Who is Action Colorado?
Our Mission
To represent and take action on the unique needs and issues of Colorado stakeholders who live and/or operate outside of the Denver Metro area. We operate through a nonpartisan lens to be strategically impactful on behalf of our members, predominately rooted in Rural and Southern Colorado.
From the ground up, we’re driving real solutions for Colorado’s communities, economy, and future.
Founded in and for rural Colorado, Action Colorado stands at the intersection of leadership and purpose. We believe in the collective power of communities leaning into their own strength—even as we connect them to statewide policy, opportunity, and resources.
Our Culture
At the heart of what we do is a culture that’s deeply rooted, fiercely local, and boldly visionary.
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Deeply rooted — Our work is grounded in the people and places that often feel overlooked. We carry the stories, needs, and voices of rural Colorado into the centers where decisions are made.
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Fiercely local — We don’t parachute in. We partner. We listen. We embed. Every project starts by asking: What matters most here?
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Boldly visionary — We don’t just react. We look ahead. We initiate policy, launch leadership programs, build coalitions, and push for structural change that lasts.
What We Do
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We convene leadership from rural and small-town Colorado to collaborate, learn, and act.
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We influence policy at state and regional levels — ensuring that rural voices aren’t just heard, but are shaping outcomes.
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We support project implementation, resource navigation, and capacity building so that local ideas can become real, on-the-ground impact.
Why It Matters
Because Colorado is richer when every corner has a chance to thrive. Because inclusive leadership makes policy stronger. Because the future of our state is tied to the health, vitality, and innovation of rural communities.
Structure
Action Colorado’s structure is designed for agility, collaboration, and impact — especially in the rural and Southern Colorado communities we serve. We focus on the issues that matter most, when they matter most, by drawing on the leadership and expertise of our members.
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We organize our work through committees, which bring together members and partners with deep knowledge in specific areas. These committees analyze issues, develop objective-driven strategies, and make action recommendations to our Executive Board, which holds final decision-making authority. This structure ensures that our actions are informed, strategic, and rooted in consensus.
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Unlike many organizations, only about 30% of our work happens in the legislative arena. Our greatest strength lies in convening expertise — bringing the right people to the table to craft solutions that work.
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We may be a small organization, but our influence is amplified through our members and partners, who represent a powerful cross-section of Colorado’s communities, industries, and institutions. Together, we’re highly effective advocates for rural Colorado’s future.
Leadership
William Mutch, Board Chair
Tony Hass, Vice Chair
Ashley Valdez, Secretary
April Lopez, Treasurer
Chad Vorthmann, Director of Strategic Partnerships
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Sara Blackhurst, President
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