Mark your calendars for Colorado Youth for a Change's signature event! We are back at…
Back to School Night 2023
Thank you to all who made Back to School Night 2023 a success! We are so grateful to our amazing community and can’t wait to see you next year!
It’s the event you know and love with a twist! This year Back to School Night is moving locations to Mile High Station and will include a full dinner for attendees. Join us as we honor our Student Changemaker, Dbany Osorio Sanchez, and our Community Changemaker, John Kelly. All proceeds go back to our programs to support students at pivotal stages in their education journeys.
Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Mile High Station (2027 W Colfax Ave)
Full dinner & live comedy included
Individual tickets: $120
One table (8 seats): $800
What to expect:
5:30 pm – Doors open
5:30-6:40 pm – Appetizers and cash bar on the mezzanine; silent auction
6:40-7:00 pm – Guests seated for dinner
7:00 pm – Program
Community Changemaker Awardee: John Kelly, Executive Director of Serve Colorado
Live Auction
Student Changemaker Awardee: Dbany Osorio Sanchez, high school graduate and Corps for a Change alumn
8:00 pm – Live comedy with BK Sharad & friends
Thank you to our sponsors!
This year’s honorees
John Kelly
Executive Director, Serve Colorado
As a national social sector leader with over 25 years of experience, John Kelly has been involved in every aspect of crafting social change strategies. John Kelly has served as the Executive Director of Serve Colorado since Summer 2020. Under his leadership, Serve Colorado has doubled the number of AmeriCorps programs and members serving in Colorado. Prior to joining Serve Colorado, John worked on the founding team of Generous, a civic-tech start-up dedicated to democratizing philanthropy. Prior to Generous, he served for 8 years in the Obama Administration and focused on service, social innovation, and faith-based community work starting at the White House Domestic Policy Council (DPC).
Dbany Osorio Sanchez
High School Graduate and Corps for a Change alum
Dbany Osorio Sanchez graduated from high school in 2023. They were involved with Colorado Youth for a Change for two years at Pinnacle Charter High School through the Corps for a Change program. In their free time, Dbany likes to hang out with their friends and powerlift. They started college at Metro State in August and want to work in criminal justice.
This year’s comedians
BK Sharad
BK Sharad is an up-and-coming comedian from the mean streets of Boulder, Colorado. You of course know him from his work as Jay Chandrasekhar’s body double in an as-of-yet unaired TV Pilot, but he is also making a name for himself in standup. His positive outlook shines through his jokes about the world and his experiences in it as a former emo, hockey playing, first generation, Indian millennial.
Hannah Jones
Hannah is a stand up comedian, writer, and improvisor based in Denver, Colorado. She was the creator of the retired satire publication Westish, which has been written about in Denverite and Westword, and covered on Channel 7 News. She has opened for Josh Gondelman, Atsuko Okatsuka, and Todd Barry and has been invited to the Beast Village, Altercation, and High Plains comedy festivals. She performs at DIY shows all over town and is a regular at Denver Comedy Works.
Above all of that, she holds the career defining title of the 2007 Fayetteville Christian Homeschool Chess Club’s “Most Improved,” and has been improving ever since.
Sammy Anzer
After writing and performing on Kevin Hart’s “You Look Like,” Sammy lost every one of his roast battles for looking like “church camp Drake” and “the most handsome employee at Taco Bell.” Sammy has performed at the High Plains comedy festival, Limestone Festival, and was chosen for “Best of The Fest” at the 10 Thousand Laughs Festival, which are very prestigious if you know comedy festivals. Sammy Anzer is growing into the mixed-race comedic voice in America and has proven it by performing alongside DL Hughley, Rojo Perez, Maria Bamford, and Neal Brennan. On Camera, Sammy has starred in comedic commercials for Flag and Anthem Clothing, Chipotle, and Puma. Expect confidence, joy, and thought provocation.
