About this Event
No one builds a life—or a business—alone.
See how mentorship and community open the door to what’s next.
🌟 Connect for Good Purpose Forum Fireside Chat:
Weaving the Village
Mentorship, second chances, and the people who make new paths possible
🗓️ Wednesday, April 29, 2026 | 11:30 AM–1:00 PM
📍 Hilltop Community Resources | 359 Main Street, Grand Junction, CO
🚗 Free parking available on-site + nearby street options
We’re bringing everyday leadership into conversation with lived experience, resilience, and real-world action.
This isn’t just a talk—it’s an invitation to connect, reflect, and imagine what’s possible for our community’s health, together.
It takes a village—not just to raise a child, but to rebuild a life, grow a business, and create new paths forward.
No one builds a life—or a business—alone.
🔍 This fireside conversation will explore:
- How mentorship—formal and informal—shapes opportunity and direction
- What it takes to rebuild a life after incarceration with the support of a “village”
- The role of relationships in entrepreneurship, second chances, and long-term success
- How everyday people can show up for others—and be part of someone’s path forward
Featuring:
Kenneth Riskey — Founder of eBricks & eBricksOnline, real estate developer, and mentor to more than 20 entrepreneurs
Elyse Parker (“Queen of Resources”) — Founder of Advocacy of Shalom, Colorado Mesa University student, and community leader creating a new path after 13 years of incarceration
As always, the Connect for Good Purpose Forum is a solution-focused space for Netweaving™—bringing people, ideas, and resources together to strengthen community life, even around challenging topics. This conversation invites us to consider how we can each show up in meaningful ways, knowing that service and impact take many forms.
💡 What you’ll take away
✨ A deeper understanding of how mentorship shapes lives, opportunities, and second chances
✨ Insight into the role of relationships in building businesses and rebuilding lives
✨ Stories that affirm leadership isn’t defined by a title—but by action, resilience, and support
✨ Fresh perspective on how everyday people contribute to a stronger, more connected community
✨ New connections with people who care about the Grand Valley and its future
🪑 What to expect
🍽️ Lunch in a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere
🔥 A fireside-style conversation—thoughtful, accessible, and grounded
💬 Facilitated dialogue with time for reflection and shared insights
🤝 Meaningful connection beyond your usual circles where nonprofit, business, civic, and everyday community life intersect
No background knowledge required.
Come as you are.
Bring curiosity, openness, and a willingness to explore what’s possible.
🧑🤝🧑 Who Should Attend:
- Community members curious about giving, volunteering, or contributing in new ways
- Nonprofit leaders interested in meeting values-aligned community members
- Retirees and working professionals exploring purpose beyond career titles
- Newer residents looking for genuine on-ramps into community life
- Longtime locals who want to stay connected and engaged
- Students exploring leadership, mentorship, and civic engagement
✨ Why Attend:
- See how mentorship and community support create real pathways forward—across business, life transitions, and second chances
- Connect naturally with people across sectors who are invested in strengthening the community
- Grow your network in ways that feel genuine, human, and aligned with your values
- Reflect on who has shaped your path—and how you might do the same for others
- Discover people, stories, and opportunities you may not have encountered otherwise
- Leave with inspiration and practical next steps—not just business cards
💬 From Our Community:
“Incredible people and the opportunity to share about desired contributions (and be seen). I recommend the Purpose Forum to others, where else is THIS happening?”
— Purpose Forum Attendee
🌐 Our unique approach to Netweaving™.
Connect for Good offers a different kind of gathering.
Instead of asking “What’s in it for me?” — we ask “What’s in it for us?”
We focus on collective impact and shared success—Netweaving™ people, ideas, and opportunities that strengthen community life.
Whether you’re new to the area or simply exploring fresh ways to connect and contribute, the Purpose Forum offers inspiration and an opportunity to be part of something bigger.
Join us and experience why Connect for Good is being called “the community gathering we didn’t know we needed.”
🏛️ About Connect for Good
Connect for Good is a community impact collective cultivating collaboration, belonging, and everyday leadership.
We bring together people from all walks of life—nonprofit leaders, business owners, public servants, students, retirees, entrepreneurs, newcomers, and longtime residents—to strengthen relationships and grow the social fabric of the Grand Valley.
Through Purpose Forums, Board Connect, and leadership initiatives, Connect for Good fosters trust, sparks civic engagement, and makes participation accessible.
At Connect for Good, we believe service takes many forms. You can contribute through time, lived experience, expertise, volunteering, board service, commissions, running for office, or informed participation.
You can give beyond money.
You can show up in ways that extend beyond public moments.
Every role matters. Every person strengthens the whole.
Rooted in Western Colorado, netweaving purpose, positivity, and possibilities everywhere.
🌱Everyone’s Welcome
If cost is a barrier, please reach out—we’re committed to making space for everyone whenever possible.
🎟️ Space is limited—register today and invite others who believe in connection, contribution, and community good!
If your plans change, just email us at [email protected] by midnight on the Saturday before the Forum and we’ll be glad to issue a refund. After that, tickets are non-refundable. Processing fees are non-refundable. Eventbrite processing fees are applied at checkout. These standard fees support the infrastructure that allows Connect for Good to host sustainable, high-quality gatherings.
We align with community-minded organizations who are investing in collaboration, belonging, and everyday leadership in the Grand Valley.
📩 By registering for this event, you agree to receive organization updates and event information from Connect for Good.
Connect for Good events may be photographed or recorded for promotional purposes. By attending, you acknowledge and agree that your image may appear in our publications, website, social media, and other promotional materials.
If you prefer not to be photographed or recorded, please inform our staff upon arrival, and we will do our best to accommodate your request. However, please note that media coverage by external organizations is beyond our control.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Hilltop Community Resources, 359 Main Street, Grand Junction, United States
USD 39.19
