Big Idea Project

Big Idea Project

Big Idea Project (BIP) was first in line to help when the Colorado Department of Education mandated that by 2021, every student in Colorado must meet graduation requirements in English and Math to obtain a diploma. The mandate also included a non-test option, an alternative for students at-risk of not graduating or failing to get the required high scores on the tests, and that is where Big Idea fits in with its capstone community service projects. Based on the Christian philosophy of Generous Leadership, defined as “abundantly giving of yourself so others may be and do their best,” Big Idea’s capstone projects give students a way to apply their problem-solving skills in a real-world context and graduate. The semester-long projects complement curriculum and are developed by students to address a social problem. Working in conjunction with their teachers and volunteer business mentors, students execute an action plan and make their solution come to life. Our foundation sees lots of up-sides for students who work on these capstone projects and for the lives they touch with their solutions. Co-founder Trisha Halsey is a former teacher who moves Big Idea forward with vision and heart, and we included this group in our Venture Portfolio in 2018 with a three-year grant.