Apprentice of Peace Youth Organization

What Apprentice of Peace Youth Organization does

Apprentice of Peace Youth Organization (AOPYO) is a Denver-based nonprofit founded in 2013 by Ronnie Qi and D.L. Pos Ryant that delivers trauma-informed wellness programming primarily to youth, families, and adults in recovery across the Denver and Aurora, Colorado metro area. Its core offering, Connected in Motion, integrates Tai Chi movement practices with peer conversation circles, creative expression, and leadership development; complementary programs include the Guiding Lights intergenerational workshop series, IAAAOP middle- and high-school curricula, and recurring wellness classes (Tai Chi for Adults, Men's Tai Chi, Salsa & Cha Cha). Programming is delivered both at the AOPYO Youth Center (2245 Curtis Street, Denver) and on-site at partner schools and community organizations, with most sessions provided free to participants.

AOPYO monetizes through a hybrid nonprofit model. The primary funding layer is grants and public-health partnerships — including Medicaid-supported peer services and a 2022 Caring for Denver Foundation grant — supplemented by donations channeled through Colorado Gives 365 and a vehicle-donation partnership with Driven2Donate. Earned revenue is generated from ancillary services at the Youth Center: Space Rentals (1–2 hour, half-day, full-day, and partial-space tiers), Media Room access at $50 per session, MakerSpace Memberships on a monthly billing cadence, the Peace Box wellness kit at $25 per unit, corporate AOPYO Workshop Experience packages, and ticketed events such as TheRAPy Sessions at $20 general admission.

The organization's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven. Partnerships with Denver Public Schools, College Track, CSU Spur, ESC, and the ABC Community Hub serve as referral and co-delivery channels, while an events calendar (Tai Chi classes, dance sessions, TheRAPy Sessions, workshops) functions as both community engagement and program delivery surface. Distribution occurs through partner sites across the region, direct intake at the Youth Center for Medicaid-eligible participants, and direct registration for individuals and families via online booking.

Name

Apprentice of Peace Youth Organization

Legal name

Apprentice of Peace Youth Organization

Website

https://aopyo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Short description

AOPYO is a Denver-based nonprofit that delivers trauma-informed wellness programming — Tai Chi movement, peer support, and creative expression — to youth, families, and adults in recovery across the Denver-Aurora metro through schools, community partners, and its Youth Center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Wellness & Peer Support Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral & Social-Emotional Support (ABA, PBIS, Counseling) (EDAJAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Leadership, Character Education & Values Development (EDAMAIAG)

Keywords

• Youth wellness programs
• Peer support services
• Trauma-informed wellness
• Tai Chi instruction
• Community wellness workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding & Public Health Partnerships: Sessions are primarily funded through grant funding, Medicaid partnerships, and public health funding partnerships with schools and community organizations.
2. Donations: Community donations through Colorado Gives, vehicle donations via Driven2Donate partnership, and general charitable contributions support the organization's operations.
3. Space Rentals & Venue Services: Revenue generated from renting out the AOPYO Youth Center space for events, workshops, retreats, and community gatherings. Includes partial space rentals, media room access, and maker space memberships.
4. Workshop & Class Fees: Revenue from corporate wellness packages and specialized workshops such as the Tai Chi wellness sessions offered to businesses and organizations.
5. Event Ticket Sales: Ticket sales for community events like TheRAPy Sessions musical wellness experiences, with general admission pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Apprentice of Peace Youth Organization (AOPYO) delivers trauma-informed wellness and peer support programming for youth, adults, families, and communities, centered on Tai Chi movement, mindfulness, and creative expression. Its flagship Connected in Motion (CIM) program is delivered at the AOPYO Youth Center in Denver, on-site at schools and partner organizations, and through recurring workshops and membership offerings. Programs are offered free to participants through Medicaid, state, and public health funding, with fee-based services including space rentals, workshops, corporate wellness packages, and MakerSpace memberships.

Product overview

AOPYO is a peer support organization offering trauma-informed wellness programming centered on movement, mindfulness, and community connection. The organization operates a modular program portfolio with Connected in Motion as the flagship platform combining Tai Chi, peer support, and creative wellness; Guiding Lights providing intergenerational parent-student workshops; and Creative & Wellness Activities offering ongoing classes and events. Additional services include space rentals, media room access, and corporate wellness packages at the downtown Denver Youth Center. The organization partners with schools, nonprofits, and community organizations, with most sessions free to participants and supported through Medicaid and public health funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Connected in Motion (CIM) Program Flagship trauma-informed youth and community wellness program combining Tai Chi, mindful movement, breathwork, and creative expression; offered free to participants at the AOPYO Youth Center, partner schools, and community sites.
• Guiding Lights Intergenerational Workshop Intergenerational workshop bringing youth and adults together through shared Tai Chi, mindfulness, and peer support practices to strengthen family and community connections.
• Creative & Wellness Activities Recurring classes and sessions at the AOPYO Youth Center covering Tai Chi (adult and men's tracks), Salsa & Cha Cha, and creative-arts activities for youth, adults, and families.
• Tai Chi Academy (Weekly Class) Weekly recurring Tai Chi class series delivered at the AOPYO Youth Center for youth, adults, and families seeking ongoing mindful-movement practice.
• TheRAPy Sessions Themed therapeutic-style sessions combining movement, music, and peer support, offered as ticketed events at the AOPYO Youth Center.
• IAAAOP Middle School Program — Define Yourself School-based program for middle schoolers focused on identity, peer support, and trauma-informed wellness, delivered through the I Am An Agent Of Peace (IAAAOP) curriculum.
• IAAAOP High School Program — Refine Yourself School-based program for high schoolers focused on leadership, peer support, and trauma-informed wellness, delivered through the I Am An Agent Of Peace (IAAAOP) curriculum.
• AOPYO Workshop Experience (Corporate) Customized corporate and organizational wellness offering built on the AOPYO trauma-informed curriculum, including movement, breathwork, and team peer-support experiences for staff.
• Space Rentals at the AOPYO Youth Center Rental of AOPYO Youth Center rooms and studios to community members, instructors, and partner organizations for classes, meetings, and events.
• MakerSpace Membership Membership-based access to the AOPYO MakerSpace, including creative tools and the Media Room, for youth and community members.
• Peace Box Curated physical wellness toolkit supporting at-home continuation of AOPYO's trauma-informed practice for youth and families.

Quantifiable outcome

• Youth and families gain practical tools to manage stress, build resilience, and feel a stronger sense of belonging
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, primary and supporting.

• ABC Community HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner of the ABC Community Hub collective, collaborating on community wellness initiatives and shared programming spaces.
• Denver Public Schools (DPS)primaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrusted programming partner delivering Connected in Motion wellness programming in schools across the Denver Public Schools district.
• College TracksupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner collaborating on youth development and wellness programming for students.
• CSU SpursupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Colorado State University Spur campus for collaborative community wellness programming.
• ESC (Education Solution Center)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organization partner for wellness and youth programming initiatives.
• Driven2DonatesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership allowing community members to donate vehicles to AOPYO, providing tax benefits to donors while supporting the organization.
• Colorado GivessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Colorado Gives 365 for the organization's capital campaign and ongoing donation collection.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: National youth mentoring nonprofit that pairs youth with adult mentors for relationship-based, community-delivered support, closely mirroring AOPYO's model of long-term, peer-led youth development across school and community settings.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Federated youth development nonprofit operating club facilities that deliver afterschool SEL, wellness, and leadership programming to youth, comparable to AOPYO's Youth Center-based mix of structured programming, classes, and youth-led activities.
• Communities In Schools: School-embedded nonprofit that places site coordinators inside K-12 schools to deliver case management, SEL, and wraparound support, paralleling AOPYO's school-based delivery of Connected in Motion through district partnerships.
• Girls Inc. Youth development nonprofit delivering out-of-school programming with an explicit emphasis on leadership, SEL, and well-being for youth, similar in mission and program-mix orientation to AOPYO's leadership and SEL focus.
• National 4-H Council: Youth development organization combining experiential learning, leadership, and character education across schools and community clubs, comparable to AOPYO's blend of experiential movement-based programming and youth ambassador leadership development.
• After-School All-Stars: Nonprofit delivering comprehensive afterschool programming to middle and high school youth in urban communities, with comparable target population, school-partnered delivery model, and emphasis on SEL and well-being.

Broad incumbents

• MENTOR: National umbrella advocacy organization advancing youth mentoring through policy, research, and affiliate network support, comparable to AOPYO's peer-mentoring and youth ambassador approach at a national, ecosystem level.

Others

• CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning): Organization that defines the dominant SEL framework used by U.S. school districts and trains educators on SEL implementation, positioning CASEL as an indirect influencer on the SEL programming AOPYO delivers into schools.

Emerging players

• Yoga in Schools Alliance: Network promoting evidence-based yoga and mindfulness programming in K-12 schools, a movement-based wellness modality that overlaps with AOPYO's Tai Chi-based trauma-informed approach as a niche competitor in school wellness.
• Peer Support Solutions / Intentional Peer Support: Organization training peer support specialists and agencies in peer-delivered mental health support, intersecting with AOPYO's peer-support methodology for youth, adults in recovery, and families in community settings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AOPYO

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Apprentice of Peace Youth Organization