New Era Colorado is where young people power change. We’re harnessing the political power of our generation to co-create a Colorado that serves all people, not just a privileged few. As the leading voice for young people in Colorado politics, we’re not here to fit into the status quo. We’re here to transform it.
At New Era Colorado, we believe in community, people power, accountability, equity, perseverance, and creativity + progress. We are working to create a world that centers people over politics. We need our team to reflect the future we’re fighting for.
COMMUNITY
We hold a deep sense of shared responsibility for each other’s well-being. We celebrate the unique identities and honor the lived experiences of each community member. We are honest and transparent with ourselves and with others about who we are, what we need, and what we can offer. We exchange resources and skills to collectively meet our needs, so that we can live our best lives and strengthen our community. We have a deep connection to the land – we care for the earth and all of its resources, as it does for us. All of this is essential to our collective liberation.
PEOPLE POWER
Our power-building work is of young people, by young people, for all people. We believe in the distribution of power to the people and collective decision-making that prioritizes the experiences and perspectives of marginalized people. We come from numerous backgrounds, and these experiences strengthen our movement as a whole. By understanding each other and forming deep, trusting relationships, we can build collective power to create change, grow our personal and bodily autonomy, and liberate our communities.
ACCOUNTABILITY
We build our relationships around trust and a commitment to repair harm to foster healing. We believe in the power of restorative and transformational justice over punitive systems and use that framework to guide us when addressing conflict and harm, and in preventing harm. We believe in teaching and learning how to be accountable and how to have healthy conflict, as individuals and as a collective. We are accountable to our own growth and work to repair the harm we cause. We create space for that growth by providing grace to each other while centering the experiences and asks of those harmed.
EQUITY
We center the voices of those most impacted by systems of exploitation and oppression. We are a real reflection of our generation and, as a result, we are connected to the real-life perspectives of those closest to the inequities we are fighting to eradicate. We fight for justice and the creation of deliberate systems that reconcile historic and current inequality. We acknowledge that not all young people face the same injustices to the same degree, and we see our shared stakes in fighting for justice. We’re guided in this fight through our love for each other and the pursuit of joy.
PERSEVERANCE
We bring authenticity, integrity, humility, and creativity to all of our work and relationships. We are fighting for our vision, not just against the pillars that stand in the way. We continue to build a shared analysis of what we want to change and what we want to build. We work with integrity to achieve our goals—when we commit to something, we follow through. We don’t make promises we can’t keep. We celebrate our wins and value the lessons from our losses. We have systems of care in place to prevent burnout and take time to rest and recover so we may continue to fight.
CREATIVITY + PROGRESS
We acknowledge the inherent creativity of all humans, especially young people. We value creativity not just for its utility, but also for the joy it brings. We believe in innovation and transformation for the sake of improving our lives, not for profit. We know creativity drives progress because it allows us to think in new ways and dream up a world that has never existed before. Without creativity, we can’t create that world.
Looking for hands-on experience in youth organizing, policy, or communications? Join our paid internship program, where you’ll gain skills, mentorship, and real-world experience making change. Internships are typically offered in the spring and/or fall.
📧 Questions? Reach us at info@neweracolorado.org
There are so many ways to build power with us, even if we’re not hiring right now:
Organize on your campus: If you’re a college student ready to take action, join or start a New Era Campus Chapter! Follow them on Instagram or send an email to learn more.
