Celebrating Impact: 2024 Learner Voice Grants Engage Over 900 Learners Across Colorado
April 7, 2025
Small Grants, Big Impact
The Attainment Network is proud of the outcomes of our latest round of Learner Voice Grants, which continue to amplify the perspectives of learners and earners in Colorado’s education-to-workforce systems.
2024 Grants by the Numbers
- $25,000 awarded
- 10 partners selected from across the state
- 900+ learners and earners engaged through storytelling, surveys, events, and focus groups
Small Grants, Big Impact
Each Learner Voice mini-grant – just $2,500 – supports powerful, locally driven efforts to center learner and earner perspectives in education-to-workforce systems. These small but strategic investments fuel storytelling projects, community conversations, surveys, and other activities that surface real-world insights directly from those navigating career pathways.
Since the program’s inception in 2022, more than 1,700 learners and earners have been engaged – helping shape more responsive, inclusive policies and practices across Colorado.
Why It Matters
When learners are invited to reflect, share, and lead, systems become more responsive, fair, and effective. These projects don’t just highlight barriers – they help identify solutions from those with lived experience.
What’s Next
Our partners will use their findings to improve programs and processes, ensuring their work expands opportunities for learners and strengthens their communities.
Learn more about our efforts to amplify learner and earner voices.
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The Attainment Network team gathered last week to celebrate and thank Therese Ivancovich for her extraordinary leadership over the past nine years. It was a meaningful moment for our team — a chance to express our deep gratitude and share some laughs with an incredible leader who will be greatly missed. During her tenure, Therese grew The Attainment Network from a one-person operation into a respected and trusted organization with a proven track record of creating meaningful, lasting change across Colorado. Her dedication, expertise, and seemingly limitless energy helped shape how communities are preparing learners for today’s high-value, in-demand careers . As Therese steps down, she leaves behind a thriving organization, a powerful network of collaborators, and a lasting legacy of innovation, partnership, and hope for the future. We are deeply grateful for Therese’s leadership — and we are energized to carry forward the vision and momentum she helped build.
The Attainment Network team was energized by the collaborative spirit at last week’s Talent Summit and Sector Academy hosted by the Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce, where Northern Colorado leaders came together to align efforts around workforce needs. Accelerating Progress through Collaborative Action We were honored to support the event and strengthen Northern Colorado’s sector partnerships by leading interactive strategy sessions for the Finance and Non-Profit Sector Partnerships . We brought our unique brand of facilitation to the table, using clear protocols and proven tools to help partners prioritize, align, and turn ideas into tangible strategies. We were also proud to support the Hospitality Sector Partnership alongside Bobbie Wolfe of the Colorado Workforce Development Council , helping deepen the connection between workforce needs and community resources. Data-Driven Insights A highlight of the Summit was the presentation from TIPS Strategies , which introduced an updated Talent Supply and Demand Analysis and Labor Market Profile for Larimer and Weld Counties. This work, part of the Workforce Data and Talent 2.0 initiative, is essential for identifying gaps and opportunities in the local talent ecosystem. Centering Learner Purpose A huge thank you to Mark Perna for his insightful keynote address which resonated deeply with our mission. His emphasis on helping young people find purpose as a way to guide their education and career journeys echoes our belief in centering learner and earner voice in all program design and development. Together with our partners, we’re proud to support the growing momentum across Colorado to create more connected, inclusive, and responsive talent development systems .
The April installment of our Professional Learning Series, “Apprenticeships for All” brought together leaders from across Colorado’s education and workforce landscape to explore how apprenticeships can better support learners on their path to high-value careers. A huge thanks to our panelists for sharing their work to expand high-quality apprenticeships and their insights on what it takes to ensure all learners can access and succeed in them: Kevin Riebau of Emily Griffith Technical College Londell Jackson of Apprenticeship Colorado Cori Gerlitz of the Construction Industry Training Council Bill Bicket of Greiner Electric And a very special thanks to Daesha Ottem for sharing her insights as an apprentice and now a project engineer at Greiner Electric ! Discussion Highlights Apprenticeship as a Path to a Degree Kevin Riebau shared the impact of HB25-1221, which was recently signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis. The law will allow EGTC to award Associate of Applied Science degrees to registered apprentices. This advancement creates stronger connections between hands-on learning and long-term career advancement. With more than 11% annual growth in apprentice enrollment , Kevin noted that interest in apprenticeships is higher than ever. EGTC’s offerings include registered apprenticeships in carpentry, electrical work, and voice-data tech—with new programs underway for school food specialists, HVACR, water operations and other high-value careers. Supports That Help Apprentices Succeed Panelists emphasized that apprenticeships are most effective when learners are supported every step of the way. Supports that can support learners in completing include: Flexible scheduling Mentorship and coaching Career navigation Assistance with childcare, transportation, and housing Challenges that Remain Daesha emphasized the need for clearer up-front information about possible career pathways and available supports. She also shared her experiences revealing gaps in continuity across programs, highlighting the need for collaboration across education and industry to support the success of apprentices. The Attainment Network’s Role We continue to: Partner with education and industry to expand access to high-quality apprenticeships Offer technical assistance and guidance for establishing high-quality apprenticeship programs or pursuing continuous improvement of existing programs Elevate strategies that center learner success Resources You can view the PowerPoint slides from the session here , and watch the full recording here. Check out some great resources available to those looking to start or improve apprenticeship programs in Colorado : 🔹 State of Colorado Apprenticeship Resources 🔹 The Attainment Network – Apprenticeship Toolkit 🔹 Emily Griffith Technical College – Apprenticeship Programs