families, to staff, and to the spaces where our adults want to participate more fully. What’s clear is this: they don’t want anything extraordinary. They want access. They want belonging. They want to be part of everyday life.

That clarity is shaping everything we’re building.

🧩 Student Activities & Community Access

• Continued weekly bowling and climbing meetups, focusing on predictable structure, adult social connection, and active participation.

• Strengthened leadership presence during programming hours to support regulation, safety, and meaningful engagement.

• Began formalizing student work roles to shift from observation to contribution within our activities.

• Initiated new partnership conversations with local venues to expand inclusive cultural and recreational access.

• Advanced planning for hands-on agricultural programming that centers life skills, purpose, and shared responsibility.

  
  

Every one of these steps is about dignity. About adults being seen as capable. About environments adjusting — not the other way around.

🌱 Organizational Growth & Responsible Stewardship

• Submitted permitting for our Spring Canyon Sensory Stroll and continued development of our two-part 2026 Sensory Summit initiative.

• Began structuring a thoughtful fundraising framework designed to balance major anchor events with smaller community-based opportunities.

• Initiated improvements to our financial and vendor systems to support long-term sustainability and transparency.

• Launched a Listening Tour with families to ensure participant-led goals are guiding our decisions.

• Continued exploring vocational alignment pathways to strengthen both opportunity and program stability.

We are not pursuing rapid growth.

We are building responsibly — strengthening systems, deepening partnerships, and protecting the heart of our mission while we expand.

Looking Ahead

February will focus on solidifying key partnerships, refining our Education Edition Summit framework for April, and continuing the steady work of aligning sustainability with inclusion.

If you are reading this as a supporter, partner, or donor — thank you. Your belief in this work allows us to build intentionally rather than urgently. That difference matters.