Sam Battan

Sam brings nearly a decade of leadership experience as the founder and Executive Director of the Colorado Youth Congress, where he empowered high school students across the state to drive systems-level change. His impactful work earned him the Livingston Fellowship (2023), the Colorado Succeeds Prize (2021), and a national finalist spot for the Teach for America Social Innovation Award (2019).

Before Colorado, Sam spent five years in New Orleans teaching and leading an alternative high school for overage students, where he was named Teacher of the Year. His passion for shifting power toward those most affected by unjust systems took root during that time. Sam has also served as a leader with the Center for Health Progress, co-directed the Equity Network United for Metro Denver, and chaired education efforts for Welcome Table New Orleans, the nation’s first city-sanctioned racial reconciliation initiative. His advocacy work has been featured by NBC, the Denver Post, the Colorado Sun, NOLA.com, and The Advocate.