Kicking Off Cohort Four:  A Powerful Launch for the 2025–2026 Changemaker Year

From June 16-20, 2025, a powerful wave of inspiration swept through the Eagle Rock Professional Development Center as we launched our fourth annual Changemaker Cohort. With youth and adult partners joining us from iLEAD in Agua Dulce, California; Crosstown in Memphis and Big Picture in Nashville, Tennessee; and right here at Eagle Rock in Estes Park, Colorado, this year’s launch week was more than just a gathering it was a bold step toward reimagining what school can be when students lead and adults walk beside them.

Rooted in our shared commitment to youth and adult partnership, as well as justice-driven learning, the week centered on building skills, deepening relationships, and laying the groundwork for issue-based projects that will unfold throughout the year. Teams came to this space ready to learn—and they left energized, equipped, and deeply connected.

Celebrating our Third Cohort's Impact

Before we stepped into this new chapter, we celebrated the powerful conclusion of our 2024–2025 Changemaker Cohort. These student & adult teams from across the country set bold goals and they delivered. By June 2025, over 80% of their school communities reported feeling a greater sense of belonging and daily engagement. 95% shared they had a deeper connection to their school culture, and 85% reported increased awareness and understanding of mental health and available resources. Incredibly, every single community member 100% gained access to essential school resources. Students didn’t just participate more in class; they helped redesign systems, reframe culture, and bring visibility to issues that mattered. Their achievements set the bar high and served as a living example of what’s possible when youth voice is centered and schools invest in partnership-driven change.

What Made This Launch Week Stand Out?

Participants consistently named the engaging, hands-on learning as a highlight. Eagle Rock’s Professional Development Center staff, along with Eagle Rock students, led sessions that didn’t just talk about changemaking—they modeled it. Whether through morning vibe checks that grounded us in community, collaborative workshops exploring Hart’s Ladder of Youth Participation, or facilitated planning time to begin shaping school-based action, the experience balanced intention with impact.

And beyond the sessions, the evenings held their own kind of magic: fly fishing adventures, a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park, and time around the table reflecting and dreaming together. These moments gave space for relationships to deepen—something that’s essential when embarking on a year-long journey rooted in trust, creativity, and purpose.

“Amazing team building and students leading.”
— Launch Week Participant

Youth–Adult Partnership in Action

This cohort includes four powerful student leaders from across the country—young people who are not waiting for permission to lead. Annika Johnson of iLEAD Agua Dulce brings a passion for inclusion and community connection, while Cristian Watson of Crosstown in Memphis channels her creativity into storytelling and school culture. Johnny Lopez, from Eagle Rock, is deeply committed to community change and resilience, and Egypt Wiley of Nashville Big Picture models leadership through thoughtfulness and vision. These students, and their adult partners, are already demonstrating what authentic, integrated youth & adult partnership can look like.

“The students were engaged with the work, and Eagle Rock did a great job leading and showing how to do it in our schools.”

This modeling matters. At a time when public education is being challenged on multiple fronts, showing what's possible through inclusion, belonging, and intergenerational collaboration is both radical and necessary.

Clear Purpose, Tangible Outcomes

Each team left with a bold AIM statement to guide their year:

• 85% of students will feel a greater sense of belonging by May 15, 2026.
   
• 80% of learners and staff will feel included and have a greater sense of community by June 2026.
   
• 85% of the school community will report an overall positive experience by May 2026.
   
• 80% of veteran students will be engaged in Student Leadership by June 1, 2026.

These aren’t just aspirations—they’ll be grounded in plans that include empathy interviews, stakeholder engagement, and measurable and sustained school culture change.

Where We're Headed

As one team said, “This was a great experience and I am beyond excited for what’s to come!” We couldn’t agree more. From summer check-ins to mid-year convenings, Eagle Rock’s PDC will continue offering coaching, templates, tools, and accountability check-ins to ensure momentum stays strong.

And we’re proud to report that our Net Promoter Score from this year’s launch was a 92% ... a reflection of how deeply participants valued the experience, and how ready they are to carry the work forward.

Final Reflections

This week was not just about launching a program—it was about launching a movement. These students and educators are lighting a path forward that centers justice, courage, and collaboration. In a climate that too often marginalizes youth voices and sidelines educators, this work is a reminder: we don’t just imagine better schools—we build them.

We’re deeply grateful for everyone who made this week what it was—and even more excited for what’s ahead. Onward, Changemakers. Stay tuned as we open up interest for our fifth cohort this September, which will launch February 16-20, 2026.