About Us
LARA (Lower Arkansas River Affiliate) is a non-profit, local affiliate of the Colorado Association of Gifted and Talented (CAGT), which is the state affiliate of the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). LARA was established in 2020 to collaborate with regional (Custer, Fremont and Pueblo Counties, CO) stakeholders in the gifted community to educate, support, and provide leadership for gifted individuals in the development of their diverse social-emotional needs, academic strengths, and specific talent abilities.
Focus:
To best foster our mission, LARA will:​
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Advocate actively for the needs of gifted learners by communicating, partnering, and maintaining positive relationships with all stakeholders including families, teachers, administrators, students, legislators, state and national gifted associations.
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Inspire, educate and inform all stakeholders through hosting events (presentations, seminars, and workshops), disseminating information, and sharing resources.
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Provide opportunities for members to share experiences and exchange information regarding giftedness.
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Increase awareness of the nature of giftedness and the needs of gifted learners.
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Support the development of robust educational programming and best practices for gifted learners.
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Support the efforts and activities of CAGT, NAGC, and other CAGT affiliates through shared experiences and the exchange of information.
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Advocate for the needs and rights of the general gifted community, and not for specific individuals. Additionally, as a 501c3 CAGT affiliate, LARA WILL NOT sell anything for profit, provide legal advice, provide educational services for profit, or provide mental health counseling.