A Powerful Start In Denver
Dear Friends, Family, Partners and Supporters of World at Hand,
We kicked off the year with an Access Opportunity Info Session that reached 40 college students from across the Denver Metro Area. The energy in the room was high, and the alignment between partner organizations was clear. These conversations are already moving toward official partnerships, with more to share soon.
Our First-ever Rural Programming
Last month also marked an important milestone as we hosted our first rural info session in partnership with the Montrose Regional Library District. In addition to connecting with students, I had the opportunity to meet with community members and local leaders. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with a strong desire for World at Hand programming on the Western Slope. This affirmed both the need for and the interest in expanding access beyond the Front Range.
Global Access Passport Program Revamp!
This past weekend, we ran the Global Access Passport (GAP) Program using a new, streamlined format in collaboration with Colorado Uplift’s Advanced Leadership. This marked our fifth time delivering the program together and supported six students through passport acquisition and travel preparation. We saw continued growth in both interest in and belief in the possibility global opportunities. For the first time, students left with everything needed to submit their passport applications, including completed forms, passport photos, and pre-written checks. We are excited about this new format and proud that students walked away not only with trip planning experience and study abroad knowledge, but with a tangible, ready-to-submit application in hand.
InnovateEA Finalist
I am also excited to share that World at Hand has been selected as an InnovateEA finalist. Next month, to close the Forum of Education Abroad’s National Conference, I will pitch our work to more than 1,000 education abroad professionals, highlighting the need to design global education systems that truly work for community college students and other historically excluded learners.
Looking Ahead: A New Chapter for our Board
As World at Hand continues to grow, we are entering an important transition. I want to extend deep gratitude to our founding board members, whose leadership, trust, and dedication helped turn this vision into a growing organization.
We are now preparing to welcome a new board focused on growth, sustainability, and scaling our impact across Colorado and beyond. If you or someone in your network may be interested in board service, or would like to learn more, I would love to connect.
Thank you, as always, for being part of this journey. Your support makes this work possible, and I am excited for what we will build together in 2026.
With gratitude,
Shawn Wall
Founder& Executive Director
World at Hand