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