Community Outreach

Colorado Electric Educational Institute Makes a Difference

Concern for Community: It’s exhibited in real, tangible ways by your local electric co-op. Designated as the seventh cooperative principle, Concern for Community helps guide your co-op to support the communities it serves. And whether it is through sponsoring youth trips or buying a pig at the 4-H junior livestock sale at your county fair, your co-op embraces this important work.

CREA also practices concern for a community — the Colorado community.

The 501(c)(3) philanthropic arm of CREA, the Colorado Electric Educational Institute puts into action the seventh cooperative principle. Run by a dedicated board of directors, CEEI focuses on cultivating a broad community of lifelong learners who understand the critical role electric co-ops play in powering Colorado.

Our Current Causes

CEEI is dedicated to providing educational opportunities to co-op employees, empowering them with the skills and knowledge that is needed to advance in their careers. Through training programs, conferences, and webinars, CEEI supports employees in enhancing their professional development and promotes a culture of continuous learning and growth. This not only benefits the employee but strengthens the co-op community by supporting a more skilled and engaged workforce.

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CREA participates with NRECA International and other statewide electric associations to electrify rural villages in other countries.

Over the years, Colorado has partnered with other states in sending volunteers to electrify remote areas of Guatemala. In 2022, Colorado partnered with Oklahoma, hear from those volunteers about that project here.

In 2026, Colorado is once again taking part in the effort. Four volunteers, representing Delta-Montrose Electric, Mountain Parks Electric and Poudre Valley REA, will join other crew members from Oklahoma and Iowa. The project is scheduled for September 2026, in the Ixcan area of Northern Guatemala. These efforts help improve the quality of live for so many families.

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Since 2024, Colorado’s electric cooperatives have been assisting the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and American Public Power Association to electrify the Navajo Nation, as part of the Light Up Navajo initiative, bringing electricity to Navajo families’ homes. More than 10,000 Navajo citizens live without any electricity at home. They do not have access to running water, modern heating and cooling, or refrigeration. The initiative is a prime example of the seventh cooperative principle — Concern for Community — in action.

In 2026, Colorado will participate for the third year in a row, with eight Colorado electric co-ops volunteering to travel to the Navajo Nation. From these eight co-ops, 10 crews are schedule to participate in Light Up Navajo VII between May and the end of June.

Last year, Colorado co-op crews set power poles, strung power lines, and installed meters. Their work, alongside other utility crews who traveled from coast to coast, connected about 200 homes to the grid. Thanks to donor support, every home a Colorado crew electrified last year received an essential appliance like a refrigerator or AC unit.

Our 2026 goal is the same: to gift an electric household item to every home we connect to the grid. Your donations matter, and make a big difference in the lives of these families.

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In close collaboration with Colorado’s electric co-ops, CEEI offers unique educational opportunities — such as the Electric Cooperative Youth Tour and Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp — to equip students in becoming informed and inspired leaders who can use their emerging skills to impact their schools, local communities and beyond.

CREA also facilitates programs and logistics for Colorado’s electric cooperatives to support the Junior Livestock Auction at the Colorado State Fair, 4-H and FFA programs across the state, state science fair awards, and other projects.

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Colorado Electric Educational Institute Makes a Difference

Employee Education

NRECA International Project - Guatemala

Light Up Navajo

Youth Programs