OUR WHY

 
Moonshot is the future of education. Build the capacity of leaders to better serve our students, through the refusal to settle and accept what always has been, and instead, fight to create and grow something new, knowing our kids deserve it.
— Lauryn Gray, Cohort 6

THE NEED FOR STUDENTS

Denver has one of the largest gaps in the country between students of color from low income backgrounds and white students from affluent backgrounds.

Over time, if our city does more of the same, the gap for our students of color in Denver will continue to widen.

These needs are what catalyzed the creation of Moonshot edVentures.

 

 

THE NEED FOR FAMILIES

  • Low-income families & families of color have the least access to out-of-school learning opportunities in Denver (CRPE Colorado Brief)

  • Black families in Denver are consistently located in neighborhoods with the lowest access to out-of-school learning opportunities (CRPE Colorado Brief)

  • Affording the cost is the biggest worry for families for summer learning opportunities (CRPE Colorado Brief)

  • Similar to school, district & charter leadership, leadership at large providers of extended or out-of-school learning opportunities does not represent the identities or experiences of families of color or low-income families.

→ Families of color and low-income families in Denver need access to high-quality, low-cost out-of-school learning opportunities.

 

THE NEED FOR TALENT

4,910 Denver Teachers

Though 75% of students in Denver are students of color, 75% of the teaching force and 64% of school leaders are white.

Our students are spending most of their time in environments where they cannot find a teacher who shares their identities or lived experiences. 

Chart Data Source: Denver Public Schools

Note: 0% Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Note: 0% Native American

 

OUR THEORY OF CHANGE

Moonshot believes that if we invest in growing and mobilizing a community of local, historically marginalized leaders and support them with the skills, network, and resources to disrupt systemic inequities, we can transform outcomes for youth most on the margins.

IF WE INVEST  IN A COMMUNITY OF LOCAL LEADERS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES OF OUR STUDENTS & FAMILIES
AND SUPPORT THEM TO DESIGN & LAUNCH MODELS TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS & FAMILIES
WE CAN TRANSFORM OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED BY OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM

Moonshot creates sustainable change by building and supporting local leadership.

 

Our leaders create new opportunities for students.