Overview
Formerly known as KNUWSeeds, Connect The Kids is a 501 (c) (3) organization created to help disadvantaged elementary school children in the Denver Public School System (DPS) gain access to youth development programs in the Metro Area. The organization acts as a “HUB” connecting kids with a wide variety of enrichment programs in areas ranging from Arts and Academics to Sports and Life Skills.
Our process consists of 3 key elements:
- We work with the administrators and teachers in DPS Schools to identify areas of interest for their students (i.e. dance, art, acting, athletics….).
- We then create partnerships with Denver area organizations, subsidizing or even covering participation fees.
- Finally, we provide the critical missing link: free transportation to and from programs.
The idea is not to create a new, nonprofit dedicated to a specific need- but instead to make all the wonderful enrichment programs in the Metro area accessible to an audience that would otherwise never even know that they existed- and, even if they did, would not be able to get to them.
Connect The Kids was founded by Erik Myhren, a long-time teacher at Hallett Elementary School and active community volunteer. In his 10+ years as a teacher in Denver Public Schools, Myhren saw the time and resources dedicated to enrichment opportunities within the school system decline precipitously. An intense focus on core academics and CSAP score improvement meant the elimination of programs dedicated to the Arts. Instruction in the Arts is critical to the development of well-rounded students. Arts expand the boundaries of learning for students and encourage creative thinking and a deeper understanding of core subjects (math, science, language arts….).
Connect The Kids is dedicated to returning balance to the equation.