Welcome to ActivateWork’s July 2026 Impact Report. This special 10th Anniversary edition celebrates a decade of turning opportunity into impact, and looks ahead to our vision for the next decade, where we’ll build on our strong foundation to further expand access to careers that support economic mobility and meet Colorado’s evolving workforce needs.
A Look Back on a Decade of Investing in Opportunity—And a Vision for the Future
From Helen Young Hayes, Founder & CEO
Ten years ago, in 2016, we set out with a simple but powerful belief: talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. I founded Activate Workforce Solutions (now ActivateWork) to help close that gap—to create pathways into meaningful careers for people who have all the potential to succeed in technology but face substantial barriers to getting there.
What began as an idea has grown into a thriving, collaborative ecosystem. Along the way, our partnerships with employers and academic institutions have been essential. Together, we’ve built programs that are both learner-centered and employer-driven—ensuring that individuals gain the skills, experience, and confidence they need, while organizations gain team members ready to contribute from day one.
At the heart of everything we do are our learners. Their determination, resilience, and ambition continue to inspire us every day. And alongside them are the supporters who make this work possible—funders, partners, and advocates who believe in the power of opportunity and invest in lasting economic mobility. Because of our supporters’ belief in the proven model we’ve developed, dollars turn into opportunity, and opportunity turns into thriving careers, financial stability, and a more vibrant workforce.
As we look toward the next decade, our commitment remains clear. We will continue to deepen partnerships, expand access, and evolve alongside the needs of learners and the employers we serve. We believe the future of work depends on opening doors wider—and on building systems that recognize potential over pedigree.
Thank you for being part of this journey. The impact we celebrate today is shared—and the opportunity ahead is even greater.
Onward,
Helen Young Hayes
Looking Back
The First 10 Years
Over the past decade, ActivateWork has grown from a bold idea into a force for prosperity, opening pathways to tech careers and strengthening Colorado’s workforce. That work has always been about opening doors, removing barriers, and helping people step into careers where they can grow, contribute, and thrive.
Through partnerships with employers, community organizations, and our inspiring learners, we’ve built programs that meet real workforce needs and expand access to opportunity.
Today, we celebrate how far we’ve come—and the community that made it possible.
Major Milestones
2016
ActivateWork Founded
Helen Young Hayes founds Activate Workforce Solutions to connect job-seekers with life-changing careers.
2019
Per Scholas Partnership
ActivateWork partners with national nonprofit Per Scholas to provide tuition-free training for careers in tech.
2020
First Tech Graduates
The first cohort of learners graduates from ActivateWork’s Network Security course. Over the next five years, more than 500 program graduates will become alumni.
2022
Tech Apprenticeships
In partnership with employers like Bank of America and Ping Identity, ActivateWork launches its first Registered Apprenticeship Programs in IT, Cybersecurity, and DevOps.
2026
10 Years of Impact
ActivateWork marks 10 years of impact and looks ahead, expanding pathways into tech careers and accelerating opportunity for the next generation of talent.
Learner Success By the Numbers
662
People Served
87%
Graduation Rate
77%
Job Attainment
87%
Job Retention at 12 Months
Economic Mobility
$21,000
Average Income Before Training
$48,000
Average Income After Training
128%
Average Increase in Earnings
Learner Vibrancy
People of Color
Women
Immigrants
Low Income
Graduate Spotlight: Sydney Atencio
End User Computer Support Technician Apprentice, Sage Hospitality Group
At 19, Sydney Atencio became a mother while working, studying, and striving to build a future for her family. With support from Warren Village, she earned her degree in graphic design and spent several years growing her career—until the COVID-19 pandemic upended that progress. Facing job loss, housing instability, and the pressure to provide, Sydney turned to ActivateWork to build new skills and create a more stable path forward for her family.
“I knew I needed a way to build my skills without taking on a huge financial or time commitment,” she said, “especially because I didn’t want to spend a lot of time away from my family. The ActivateWork 17-week training program was extremely hard, but it taught my daughter and me that hard work comes with sacrifice—and that it’s worth it.”
Through determination and sacrifice, Sydney completed ActivateWork’s IT Support & Security Fundamentals program and launched a new career as a Computer Support Technician Apprentice at Sage Hospitality Group. Today, she supports end-user systems nationwide and is continuing to advance in IT Support.
Sydney’s career success has allowed her and her husband to purchase their first home after years of living in a family member’s basement, and they recently welcomed a new baby into the family. Along the way, she has shown her elder daughter what’s possible through resilience and hard work—proving that even in the face of adversity, transformation is within reach.
Partner Spotlight
Powering Impact Across Sectors
ActivateWork’s impact is made possible by a vibrant and diverse community of donors and supporters whose collective investment strengthens every part of our model. From government grantmakers and private foundations to corporate partners and individual supporters, each sector plays a critical role in building a workforce ecosystem that is both responsive and resilient.
Together, these contributions create a foundation that is greater than any single source—ensuring we can meet the evolving needs of learners, employers, and the broader community.
This blended support powers the full continuum of our work, enabling us to continually innovate, broaden our services, and ensure our programs keep pace as the technology landscape evolves. Investments empower us to:
- Advance learner programming with industry-aligned training
- Provide wraparound services that help learners navigate real-life challenges
- Deliver the career coaching and job placement support that lead to meaningful employment
- Fuel the growth of paid Apprenticeships—creating hands-on, skills-based pathways into tech careers while helping employers build and retain outstanding talent.
Through this collective commitment, our supporters are not only transforming individual lives—they are helping drive systems-level change, expanding access to opportunity, and building a more vibrant and dynamic talent pipeline for Colorado’s future.
Thank You to Our Supporters
To our incredible community of supporters—thank you.
Your partnership fuels more than programs—it fuels possibility. Because of you, learners across Colorado are stepping into new careers, building stability for their families, and contributing their skills to a stronger, more resilient workforce.
Every investment you make helps turn potential into progress and opportunity into lasting impact.
Featured Partners
Looking Forward
The Next Decade Starts Now
Even as we celebrate 10 years of transforming opportunity into impact, we are also looking ahead. The need for agile, industry-aligned training remains urgent. So does the need for career pathways that recognize talent, expand access, and connect people to opportunity.
Over the next decade, ActivateWork is building on a strong foundation to expand access to careers that support economic mobility and meet Colorado’s evolving workforce needs.
In partnership with employers, educators, and community leaders, we’re aligning training with industry demand, expanding paid Apprenticeships, building more affordable and flexible pathways to higher education, and replicating our successful workforce solutions nationally.
What's Next?
Expanding Apprenticeships
Expand employer-sponsored Apprenticeships that provide paid experience and clear pathways to employment.
Growing Employer Partnerships
Grow employer partnerships across technology, cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, finance, and business operations.
Building a Future-Ready, AI-Native Workforce
Continually align training with employer demand through our partnership with Per Scholas, preparing learners for the future of work with in-demand skills, certifications, and career pathways.
Unlocking College Credit
Increase access to college credit for technical training, helping learners accelerate progress toward certificates and degrees while reducing costs.
Scaling Colorado’s MSSP Model
Scale the Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) partnership model in Colorado, connecting workforce training, higher education, and employer needs.
Replicating Solutions Nationally
Build a nationally replicable workforce innovation model that expands economic mobility through skills-based career pathways.
Ways to Support ActivateWork
Share Your Passion for Workforce Development
- Become a Donor
- Hire a Graduate
- Create/Host an Apprenticeship
- Volunteer as a Mentor/Mock Interviewer
- Share Our Story
Together, we are building a Colorado where talent has access to opportunity and employers have access to the workforce they need. Thank you!
ActivateWork’s programs are funded in part by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration through the Apprenticeship Building America (ABA2) grant program. This content was created by ActivateWork and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor.
Support ActivateWork
We’re deeply grateful to the partners and donors who make this work possible. Your belief in the power of opportunity fuels every learner’s journey—and helps build a stronger, more prosperous Colorado.
If you’d like to be part of this mission, visit our Support page to explore ways to get involved and champion our work.