In the summer of 2006, three young University of Colorado graduates got together and laid the groundwork for the organization that became New Era Colorado, a now well-known group that engages young voters and inspires future progressive leaders.

The three got together again Thursday morning, this time on rarefied air of the statehouse floor. Leslie Herod is a new state representative from Denver. Stephen Fenberg is a new state senator from Boulder. Joe Neguse is a member of Gov. John Hickenlooper’s Cabinet as executive director of the Department of Regulatory Affairs.

The three started New Era with a Young Political Innovators Grant. Since then, the organization has engaged more than 1 million young Coloradans. Before this past election, it helped sign up 50,000 new voters.

Were they surprised by the turn of events in a decade? Yes and no.

“I never thought he would be the senator, though,” Herod joked, poking fun at Fenberg.

He replied, “I thought I would be her chief of staff.”

In addition, Shad Murib, chief of staff for the Senate Democrats, is an alumnus of New Era.

“New Era empowers young people to make desperately needed change by giving them the keys to our democracy and asking them to bring it back with a full tank of gas,” Murib said. “They’ve delivered on that every cycle by increasing the share of young people who vote, and by getting them engaged at the legislature. I learned most of what I know about politics during my time at New Era.”

Fenberg said they founded the organization “to give young people a voice.” Now they have three under the Gold Dome, and counting.