THE CLAYTON SUMMER UPDATE

At Clayton, we are in the hopes and dreams business, and few moments capture that more vividly than PreK graduation. Watching our children leave our program is always bittersweet: we celebrate the role we played in helping them and their families reach this milestone, while also feeling the quiet ache of saying goodbye. But that space never stays empty for long. Soon, a new group of children will be full of laughter, curiosity, and love - enrolled and racing through our halls.

This summer marks my fourth year at Clayton, and I continue to be energized by the rhythm of each new season. We are moving forward on several exciting fronts. Two new partners, Girls Inc. of Metro Denver and ColoREADo, are joining us on campus to deepen and expand services for youth. The Denver Center for African Art is nearly ready to open, offering our community a meaningful space to explore cultural history and diversity. And through our partnership with the Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST), we will welcome new artists-in-residence to campus this fall, a reflection of our belief that integrating the arts into the lives of our families and neighbors is not a luxury but a necessity.

Construction on our main building starts this week, with work to make the second floor fully accessible expected to be completed this fall, opening new possibilities for community events and gatherings. And we are excited that our first phase to provide healthcare through Denver Health is in final planning stages. I will be honest: there are moments when I feel the urgency of our community’s needs more acutely than our pace allows. But I hold onto the value of small but powerfully intentional steps; each one moving us closer to a campus that removes barriers and models what economic mobility and optimism can look like.

Last week, we were honored to host civil rights icon Carlotta Walls LaNier, one of the courageous members of the Little Rock Nine. Her words carried the full weight of her experience: a reminder that courage and resilience are not relics of history, but a living call to action. She left us with something we will carry forward: “You stay with it, whatever it is. If you know that you’re right, you don’t quit.”

At Clayton, we could not agree more. This is not the moment to pull back or wait for calmer waters. The challenges ahead are real, and so is our resolve. I believe, deeply, that together we will continue to show up for this community precisely when it needs us most.

With gratitude and love, we thank you for your advocacy, your generosity, and your belief in what we are building together.

Ever forward -

William Browning 

President and CEO