Events and Programs

Programs & Events:

PlatFORUM, a full-day Upper School conference celebrating different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, is held annually at Colorado Academy. Students, teachers, community leaders, and experienced presenters deliver interactive, inclusive, and engaging workshops. The goals of PlatFORUM are to: redefine diversity; promote self-reflection; share experiences of culture and tradition; provide language and tools to engage in conversations around social justice, equity, and access; gain understanding; and build community. PlatFORUM incorporates the word “platform,” a place or opportunity for public discussion, with the word “forum,” which etymologically derives from the place of assembly in an ancient Roman city, considered to be the center of all judicial and business affairs. At CA, it is designed to be a time and place to share voices, experiences, and ideas around issues of social justice and inclusivity that will move us from dialogue into action. The goal is promotion of conversation and dialogue, rather than the imposition of a particular viewpoint. Discussion topics address at least one or more areas of diversity and its intersection with leadership, politics, law, music, art, well-being, culture, relationships, social justice, education, or history. 

• 2022- Activism Begins At Home with guest speakers Suzi Q. Smith and Marlow Baines
• 2020- Going Beneath the Subject: The Power of Words with guest speaker Theo Wilson
• 2019- Snap Judgment with guest speaker Stephen Brackett
• 2018- It's Our Story, It's On Us
• 2017- Trusting Ourselves, Practicing Empathy with guest speaker Brian O'Malley
• 2016- Speak Your Truth
• 2015- 21st Century Conversations with guest speaker Toluwanimi Obiowle

Past Events:

• September 21, 2022: Terrence Talley: You Matter
• September 15, 2021: André De Shields visits CA
• September 1, 2021: Bryan Terrell Clark Brings Down the House - Again
• March 31, 2021: Bryan Terrell Clark: You Have to Be Brave
• September 23, 2020: Multicultural Families Meet-up
• November 18, 2020: Multicultural Program - "If Money Talks, Why Don't We Talk About It?"
• January 28, 2021: Jesmyn Ward “Navigate Your Stars”
• February 18, 2021: Taste of CA
• April 9, 2021: Day of Silence
• August 27, 2021: Bryan Terrell Clark, “Act II”

• Fall 2020 welcomed Michael Gadlin to the Ponzi Arts Center. Our gallery walls were graced with the energetic, colorful, and stunning paintings of Denver’s own Michael Gadlin. We were honored to introduce him, and his work, to the Colorado Academy community as our Guest Artist of 2020. Our Guest Artist Program is one in which we take great pride. It gives the young artists of our community a chance to meet professional artists who have made a career out of making art. Meeting and learning from these professionals makes students realize that they, too, can be an artist.