The “Curse of the Bambino” is lifted as the Boston Red Sox win the World Series in 2004 for the first time since 1918.  In 2005, a new website called YouTube is launched and achieves such quick success that Google purchased the site in 2006 for $1.65 billion in Google Stock.  Pluto didn’t have such a great year in 2006, as it lost its status as a planet.  In 2007, the housing bubble bursts, leading to foreclosures throughout the country, while Apple introduced the iPhone that many of us couldn’t imagine life without today.  A tragic bridge collapse in Minneapolis in 2007 led to bridges all over the country being deemed inefficient, including Glenwood Springs’ own Grand Avenue Bridge.

As the world continued to develop innovative technology, experience upheaval in the Middle East, and be thrust into an economic downturn, YouthZone continued on.  In January of 2004, 350 kids participated in the Latino Youth Summit, while later in the year, YouthZone was bestowed the prestigious El Pomar Award of Excellence.

In 2005, YouthZone continued to receive tremendous support throughout the Valley, receiving $10,000 from the Uphill Challenge fundraiser and $10,000 from the Carbondale Rotary’s “Great Balls of Fire” event.

YouthZone celebrated its 30 anniversary in 2006 and in 2007, opened an office in Parachute.  As social media was slowly becoming a “thing,” YouthZone utilized My Space for answering questions.  In 2007, YouthZone’s evaluation program helped us understand our programming on kids.

Where will the latter part of the 2000s take YouthZone?  Find out next month!