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Forward Steps

By investing in their lives, Forward Steps empowers youth and young adults, including current and former foster youth, so they can reach their full potential as independent, healthy and contributing members of their communities.

guardian scholars

GUARDIAN SCHOLARS

Works with current and former foster youth in Colorado providing financial assistance and 1:1 mentoring. There are navigation and wrap around supports as scholars enroll, pursue, and complete their postsecondary educations.

Realizing Aptitudes

Realizing Aptitudes

Provides career and postsecondary readiness coaching to youth and young adults facing adversity. By emphasizing a multiple pathway model and 1:1 approach, RA meets each youth where they’re at. RA helps them build a vision of what’s possible for their futures using high quality, evidenced based resources and techniques.

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Forward Steps fills an important gap that helps ensure all students have equal access to postsecondary education and training success by providing financial assistance, mentorship, career coaching, and essential skill development.

By investing in their lives, Forward Steps supports under-resourced youth and young adults, including current and former foster youth, so they can reach their full potential as independent, healthy and contributing members of their communities. The organization works to advance equitable access along the education and workforce development talent pipeline in Colorado through navigation and wrap around supports, and customized career and postsecondary readiness programming.

In 2021, Forward Steps merged with the Realizing Aptitudes Foundation. The nonprofit organizations shared the same founder and commitment to supporting youth. They are empowered to develop and pursue a vision of what’s possible for their futures.


Through both programs, FS promotes a multiple pathway model in its career development work focused on the transition from high school to postsecondary enrollment and attainment, and workforce readiness and entry. The coaches and mentors in both programs employ a multicultural competent, targeted 1:1 and small group approach, crucial to building rapport and engaging students who previously thought that postsecondary education or training, and a fulfilling career were not an option for them.


The Forward Steps Guardian Scholars Program works with current and former foster youth in Colorado providing financial assistance and 1:1 mentoring. There are navigation and wrap-around supports as scholars enroll, pursue, and complete their postsecondary educations. 

The Realizing Aptitudes program provides career and postsecondary readiness coaching to youth and young adults facing adversity. The program emphasizes a multiple pathway model and 1:1 approach to meet each youth where they’re at. Individual coaching helps build a vision of what’s possible for their futures using high quality, evidenced based resources and techniques.

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Even if you don’t get to know some of the scholars who are benefiting from your efforts. We are all thankful to you. You are making my dream possible and giving me a chance to make my future successful. I think that this is the best gift you could give someone.

— Emily, Guardian Scholar Alumni, B.S. In Nursing From The University Of Colorado, Anschutz
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