7/20 Memorial Foundation

06/24/2026

We recently chatted with chalk artist Kari Dusenbery, who will be joining us at this year's Day of Resilience, to learn more about her work, her inspiration, and what resilience means to her. 🎨

Kari has been creating chalk art for more than 15 years and is known for her vibrant wildlife portraits, particularly her stunning bird artwork. In this piece, she shares the story behind the bee eater, a bird that thrives through adaptability, community, and perseverance... qualities that deeply resonate with the theme of resilience.

As an educator working with students facing difficult challenges, Kari also brings a unique perspective on helping others find their light and continue moving forward.

We're honored to have Kari creating live at the Day of Resilience on July 25. Be sure to stop by, watch her work come to life, and meet one of the talented artists helping transform the Reflection Garden into a beautiful celebration of creativity, healing, and community.

RSVP in comments!

06/23/2026

What happens when a book dork and a beer geek start a brewery? 🍻📚

We stopped by Fiction Beer Company to sample a few of their creative brews and learn more about the stories behind them. Since opening in Denver's Park Hill neighborhood in 2014, Fiction has built a community around two things people love: great beer and great storytelling.

One of the beers we tried was Liquid Porches, a pale ale inspired by author Jack Kerouac. With citrus-forward hops and an easy-drinking finish, it's the kind of beer that lives up to its name. A perfect porch sipper.

The best part? You'll be able to try Fiction Beer for yourself at the Day of Resilience Beer Fest on July 25.

Beer tasting wristbands are available for any donation and can be purchased at the event. In the meantime, please RSVP on Partiful so we can plan for attendance and make sure we're ready to welcome everyone: https://partiful.com/e/VBm7kxQ5uCOKcRJIqQwX?c=FTaJ99mi

We hope to see you in the Reflection Garden for a morning of community, creativity, and great local beer.

06/22/2026

🎨 5 DAYS LEFT TO APPLY 🎨

We're looking for chalk artists to join us at the Day of Resilience on July 25, 2026.

Whether you're an experienced chalk artist or trying it for the first time, we'd love to have you help transform the Reflection Garden into a vibrant outdoor gallery of creativity, healing, and connection.

Selected artists will receive:
• A $150 stipend
• Event t-shirt
• Meal and water
• Beer tasting wristband (21+)
• A dedicated chalking space with your name displayed

Artists of all experience levels are welcome. Applications are due by June 27 at 10 PM, with late entries accepted as space allows.

Tag your favorite chalk artist, share with your creative friends, and help us make this year's festival the biggest yet.

We can't wait to see what you create. 🎨 apply with link in comments!

06/19/2026

The Day of Resilience is made special by the people who show up.

Every runner, volunteer, sponsor, artist, vendor, survivor, family member, and community member helps create an atmosphere of healing, connection, and hope that simply wouldn't exist without you.

Looking back at these moments from last year's event reminds us that community is at the heart of everything we do. Thank you to everyone who spent the day with us, shared a conversation, folded a paper crane, cheered on a runner, enjoyed the chalk art, or simply showed up.

We hope to see you again on July 25 as we gather for another Day of Resilience. Please do take a moment to RSVP if you haven't already: https://partiful.com/e/VBm7kxQ5uCOKcRJIqQwX?c=FTaJ99mi. You can purchase wristbands for any donation on the day of our event!

And a special thank you to AyPlus Photography for beautifully capturing these moments and helping us preserve the memories. 📸

06/18/2026

We stopped by Milly's Community Cafe to taste-test a few of their favorite menu items... and let's just say choosing a winner was not easy. ☕🍩🌯

The good news? You'll be able to enjoy some of Milly's delicious offerings at this year's Day of Resilience.

Milly's will be joining us as a food vendor, serving breakfast burritos and specialty iced coffee drinks throughout the morning. They're also generously providing complimentary black coffee for all attendees, helping everyone get fueled up for a morning of community, connection, and healing.

Whether you're coming for the Hero's Journey 5K, the chalk art, the beer tasting, or simply to spend time in the Reflection Garden, be sure to stop by and support one of our wonderful local partners.

06/17/2026

From a simple lemonade stand to a community-wide day of healing, connection, and resilience... the Day of Resilience has grown in ways we could have never imagined.

What started as a gathering rooted in remembrance has become a space where survivors, families, community members, artists, runners, volunteers, and supporters come together to honor the past while continuing to move forward with hope.

None of this would be possible without the incredible support of our community. Every volunteer, donor, sponsor, participant, and attendee has helped shape what the Day of Resilience has become over the past decade.

A special thank you to AuroraTV for capturing and sharing this story after last year's event. We're grateful for your continued support and for helping us tell the story of resilience, healing, and community. 🌿

Join us on July 25 as we gather once again for the 11th Annual Day of Resilience. RSVP at our partiful - https://partiful.com/e/VBm7kxQ5uCOKcRJIqQwX?c=FTaJ99mi

Join us for the 11th Annual Day of Resilience on Saturday, July 25, 2026 from 7:30AM–12PM at the Reflection Garden in Aurora. Inspired by the strength shown after the 2012 Aurora theater tragedy, the Day of Resilience is a community-centered morning focused on healing, hope, wellness, creativity, ...

06/16/2026

We put Ian Rydquist from Art with a Heart Tattoo in the hot seat to answer a few questions related to the Day of Resilience.

With more than 15 years of tattooing experience, Ian has become a go-to artist for many, specializing in custom work, Japanese-inspired tattoos, and traditional tattooing.

We're grateful that Ian will once again be joining us at the Day of Resilience, where he and other artists will be offering survivor tattoos as part of the event.

Can't wait until July? You can book directly with Ian at [email protected].

Be sure to show him some love in the comments and catch him at the Day of Resilience on July 25.

06/15/2026

Join us on July 25 for the Hero's Journey 5K, live chalk art, local beer tasting, wellness experiences, community connection, and of course, our beloved lemonade stand.

If you're planning to attend, please RSVP on Partiful. Beer tasting wristbands are available for any donation and will be purchased at the event, but RSVPs help us plan for attendance and ensure we're prepared to welcome everyone: https://partiful.com/e/VBm7kxQ5uCOKcRJIqQwX?c=FTaJ99mi

We can't wait to spend the morning with you in the Reflection Garden.

06/12/2026

Some projects carry more meaning than words can fully express.

In 2021, the Paper Crane Peace Box was permanently installed in the Reflection Garden, creating a space where visitors can leave and receive messages of hope, healing, and connection. What many people don't know is that part of its foundation contains ashes from items left at the temporary memorial that stood across from the theater in the days following the tragedy.

Cards, flowers, stuffed animals, photographs, and messages that once comforted a grieving community now continue that purpose in a new way... helping support a space dedicated to remembrance, resilience, and healing.

A special thank you to Brandon Kellogg, Columbine survivor and creator of the Peace box, for helping bring this project to life and for his continued commitment to turning pain into purpose.

Credit to Rocky Mountain PBS, Brian Willie and Kyle Cooke, for sharing this story and helping preserve the history behind this meaningful piece of the Reflection Garden. 🕊️

06/11/2026

The Hero's Journey 5K is next month. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

If you've been thinking about signing up, consider this your reminder.

Taking place on July 25 as part of the Day of Resilience, the Hero's Journey 5K welcomes runners, walkers, families, friends, and community members of all experience levels. Whether you're chasing a personal record or simply showing up to support a meaningful cause, there's a place for you at the starting line.

Led by survivor Zack Golditch, this annual tradition brings people together in a powerful reminder of resilience, hope, and community. Participants age 21+ will also receive a complimentary beer tasting wristband to enjoy during the festival afterward.

Proceeds from the 5K support the Zack Golditch Opportunity Scholarship for Aurora Public Schools students and help fund healing-centered programs, remembrance events, community outreach, advocacy efforts, and projects like the Paper Crane Peace Project.

Register now and join us next month. We can't wait to see you there. https://runsignup.com/Race/CO/Aurora/TheHeroes5K