Dear Friends,
Welcome to the first issue of “Yes, &…” from the REDI Lab in Denver, Colorado.
What is the REDI Lab?
REDI Lab is a program, a place, and a methodology where educators and students engage in collaborative inquiry to innovate fearlessly, solve creatively, and transform communities. Conceptualized and designed in 2016 by Colorado Academy (CA) faculty Paul Kim & Tom Thorpe, in partnership with CA Administrators Dr. Mike Davis and Dr. Jon Vogels, we launched in 2017 with 9 students. Today, we’ve expanded to:
- Serve K-12 students across the Denver Metro Area
- Collaborate with K-12 teachers nationwide
- Occupy a space in the Denver Housing Authority Mariposa District neighborhood
To date, the REDI Lab has worked with over 300 students and 200 educators!
Our Philosophy
As of 2024, the United States is home to just under 5% of the world’s population and approximately 40% of all Nobel Prizes [including both individual laureates and organizations]. We believe this ingenuity stems from a blend of optimism, creativity, hustle, and the REDI Lab’s core principles: Research, Entrepreneurship, Design, and Inquiry (REDI). At the REDI Lab, we create transformative learning experiences by:
- Realigning time for self-directed learning
- Creating space for curiosity-driven experience
- Encouraging deep research into novel ideas
- Fostering the agency that underlies design and innovation
Our Approach
In the REDI Lab, learning has no walls. Our curriculum extends from the existing values, skills, and knowledge of students and educators. This creates an environment where everyone belongs and feels safe to take risks, create, innovate, and share. The Curriculum is designed around the learner’s journey and story. Our guided process helps students and educators:
- Unlearn limiting beliefs
- Develop reflective and metacognitive skills
- Practice essential life skills for now and the future
We believe the human community is our greatest source of learning. Here, learners explore the world and their potential within it, investing deeply in their own learning and that of their peers. We believe that every person has an idea inside of them that is worth sharing with the world.
What to Expect in the “Yes, &…” Newsletter
Each edition of the newsletter, we’ll bring you:
- A “Thought Piece” by a REDI Lab team member
- Recommendations to inspire learning and exploration
- Stories from REDI Lab alumni
- Updates on upcoming programs and opportunities to engage
We’re thrilled to have you join us on this optimistic adventure to uncover what’s possible in education and in life – for students and educators! To learn more, please visit our new website (www.redilab.org)designed by Marilla at Marilla Rose!
Welcome to REDI Lab – where your potential is limitless!
Warmly,
Tom Thorpe, REDI Lab Co-Founder & Director