In 2013, Annalee Knies was an 11-year-old student at Lesher Middle School, participating in Give Next and discovering that young people can make a meaningful difference in their community.
More than a decade later, Annalee is helping musicians build their careers as an Artist Development Coordinator at The Music District. Along the way, Annalee’s band, Autumnal, also participated in and won Sonic Spotlight — a music showcase led by Fort Collins Museum of Discovery for emerging artists aged 22 and under from Larimer and Weld Counties.
Looking back, it’s easy to see the threads connecting those experiences.
We recently caught up with Annalee to reflect on their journey of giving back, building community, and supporting others – starting with Give Next.
Discovering the Power of Youth Voice
When Annalee joined Give Next, she was already interested in sustainability. Through the program, she had the opportunity to connect with local organizations addressing issues she cared about and experience what it meant to have a youth voice included in classroom conversations around making a difference.
“Give Next fueled my passion for sustainability,” said Annalee. “I was excited to get to talk about sustainability with the organizations who were working on it locally.”
Through conversations with nonprofit leaders, discussions with classmates, and the opportunity to make real grant decisions, sustainability became more than a topic she was interested in. It became something she could make an impact on as a middle school student.
One of Give Next’s core goals is helping students move beyond learning about community issues to engaging directly with the people and organizations working to create change. By placing students at the center of the experience, Give Next helps young people recognize that their voices and perspectives matter and that they have a role to play in shaping their communities.
Understanding That Change Starts Locally
Like many young people, Annalee remembers feeling like she had to wait until becoming an adult to make a real difference in the community.
“As a middle-schooler, I definitely felt like I couldn’t make that much of an impact on the world. Give Next gave me the opportunity to influence tangible change, and that was huge for me.”
Give Next helps students explore complex social issues while reminding them that meaningful change often begins close to home. By researching community needs, collaborating with classmates, meeting local nonprofits, and making real funding decisions, students begin to see that they are equipped to lead, advocate, volunteer, and invest in the issues they care about most.
That early experience marked the start of a much larger story. It showed that every voice can make a difference and – for Annalee – inspired years of community involvement that continued through high school, college, and beyond.
Community Begins with Relationships
One of the most impactful parts of Annalee’s Give Next experience wasn’t just what she learned. It was who she experienced the program with.
Among those connections was Geneva, Annalee’s best friend who also participated in Give Next. Years later, they formed the Fort Collins band Autumnal, which was recognized as a 2023 Sonic Spotlight winner and recently toured across the country.
“We are still best friends today. It’s been really cool to see Geneva grow in what they are passionate about and to be able to be in a band together.”
Annalee’s brother, Declan, also participated in Give Next and now works for the Colorado Geologic Society, continuing the environmental passion they shared as members of Lesher’s Sustainability Club.
Give Next connects young people not only to community issues and the organizations addressing them, but also to one another. The relationships built through shared experiences often become part of the foundation for future friendships, collaborations, and lifelong civic engagement.
Finding New Ways to Give Back
Annalee’s community involvement continued long after Give Next.
During high school, she volunteered through Polaris Expeditionary Learning School’s Intensive Program. In college, she and Geneva created a DIY music venue in Fort Collins that continues today and gives local musicians a place to perform while intentionally creating space for emerging artists and marginalized voices.
“We try to host a variety of genres with a focus on uplifting marginalized voices in the scene. It’s been amazing to give a space for younger and newer bands to play.”
Whether through volunteerism, music, advocacy, or countless other paths, Annalee’s story reflects an important lesson reflected in Give Next – there are many ways to strengthen a community.
Coming Full Circle
Today, Annalee works as an Artist Development Coordinator at Bohemian Foundation’s Music District, helping others develop their talents and find community through music.
“Finding a position with an organization that has helped me grow, and one where I would directly impact those around me, was a dream.”
Annalee’s journey reflects something Give Next hopes every student experiences: discovering that the passions they develop today can become the ways they contribute to their communities tomorrow. Today, that journey has come full circle, with Annalee helping create opportunities for others in the same community that once invested in a young leader.
A Message to Today’s Give Next Students
When asked what she would tell current Give Next participants, Annalee’s advice echoed one of the program’s core beliefs.
“It is easy to feel like you can’t make an impact on your community when you are young, but that is not true. The youth of today have a unique point of view, so please share that with your school and your community.”
And for the donors, educators, volunteers, and community members who make Give Next possible, Analee offered one final reminder:
“You never know what doors you may be opening for folks. Getting to have a say in the focus of our community was extremely empowering as a shy 11-year-old.”
Every Give Next Story Matters
As Give Next celebrates its 15th program year, stories like Annalee’s remind us that the impact of the program often extends far beyond the classroom.
As part of Give Next’s 15th anniversary celebration, we’re collecting stories from the students, teachers, nonprofit partners, donors, volunteers, Advisory Committee members, and community partners who have helped shape Give Next over the past 15 years.
Every Give Next experience is different. Every story helps tell ours.
Whether you participated in the program, supported it, or witnessed its impact, we’d love to hear your story.
Help Us Tell the Give Next Story
Join the Give Next Donor Community
Annalee’s story is one example of what can happen when young people are encouraged to share their voices and perspectives and trusted with meaningful opportunities to make a difference in their communities.
Every year, there are hundreds of new Give Next stories being written. Join our community of donors and help inspire the next generation young people in Larimer County make a difference in their communities.