RJ ACADEMY
What is RJ Academy?
Our community can’t wait for political change to come from the halls of power. While “bench-building” has been a tool of political progress for many people, we rarely see our conditions change in our community from just an election. Instead, RJ Academy is dedicated to planting seeds in a political ecosystem that infuse our values into all political roles, not just elected officials.
The program aims to galvanize young, Latine, progressive political leaders in Colorado and ground them in the values of the reproductive justice movement. It fosters lived experiences that explore the intersectionality of RJ, sparks conversations about progressive Latine movement-building in the state, and guides participants in creating a set of “10 Laws of RJ” that reflect our political values. Above all, it connects participants deeply to community.
Program Structure
Over several months in RJ Academy, our young, Latine progressive political workers, organizers, and community leaders from across Colorado explored the intersections of our state’s most urgent issues.
RJ Academy Mountain Retreat
During a three-day cabin retreat in Estes Park, participants studied the political conditions of Colorado, built personal relationships, and developed a tentative set of “10 Laws of RJ” that addressed our community’s political needs and experiences.
Community-Based Program Sessions
Through day-long site visits, participants heard from organizers and architects of Colorado’s healthcare, environmental justice, immigrant rights, abolition, labor, and public education movements. The experiences during these sessions were used to revise the “10 Laws of RJ” developed by participants to meet the real, lived, and intersectional needs of our Colorado community.
“It’s one thing to hear from guest speakers on a panel, but it’s entirely different to be immersed in the environments where they serve and support our communities, so being able to witness their work firsthand made the experience much more meaningful and inspiring.”
– 2025 RJ Academy Participant
By The Numbers
100%
of program participants believe that RJ Academy connected their
personal values to broader social and political change.
93%
of program participants feel that RJ Academy deepened their understanding of what progressive political leadership means.
100%
of program participants believe RJ Academy had a lasting impact on their leadership journey.
93%
of program participants would recommend RJ Academy to others
interested in progressive leadership.
100%
of program participants believe RJ Academy can strengthen progressive political movements.
86%
of program participants feel more confident in their ability to lead
within a progressive movement or
organization.
What's Next?
Following the success of our inaugural cohort, COLOR AF will host RJ Academy again in 2026, where we will convene another cohort of young, Latine progressive political workers, organizers, and
community leaders from across Colorado to continue building our community’s political power in Colorado and beyond.
2026 Program Outlook
The 2026 RJ Academy will deepen its impact by building an alumni engagement system that prioritizes professional development, networking, and continued growth. Members of the inaugural cohort will return as facilitators and mentors, strengthening continuity and leadership within the program. Alumni will be supported in launching new community projects, mutual aid efforts, issue campaigns, and political organizations, expanding the reach of reproductive justice across Colorado. Through this work, the Academy will model culturally responsive organizing strategies that partners and coalitions can adopt statewide.
