By Shannon Lukens for Steamboat Radio News.
There is a new nonprofit based in Oak Creek called The Imagine Project.
The goal is to support youth mental health and emotional resilience across the Yampa Valley through writing.
This month is the inaugural “Spread Love Campaign.” The project hopes to collect 200 inspiring stories, while building a network of recurring donors to support mental health programming in local schools and groups.
Imagine stories are being collected, as are partners. There is also a monthly newsletter. More information is at TheImagineProject.org.
For more information on the local chapter, reach out to:
Vicki Hagen
Executive Director
The Imagine Project, Inc.
206-355-8515
Press Release from The Imagine Project; Sept. 10, 2026.
The Imagine Project Launches Inaugural “Spread Love” Campaign to Foster Community Resilience and Youth Mental Health Across Colorado
Local Nonprofit Uses Expressive Writing Tool to Transform Stress and Challenge into Empathy, Hope, and Sustained Community Connection
OAK CREEK, CO — September 10, 2026 — The Imagine Project, an Oak Creek-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth and adults through expressive writing, today announced the launch of its inaugural Spread Love Campaign. Running from September 10 through September 30, 2026, the three-week initiative aims to collect 200 inspiring “Imagine Stories” and build a sustained network of 250 monthly recurring donors to support preventative mental health programming in local schools and community groups.
The campaign launch coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day, highlighting the critical role that proactive emotional processing plays in mitigating youth anxiety, burnout, trauma, and isolation.
Through simple writing prompts, The Imagine Project gives young people and adults a safe, structured tool to process stress, prevent bullying, and build emotional resilience.
“Behind every struggle, there is a story eager to be heard and valued,” said Vicki Hagen, Executive Director at The Imagine Project. “When individuals have an avenue to express what they have experienced, isolation fades, empathy grows, and true healing begins. With the Spread Love campaign, we are inviting our neighbors across the Yampa Valley to try on the Imagine Story writing format, and beyond to move from one-time moments of giving to sustained, year-round partnerships that bring these life-changing writing sessions directly into our classrooms and local neighborhoods.”
Key Campaign Goals & Local Impact:
- 200 Stories: Collecting expressive writing pieces from community members, students, educators, and leaders to foster empathy and connection and spread a wave of love.
- 250 Monthly Champions: Establishing predictable, recurring monthly funding to expand preventative mental health toolkits and fund certified facilitator training for local teachers and counselors.
- Community Writing: Providing free facilitated writing sessions in local schools and youth organizations.
How the Community Can Participate:
- Share an Imagine Story: Write and submit your Imagine Story online.
- Become a Monthly Champion: Support local youth emotional wellness by joining as an Anchor Partner ($10/month), Community Connector ($25/month), Vision Builder ($50/month), or Dream Catalyst ($100/month) on the Spread Love campaign site.
- Bring the Campaign Local: Sign up for the newsletter to receive free community journaling posters and writing guides.
To learn more about the Spread Love Campaign or to join the movement, visit theimagineproject.org/spread-love. Contact Executive Director, Vicki Hagen, with question, ideas and stories: vicki@theimagineproject.org.
About The Imagine Project
The Imagine Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on equipping youth and adults with expressive writing tools to process stress, trauma, and adversity. By integrating emotional self-expression into schools, organizations, and communities, The Imagine Project fosters empathy, reduces isolation, and builds the emotional resilience needed to ensure no one feels alone.