Celebrating Partnership and Progress Toward a More Equitable Future

December 19, 2024

Thank you for partnering with us to empower learners and strengthen communities. 

As we close out 2024 – a year that has underscored the deep divides in our nation – it’s worth celebrating the progress we’ve achieved together right here in Colorado. Despite the noise of national disunity, learners and earners in our state are building a future filled with promise. By working together with our partners to equip learners for high-value careers, we are advancing our shared belief in the dignity and potential of every individual, regardless of their background. 


The Attainment Network is proud to serve as a bridge – an intermediary that builds productive partnerships with schools, colleges, and employers – connecting learners to opportunities and employers to skilled, diverse talent. We believe communities thrive when learners are heard, valued, and empowered to contribute, and we are committed to transforming education-to-workforce systems and erasing pervasive equity gaps. Our goal is for all learners not only to succeed in meaningful careers but also to contribute to thriving communities. 


Colorado is full of progress and hope. In the San Luis Valley, we are proud to lead healthcare employers, higher education, community-based organizations, and 14 school districts that are all united in their commitment to provide opportunities to diverse learners and break the cycle of generational poverty. Together, we are elevating the voices of learners and earners and building lasting systems that equip them with the education and skills needed to build strong futures for themselves and their families. 


In Jeffco Public Schools, we are fostering new partnerships with postsecondary institutions and employers that will bring the district’s vision for a public safety academy to life. This initiative will open doors to rewarding careers in law enforcement, firefighting, and other essential public safety roles, giving learners the opportunity to serve their communities and find purpose in high-value professions. 


In Denver, where The Attainment Network first began supporting collaboration between K-12 and higher education, we have seen a significant expansion of opportunities for learners to acquire real-world experiences and industry-recognized credentials. By listening to learner voices and working together to reduce the barriers they face, we have increased the number and diversity of learners who are prepared to enter meaningful careers that will support their families.  


And in Aurora, a community enriched by its vibrant diversity, we have been proud to enhance our partners’ capacity to shape new education-to-workforce systems that create economic opportunity for learners in construction and healthcare industries. 


Last fall in Greeley, nearly 500 educators and employers gathered at our Career-Connected L/Earning Conference to connect and build their capacity to shape education-to-workforce systems and equip learners for meaningful careers.  


Threaded through our work across the state is our commitment to elevating the voices and experiences of learners, ensuring our partners develop strategies that are responsive to the unique needs of each community.  


Progress is rarely linear, but we are inspired by our partners’ steady commitment to learning, collaboration, and growth. Moving forward, we will continue to elevate promising practices to state-level conversations, informing policies that advance equity and opportunity for all. As we look forward to 2025, we can see a future where, working in partnership, we will shape systems where all learners find economic opportunity and purpose in their communities.  


Thank you for partnering with us in this work. It is only by working together and embracing the hard work of collaboration that we can truly break down barriers, reshape systems, and create lasting change. To our investors, thank you for believing in our mission and making our shared vision a reality. And as we ring in a new year, let’s reaffirm our commitment to work in partnership, listen to learner voices, and design opportunities that will shape a more equitable future. 


Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a new year filled with the promise of all that we can accomplish together. 


In gratitude and partnership, 


The Team at The Attainment Network


RECENT ARTICLES

July 31, 2025
We’re feeling the August energy – and it’s not just from the sunshine and farmers market bounty. As we get ready for the start of a new school year, we’re excited about the growing momentum across our beautiful state to reimagine education-to-workforce systems that truly work for learners and earners. This month, The Attainment Network team is heading into forums, learning tours, and convenings that focus on community collaboration, leadership, and future-facing innovation. We’re excited to listen, learn, and celebrate the incredible work happening across the state. Here’s where you can find us this month: 🗓️ Thursday, August 8 🔹 Community Impact Forum: State of Education – Arvada Michelle is joining this annual conversation hosted by the Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce, where leaders will explore topics shaping the future of K–12 and postsecondary education in Jeffco – including school start time equity, mental health, career pathways, and business partnerships.  🗓️ Tuesday, August 12 🔹 HA.HA. (High Action. High Alignment.) Sisterhood Gathering – Denver Rana is honored to join this bold panel of women leaders committed to solving complex challenges through collective action, shared leadership, and true alignment. This evening will spotlight what’s possible when Colorado’s women leaders lead together – not in parallel. 🗓️ Tuesday, August 12 🔹 Quantum Workforce Collaborative meeting – Online Rana and Michelle will join Elevate Quantum, NVIDIA, Spark Photonics, and the Colorado Governor’s Office for updates on quantum education initiatives. 🗓️ August 13–15 🔹 CO Project 2.0 Learning Tour – San Luis Valley Ashley was invited to participate in this exciting initiative – led by the Scrivner Institute and the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs – to uncover and scale the most promising economic, workforce, and sustainability solutions emerging from Colorado’s rural communities. Ashley is excited to elevate the career-connected pathways partnership as a national model of innovation and resilience. 🗓️ Wednesday, August 21 🔹 Colorado Talent Academy – Vail Valley Libby and Michelle will join a statewide cohort of talent leaders to explore regional solutions and strategies for employer engagement, as part of a larger effort to align talent development across Colorado. 🗓️ Tuesday, August 27 🔹 State of the Data: Longitudinal Data System Convening – Virtual Join us at 10 a.m. for a virtual session featuring state leaders sharing milestones and next steps for Colorado’s Longitudinal Data System. This is a key moment to learn more and engage with the future of education-to-workforce data. Register Here . 🗓️ Wednesday, August 28 🔹 Quantum Commons Open House – Boulder Rana, Michelle and Katherine are looking forward to celebrating the grand opening of the first major building on the Quantum Commons campus an emerging hub for innovation and workforce collaboration. This open house will bring together partners and community leaders from across the growing quantum ecosystem. We hope to see you at one of these events—or hear from you if you’re working on similar efforts in your region. We’re always looking to share ideas, elevate stories, and support the progress that’s already underway.
July 30, 2025
Andrea Stiles Pullas on Building a More Connected Ecosystem
July 21, 2025
The Attainment Network was founded on a simple belief: partnership drives progress . Even so, we are amazed by what the San Luis Valley Career-Connected Partnership has accomplished in just one year. Last week we gathered in Alamosa at Trinidad State College – Valley Campus with all of our partners to celebrate our accomplishments over the last year. Our colleagues from Adams State University, Trinidad State College, San Luis Valley Health, Valley Wide Health Systems, Boys & Girls Club, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and many others heard firsthand from learners and earners whose education and career journeys are being transformed through this collaboration. Meet a few of those learners and earners: Sunny Garcia – mother of a five-week-old infant – received support for books and nursing supplies while attending Adams State University to obtain her bachelor of science degree in nursing. She now works as a registered nurse at San Luis Valley Health and plans to start a doctorate program in nursing this fall. Nicole Peyer faced a major setback when her car broke down during her first semester in the nursing program at Adams State University. With help from partners, she secured reliable transportation to continue school and work. Today, she holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and is working as a registered nurse in the Medical/Surgical unit at San Luis Valley Health. Ronny Herrera , a father of two, received resources and support from partners while completing a master’s degree in clinical mental health. He plans to serve the youth in the Valley as a mental health counselor. These stories are powerful, but they represent just a fraction of what this partnership has achieved. In its first year, the collaboration has: Expanded CNA and Medical Assistant training programs into 13 of the 14 school districts in the valley , with 9 of those offering full, standalone programs. Empowered more than 24 students with hands-on experience through internships, training in the mobile lab, and other work-based learning programs. Equipped 73 learners with an industry-recognized credential Supported 15 adult learners in advancing their education – 6 of whom have already graduated from their programs. And the momentum continues! A mobile lab donated by SLV Health will travel the Valley this fall, giving students insight into careers in healthcare and other high-value careers as well as providing CNA and MA students with access to a clinic for hands-on training. And thanks to virtual reality headsets from Transfr – donated by the LOR Foundation and the Colorado Department of Housing and Finance – students across the valley can explore healthcare and other in-demand careers right in their own classrooms. What the San Luis Valley Career-Connected Partnership has accomplished is the future of rural workforce development. This framework for cross-sector collaboration can be used to meet critical workforce needs across rural Colorado – and that’s exactly what you’ll see in the future.