The Colorado Thrives AI Fellows Program embeds AI-native emerging talent directly inside Colorado companies to accelerate AI adoption and build a new first rung on the career ladder. Fellows are recruited from Colorado colleges, universities, and training programs with a focus on first-generation and underrepresented students. They are placed in paid work-based learning roles at a diverse set of host organizations, from large employers and small businesses to nonprofit organizations, where they gain hands-on experience applying AI in real-world settings while learning from senior leaders. 

The cohort is supported in partnership with Anthropic and CodePath. Throughout the summer, Fellows receive training, coaching, mentorship, and peer learning opportunities that help them build both technical and professional skills while delivering meaningful impact for their host organizations.

Colorado Thrives employers are united by a shared belief: that the workers who care for Coloradans deserve a clear path to a living wage career. Our growing coalition of healthcare employers, educators, and regulatory partners is building that path through a formal nursing apprenticeship program — an accessible, earn-while-you-learn model that gives incumbent clinical staff an affordable route to an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). With over 1,400 hours of on-the-job learning, 1:1 mentorship, and paid clinical hours, the model is designed to produce well-prepared nurses while delivering real value to employers and expanding access to the profession for working adults.

Pilot programs are being built for launch in 2027.