A Moment to Recharge: The Quiet Room

Amid the hustle and bustle of the event, Recharge In The Park offered a peaceful sanctuary. This space was designed to help attendees recharge not only their devices, but also their energy. Stepping inside, you were greeted by a soothing atmosphere with lush plants, gentle nature sounds, cozy seating, and convenient phone chargers.

Visitors were encouraged to silence their devices before charging, sit in stillness, and take a moment to breathe. A resource table offered journal prompts, essential oils, books, herbal tea, and mental health support materials for those seeking an extra dose of tranquility.

For anyone needing a break from the fluorescent lights and constant interactions, this space provided the perfect retreat to reset and rebalance. Samantha found the dimmed lighting, twinkling fairy lights, and greenery—generously provided by Plantiness—to be an incredibly calming experience. 10/10, we highly recommend!

Failure as Fuel: The Power of Iteration

Director of Nonprofits Samantha McClain walked away from Failure as Fuel: How to Purposefully Fail to Success with Design Thinking with a powerful reminder: Failure isn’t the opposite of success—it’s an essential part of the journey. The session, presented by Alex Reynolds, founder of Charming Quail™ Jewelry Design, reinforced the principles of design thinking: asking the right questions, seeking inspiration, and generating ideas—good or bad—because ultimately, something will stick.

One of the most compelling takeaways was the importance of making ideas tangible quickly, testing minimum viable products, and embracing small failures as stepping stones toward something greater. Innovation requires risk after all, and failure is simply feedback on the way to improvement. 

It brought to mind Loto’s words in Moana 2 about the cycle of life: “It’s really just failing, then learning—then maybe death could be better.” This perspective challenges us to see failure not as an endpoint, but as an essential step in growth, where every mistake carries the potential for transformation—even if the ultimate outcome remains uncertain.

Leading Differently: Voices for Equity & Justice

Nonprofit Liaison Dominique Chesson highlighted the panel What It Takes to Lead Differently: Equity, Justice, and Meeting Community Needs. The panel session featured representatives from FoCo Cafe, Arboretum Coffee, Yarrow Collective, The BIPOC Alliance, Heart and Sol Co, and ISSAC of Northern Colorado. The discussion centered on collective power, joy as resistance, allyship, and the ongoing challenges faced by marginalized communities.

Some standout messages from the panel:

• “The consequences of abandoning your values can be much worse than not sticking to them.”
• “If we act local, we act global.”
• “Joy is important in the work we do. Our ancestors partied hard; they always found joy in the darkest of times.”
• “Solidarity is not passive. Good intentions are not enough—show up, listen, and let impacted communities lead.”

Trout Tank 2025: A Night of Giving and Community

This year’s Trout Tank was a shining example of community-driven impact. Originally inspired by Shark Tank (but way nicer), this event provides funding opportunities to local nonprofits, and thanks to its partnership with Founded in FoCo, it has continued to grow.

CEO Kendra Kellogg shared that the four nonprofits who pitched this year—Arboretum Coffee, Alliance for Suicide Prevention, Joy & Justice, and Sound Affects—were all unique and inspiring in their missions. Representing Co-op for Changemakers under Top Dog, the Arula team proudly contributed $3,000 to support these organizations.

Nonprofit Strategist Katrina Petrone added that this was her first Trout Tank experience and emphasized how impressive each nonprofit’s presentation was. 

“It was difficult to decide who to contribute to when all of them were doing such great work in our community.”

For Katrina, it was a powerful reminder that there is no shortage of worthy local organizations to support.

Founder and owner Alex Koenigsberg provided a rundown of the event, noting that this was the second edition of Trout Tank, Donors Edition, held on March 12, 2025, at Founded in FoCo in Fort Collins. The evening was filled with excitement, generosity, and a spirit of collaboration.

Trouts (Donors):

• FoCo Top Dog & Co-op for Changemakers
• OTM
• Christman Family Foundation
• Founded in FoCo & Front Range Community College

Nonprofits Pitching:

• Sound Affects – Harnessing music for mental health and well-being
• Arboretum Coffee – Empowering refugees and immigrants through specialty coffee
• Joy & Justice – Providing joyful experiences for survivors of domestic violence while educating justice system professionals
• Alliance for Suicide Prevention – Dedicated to preventing suicide through education, awareness, and resources

In Conclusion: Pouring Back into the Community

Participating in Trout Tank was a privilege for our Arula Consulting team. Through Co-op for Changemakers/Top Dog, we were honored to contribute to Arboretum Coffee and Joy & Justice, knowing our support would help amplify their meaningful work.

As the night wrapped up, we left Founded in FoCo feeling deeply inspired. Events like these remind us why we do what we do—because when communities come together to uplift one another, real change happens. We’re already looking forward to next year’s Trout Tank and another chance to fuel innovation, amplify impact, and celebrate the power of social good.