OUR STORY
Living Her Legacy's concept was initiated in January 2014, incorporated in September 2018 in Colorado and achieved official IRS nonprofit status in September of 2020.
We are a community, historic, public art/education exhibit that promotes awareness of local cultural and historic figures. This visual and digital exhibit will consist of portraits of notable women who have helped to create the fabric of our city.
Below is an artist's rendering of some of the honorees. Please view all 48 Legacy Honorees here.
Nationally recognized local artist, Rachael Davis is creating the portraits utilizing a 3-8 color woodcut reduction color print process, which will then be digitally printed onto graffiti proof and weatherproof metal panels. This permanent exhibit of 48 total portraits will provide six interchangeable panels of four portraits each for display--half for use in the classroom and the other half for traveling museum use.
The panels will be exchanged semiannually. It was approved by our Fort Collins Historic Preservation Services department to foster community interactions and enhance the unique character of our community through recognition of prominent women. This exhibit will be displayed in Old Town, Fort Collins, Colorado to engage guests and residents who visit.
Poudre School District, a partner in this endeavor, will write curriculum utilizing the art display, panels and website as a part of second-grade Fort Collins history, fourth-grade Colorado history, middle/high school social studies and high school art classes. Colorado State University will also include this project in their women’s studies major curriculum. Each portrait panel has a QR code that lists the website where information about each woman and her accomplishments is shared through writing, video, and audio presentations.
MISSION, VALUES & DEI
Mission
Our Legacy Impact is: We have created Living Her Legacy to inspire women and girls to discover themselves in the many talents, contributions, and achievements of women, both past and present. Recognizing Women. Inspiring Girls. 'Inspiring Women and Girls to Create Their Own Legacies'
Our Movement Impact is: We are creating a generation of change makers who will impact their communities and the girls who come behind them, with our women’s art exhibit and education programs for girls.
Values
We structure our work around these values to inspire the next generation of female leaders:
Believe: Teaching leaders of tomorrow to believe in themselves.
Empower: The next generation of change makers.
Invest: In the girls’ futures (with college class scholarships and Internships).
Our programs are also centered around: Authentic Communication, Character, Courageous Growth, Community Service, Equity, 21st Century Work Skills and Mindfulness.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Living Her Legacy exists to help create a world where all girls are included, embraced and belong. In our work, character, diversity, equity, kindness and positivity are at the heart of every decision we make, every program we design, every partner we connect with, and all program reviews we conduct so we can create a more inclusive world where every girl is confident, understands she can follow her passion and how to create a foundation for that passion and where every girl’s leadership is valued.
Research & Innovation Program Approach
We plan to create impact for over 40 girls in our 2nd program year in 2022 and to double that impact in 2023 for girls in 5th grade through age 19 including teen mom’s. Our target population is underserved girls. When the school district institutes the programs to introduce our Legacy Honoree life journeys and impact to the following grades: 2nd grade Fort Collins history, 4th grade Colorado history, Middle/High School Social Studies and the High School Art classes we anticipate our impact will be well over 1000 students per year.
Our local university will also include the Legacy Honoree Life journeys/impact in the Women’s Studies classes and that will add upwards of 100 students per year.
We partner with our local school district, our local university, our Title I elementary schools, our alternative high schools and community-based nonprofit organizations (especially the Boys/Girls Club of Larimer County, Aztlan Center after school programs and the Matthews House) in Northern Colorado.
We also partner with the following organizations for program content: Calm app (mindfulness), Character.org/Character Fort Collins magazine, Junior Achievement speaker’s bureau, Local women in business for Internships/speakers, National Geographic Teacher Resources-Service Learning/Suffragette Movement, Otter Cares Project Heart Philanthropy curriculum, Success Foundation-Success for Teens, START Leadership. The students read these books: Confidence Code for Girls/Corresponding Journal, How Remarkable Women Lead and Succeeding in the World of Work textbook. We conduct one community service project each program year.