Elevate Colorado

John has been working in Denver’s out-of-school-time community for the past 12 years and working in education for the past 20. As the Quality Counts Network Lead for the Denver Afterschool Alliance he has the pleasure of supporting organizations, big and small, to build their capacity to deliver high quality programs for youth around the city. John believes that quality is the gateway to creating spaces of trust and belonging for youth and serves to ignite their passions and catalyze their growth and development. Quality in out-of-school-time spaces not only matters, it's vital. When John isn’t working he is busy playing at a park with his wife and two young children, watching the Rockies do their best or trying to strum a Bob Dylan song or two. 

For the past 28 years I have worked in the field of youth development in a “potpourri” of different roles.  Currently I am the Team & Client Success Specialist, Facilitator for Flourish Lab. My love for the field started when I began working with young people in afterschool and outdoor summer programs.  Over the years I have worked directly with youth as program staff, as a site director, and as a camp director.  As an administrator I have managed organizational operations for a national youth development organization, and served as a city, state, and national youth development systems builder.  In addition to my work with The Flourish Lab, I also work with The Forum for Youth Investment David P. Weikart Center where I am a facilitator, consultant and coach for school and out-of-school time professionals throughout the world. 

Denise Nichols brings over 30 years of experience in youth development and education through her work with Douglas County Schools. As the current Area Manager overseeing 15 after school sites, Denise has been a driving force in elevating program standards and promoting meaningful youth engagement.

She led the first site in Colorado to earn national accreditation from the Council on Accreditation (COA), a distinction that later expanded to encompass all 46 sites under her leadership. Denise has long championed youth voice and choice as foundational to her approach, creating environments where young people lead, plan, and implement activities that build critical life skills and open doors to new experiences.

Her collaborative efforts with school leadership helped her site become a Leader in Me Lighthouse School, where she fully integrated the program’s core pillars into after school programming. Denise’s work reflects a deep commitment to empowering youth, building safe and supportive environments, and fostering a culture where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Nikki Roe Cropp brings over 20 years of social sector experience in administration and leadership and currently serves as Senior Director of Program Effectiveness at Camp Fire National Headquarters. She leads the program team to strengthen capacity and quality across affiliates, with a focus on youth protection, staff development, assessment, curriculum, and program frameworks. Nikki represents Camp Fire on the National Alliance of Youth Serving Organizations for Child Protection and is committed to creating safe, equitable environments where all youth can thrive. She holds a BA in Psychology from Kansas State University, a master’s certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Texas at Arlington, is a Certified Nonprofit Professional, and an alumna of the American Express Leadership Academy. Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, Nikki enjoys hiking, reading, yoga, and life with her spouse of 20+ years, two teenagers, and two mischievous dogs.