Elevate Boulder is the city’s guaranteed income pilot project that’s providing 200 low-income Boulder households with $500 per month from January 2024 to December 2025. This assistance is unconditional and unrestricted; meaning it can be used how participants choose, and they don’t have to do anything in return.

Evaluation survey data shows that Elevate Boulder participants experienced profound benefits from the direct cash assistance: more food security and less hunger; the ability to pay rent and utilities on time, helping keep participants and their families housed; significantly less stress and anxiety; better overall health; and advancement of education and job training opportunities that can lead to longer-term financial stability.

With support from the Community Foundation Boulder County, the city and a team of professional storytellers worked with Elevate Boulder participants to help them tell their stories and share the impact of the project in their own words and images.

Support Elevate Boulder

If you believe in the power of guaranteed income, you can join the city to help make sure Elevate Boulder can continue to provide unrestricted direct cash assistance to Boulder community members in need by making a donation to the Elevate Boulder Fund.

Video and Photovoice Storytelling

Erin Preston Productions and Colibri Communications engaged participants and community leaders to document experiences through video interviews and creative photograph storytelling. Visit the Video and Photovoice Story webpage to view all video and photovoice stories.

Photo collage showing four participant-submitted photos. Photos include and up-close shot of braces, a red bicycle, a small white dog and child at the park with a rainbow in the background and a participant posing with their sketch of the Flatirons at the base of the Flatirons.

Narrative Performance

Six participants worked with Motus Theater to write, edit and perform their autobiographical stories on stage in front of a live audience, accompanied by live music.

Elevate Boulder Narrative performers group shot.

Written Stories

Writing can be a powerful experience for the storyteller and reader. Participants attended an in-person workshop to create an essay, non-fiction or poetry piece. Read all participant-written stories below.

Saving for tomorrow feels crazy when you don’t have enough for today. Because of Elevate Boulder, I have hope.

- Kellie, Elevate Boulder Participant