CRC MAIN: 303.623.1540 or 800.516.6284

Learn more about CRC’s new CEO April-Dawn Knudsen here!

CRC Board of Directors

Pat Greer (she, her, hers)

Board Co-Chair

Retired Assistant Professor, University of Denver

Leslie Baldwin (she, her, hers)

Board Co-Chair

Grants & Database Manager, Boettcher Foundation

John Owsley (he, him, his)

Board Treasurer

Development Associate, Reading Partners Colorado

Jodi Walker (she, her, hers)

Board Vice Co-Chair

Founder/CEO, Kids at Their Best

Aaron Miltenberger (he, him, his/they, them)

Executive Director, Boys & Girls Club of the San Luis Valley

Lee Wheeler-Berliner (he, him, his)

Managing Director, Colorado Workforce Development Council

Cynthia Nieb (she/her/hers)

Director of Foundational Excellence & Sustainability, Junction Commodities LLC

CRC Team

Jennifer Allen

Rural Philanthropy Days® Event Coordinator – San Luis Valley

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Jennifer is the Co-Founder of Next Level Regen, a small health and wellness business in Grand Junction since 2018, and one of the Co-Founders of Bravestone Project, a non-profit that assists survivors of human trafficking and sexual traumas in finding hope, healing, and restoration. She moved to Grand Junction 12 years ago from North Carolina and loves Colorado! She enjoys hiking, planting and growing flowers, traveling, and spending time with my family.

Kirsten Atkins (she/her/hers)

Lead Community Organizer

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Kirsten grew up in New England and moved to Colorado to attend the University of Denver. Her love of skiing and the mountains led her to her new home in Crested Butte, CO where she lived for 30+ years. Kirsten worked the full gamut of “resort” jobs but found a real passion in her work at the Adaptive Sports Center (ASC), an organization that provides recreation for people with disabilities and their families. As a sibling of a brother with disabilities, it was a perfect combination of her life experience and her love of skiing. Kirsten wore many hats at the ASC as the program grew over the years, including being responsible for developing curriculum and implementing training courses for instructors and volunteers. Kirsten was eventually inducted into the Hall of Fame for Disabled Sports USA.

Kirsten is also known in her community for her extensive activism. In the early 90’s she worked with Colorado’s Ancient Forest Rescue (AFR) which aimed to protect old growth forests and roadless areas, through education, litigation, and non-violent civil disobedience She has since been involved in a multitude of campaigns working towards environmental and social justice in alliance with BIPOC organizations. For example, during the pandemic she helped to form the Colorado Navajo Resiliency Project, securing and delivering much needed supplies for short term needs and water vessels to aid in long term food sovereignty.

Kirsten recently moved down from 9,000 feet to warmer climes with her husband Heath and their small herd of horses. She is enjoying living in Montrose, in a climate where they can grow fruit and vegetables and there’s a lot less shoveling! She’s excited to be in her new role of Lead Community Organizer the Western Slope, for the Civic Outreach Team.

Silas Babilonia (he/him/his)

Grant Manager

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Silas Babilonia (he/him/his), Grant Manager, has been working with CRC in different capacities since early 2021. He served three terms as an AmeriCorps member with CRC before his current position; one term as a Case Investigator for the Covid-19 Containment Response Corps and two terms as a Grantwriting Specialist with the GrantCorps. Before coming to the CRC, he graduated from Colorado College in 2018, with a major in Philosophy and a minor in English.

Silas grew up in Aurora, Colorado, and has lived around the state for most of his life, including in Colorado Springs, Telluride, and Denver. Considering himself a lifelong learner, he has tried many artistic pursuits, including producing music, painting, drawing, acting, baking, and gardening. He currently lives in downtown Denver with his Guinea pig, Jim.

Ivy Brooks (she/they)

Rural Philanthropy Days Administrative Assistant

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Ivy Brooks (she/they), Rural Philanthropy Days Administrative Assistant, formerly worked for CRC via the Americorps Vista program before transitioning into the role of Rural Philanthropy Days Administrative Assistant. As a Statewide Data Analyst, Ivy assisted Colorado nonprofits in their efforts to access grants via the Colorado Grants Guide. Prior to joining CRC, she graduated with a MS Mathematics degree from the University of Texas while working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. During her time at CRC, Ivy hopes to to use the knowledge she gained during her degree to assist in the fight against poverty across Colorado. Ivy grew up in Texas and enjoys reading, gaming (both tabletop and video), programming, and mathematics.

Alexandra Cruz (she/her/ella)

Civic Engagement & Advocacy Assistant Program Manager

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Alexandra (she/her/ella) started at CRC as a Lead Community Outreach Organizer for the Civic Engagement team, and later switched roles to Civic Engagement Assistant Program Manager. She graduated from MSU Denver with a major in business administration and minor in Italian and has been involved with non-profit organizations since she was in high school. Due to this, she was able to experience the positive impact non-profits had in her family, future, and community. In 2009, she migrated with her family to the US from Guadalajara, Jalisco, and feels lucky she ended up in beautiful Colorado.

Alexandra enjoys sharing resources with the community and talking to community members. She’s excited to continue to work at CRC and its partner organizations. In her free time, she enjoys spending time being active, either taking a gym class (dance or yoga) or taking a walk with her husband and their dog Luna. She also loves hot springs, watching shows and movies, and traveling.

Monica DeWitt (she/her/hers)

Civic Engagement Program Manager

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Monica brings over a decade of experience managing projects in the nonprofit and public education sectors. As Civic Engagement Program Manager, she believes civic engagement across Colorado has never been more important. She prioritizes data-driven decision making and cultivating meaningful partnerships to meet collective goals. She is returning to CRC after working on the Colorado Healthcare Corps pilot project where she recruited and coached AmeriCorps members to build capacity in healthcare.

Monica lives in Lafayette and enjoys reading and yoga. She is currently learning how to make sourdough bread and garden. She spends sunny weekends with her partner, daughter and dog hiking and camping in the mountains.

Story Elder (he/they)

Events & Communications Coordinator

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Story Elder was born and raised in Midland, Texas and went to school at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After graduating college he drew Denver, Colorado out of a hat because he did not know where he wanted to go. Once in Colorado Story began teaching, producing, designing, and directing theatre and is currently on the board for The Agenda Theatre, a queer theatre company that also does sketch comedy. A year after moving to Colorado Story began performing drag and was named one of the freshest faces in drag at the Colorado DIVA awards in 2022.

Story has been the director of events at Boulder’s only queer bar and currently produces and manages community events for the nonprofit and venue Junkyard Social Club in Boulder. Story continues, and feels honored, to be seen as a leader and activist in Colorado’s queer community. Story’s passion for community and nonprofit work led him to Community Resource Center and the amazing work that we do across Colorado.

Azucena Holland (Estrada) (she, her, hers)

Director of Finance and Compliance

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Azucena was born in Mexico and migrated to the United States with her family at the age of four. Her father wanted to give her and her sibling the educational opportunities that they might not have had otherwise. She grew up in a small town called Swink in Southeast Colorado. There she attended Swink School from kindergarten to her senior year. Azucena is a first-generation college student. She received an Associate of Science and an Associate of Arts from Otero College and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration through Adams State University. Her career background is in healthcare administration, human resources, and finance.

She is a VERY proud mother of an 18-year-old son. She recently got married and has three other bonus young adult children. She loves chocolate, red wine, food, and dogs (especially labs)! She enjoys camping, fishing, CrossFit, cooking, and spending time with her family! She comes from a large family and really enjoy their many family gatherings.

Azucena is excited to continue to grow in her career in the nonprofit sector and is extremely excited for this opportunity and to represent CRC in the Southeast Region of Colorado!

April-Dawn Knudsen (she, her, hers)

Chief Executive Officer and President

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Ms. April-Dawn Knudsen has lived and served across rural Colorado since 2008 and is proud to call Park County home. Believing in the transformative power of community and strategic vision, she has dedicated over a decade to strengthening nonprofits and building resilient, thriving communities.
Serving as an Executive Director for over ten years, Ms. Knudsen has been pivotal in driving community impact through strategic initiatives and effective leadership. She founded Knudsen Coaching & Consulting in 2012 to empower mission minded organizations and rural leaders with tailored solutions for greater sustainability and impact.

Ms. Knudsen’s approach is centered on fostering strong relationships, prioritizing equity, and collaboratively addressing complex challenges. With a Masters in Community Development, April-Dawn has a deep understanding of the unique needs of rural communities and a commitment to creating lasting change.

Beyond her professional roles, Ms. Knudsen is a fervent advocate for community service and civic engagement. She serves on the Colorado Habitat Government Relations Committee, where she champions policies that support affordable housing and sustainable community development. As a member of El Pomar’s Central Peaks Regional Council, she contributes to regional philanthropic initiatives that strengthen and uplift communities across central Colorado. Additionally, her role as Vice-Chair for the South Park Ambulance District underscores her dedication to supporting vital health services in her local community.

Kyleigh Lawler (she, her, hers)

RPD Administrative Assistant

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Kyleigh Lawler has been involved with Rural Philanthropy Days in some capacity since 2017 where she served as the Northwest RPD Event Coordinator in 2017 and 2022. In the interim periods, Kyleigh served on the interim regional committee as well as part time duties as an Administrative Assistant for 2023 and 2024 RPD conferences. Kyleigh lives in the Northwest region of Colorado where she also works in Special Events, Outreach and Volunteer Management for Northwest Colorado Health. When not working, Kyleigh enjoys spending time outside on the trails, mountains and rivers with her two middle-school age daughters.

TC McCracken (she, her, they)

Employment Practices Advisor

email hidden; JavaScript is required

TC McCracken is the Human Resource Manager for the Community Resource Center.  She has leadership experience working in the private, public, and non-profit sectors.  All her roles focus on supporting others.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication and Master of Education. She brings CRC decades of experience in the fields of Marketing, Education, and Human Resources.  She doesn’t count the years, instead she focuses on doing what she loves, providing support and enthusiasm to the communities she serves.  She is honored to serve those at CRC creating opportunities, tools, and strategies to develop nonprofits and community groups to strengthen Colorado.  Outside of work, she enjoys jogging at a slow pace, performing with sketch and improv teams, writing heartfelt stories, and telling hopefully funny jokes.

Alex McHenry (she, her, hers)

Director of Civic Engagement

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Alex brings over twelve years of experience in the fields of education, leadership, and community engagement. As the Director of Civic Engagement, Alex oversees CRC’s civic engagement programs including the Participation Project and The Root Causes Network helping nonprofits to build and strengthen their advocacy efforts. While born and raised in Denver, Alex has spent the majority of her adult life moving around the US and abroad, including living in Kenya and Malaysia, and she is happy to once more be settled in the sunny state of Colorado. Alex has a masters’ degree in conservation social science, is a graduate of the Family Leadership Training Institute (FLTI), and is passionate about working at a systems level to tackle complex social issues. In her free time, Alex can be found hiking, playing volleyball, or exploring one of Denver’s many thrift stores.

Marcy Mitchell (she/her)

Colorado Grants Guide® Manager

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Marcy has lived in Southwest Colorado for over 20 years and has assisted numerous small businesses and nonprofit organizations with marketing, web development, and administration. With her experience as a former Executive Director, grant writer, small business development advisor, and business owner, Marcy brings an array of experiences to help nonprofits impact their communities. She has served on several nonprofit boards and community organizations including the CRC steering committee for Southwest Rural Philanthropy Days. Marcy joined CRC as Colorado Grants Guide Manager in 2024 and is excited to help nonprofits expand their grant funding and resources. Marcy and her husband have three grown children and one grandchild. In her free time, she loves hiking, skiing, climbing Colorado’s 14ers, and traveling.

Katy Pepinsky (she, her, ella)

Director of Grant Services (Spanish Speaker)

email hidden; JavaScript is required

For over twenty years, Katy has worked with a diverse array of non-profit and service organizations to help build more resilient communities including La Plata Youth Services, Cooking Matters Colorado, Growing Partners of SW Colorado, Mercy Hospital, Peace Corps, and Colorado State University Extension. As the Director of Grant Services with Community Resource Center, Katy works to build the capacity of Colorado nonprofits to access and manage public and private grant funds. Katy started with CRC in June 2022 and has brought her past experiences and the skills she developed as a former Executive Director, grant writer, trainer and facilitator to her work at CRC. Katy’s deep belief in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has guided the development and launch of CRC’s GrantCorps project, which works to build more equitable access for grant seekers. Katy holds a master’s degree in Extension Education from Colorado State University and a Professional Non-Profit Management Certificate, from Fort Lewis College. Katy lends her knowledge and talents as a trainer to the Rural Action Network delivering training on fundraising and grant management at Rural Philanthropy Days and to the Regional Leadership Committees across CRC’s eight rural regions, as requested. Ella habla español.

Katy Sawyer (she, her, hers)

Director of Capacity Building

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Katy joined Community Resource Center in 2020 to help build and launch the COVID Containment Response Corps- an AmeriCorps program that engaged over 800 people in National Service across Colorado. Katy brings the perspective of having worked in grassroots nonprofits in developing countries as well as national nonprofits in the US to her role as the Director of Capacity Building. Katy spent over 10 years working with Jumpstart, a national early childhood education organization, gaining experience in program management and development, AmeriCorps programs and funding, nonprofit fundraising and board management, and national campaigns. Combining her professional skills and experiences with her love of (and degrees in) international relations and Spanish, Katy moved to Nicaragua to work with organizations providing supplementary educational opportunities to children in Granada. Katy was excited to discover CRC and move to Colorado. In her free time, Katy enjoys exploring Colorado, new trails, and (attempting to) cross some 14ers off her list.

Tracie Sullivan (she, her, hers)

Senior Program Manager of Capacity Building

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Tracie originally managed the Colorado Healthcare Corps program for CRC in 2023 and has rejoined the team in the role of Senior Program Manager of Capacity Building. In this role Tracie will lead the planning phase for CRC’s participation as a capacity builder for 80 nonprofit grantees of the Colorado Trust’s Community Resilience Initiative in 2025 and 2026.

Tayah Wheeland (she, her, hers)

Business Operations Manager

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Tayah is originally from Berkeley, California and received a master’s degree in international affairs with a focus in environmental policy from UC San Diego. She has studied four foreign languages and worked, lived or travelled in more than 20 countries. Tayah brings 20 years of experience in administrative roles in the private, public, and non-profit sectors and has done volunteer work for non-profit organizations as a Spanish-language translator. In her free time Tayah loves visiting new places, spending time with her kiddo, watching documentaries, cooking, and making jewelry.

Brooke Wedig (she, her, hers)

Administrative Coordinator

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Brooke was born and raised in Austin, TX. While going to school at Indiana University she studied Human Resource Management. Brooke’s experience includes human resources, operations, and administrative work. All her past experiences include supporting and helping others. She is excited to continue to learn and grow as the Administrative Coordinator for the CRC.

In her free time Brooke loves gardening, cooking, watching Saturday Night Live, reading, traveling, and attending live music events.

AmeriCorps VISTA Members

Coming Soon

CRC Interns

Avery Gloria Lourdes Saenz (she, her, hers)

Research and Grant Development Intern

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Avery (She/her/hers) grew up in Cordele, GA, a rural town where her parents settled after traveling as migrant crop workers. She enjoyed the slow country life, spending most of her childhood outside with their small farm animals. Since she was a child, Avery always dreamed of moving to the city. In 2015, she moved to Colorado to be closer to her family, specifically her Abuelita.
Avery completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado, majoring in Sociology and minoring in Economics. Her passions and career aspirations have always been geared towards helping people and communities with limited resources. She is passionate about world travel, personal/emotional development, and writing. In her free time, Avery enjoys watching novelas with her Abuelita, taking her dogs to the park, and reading books.

Tanisha S. Medina (she, her, hers)

Research and Grant Development Intern

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Tanisha (she/her/hers) is a recent graduate with a B.S. In Applied Mathematics from the University of Northern Colorado. She brings a strong foundation in data collection, data cleaning and data analysis. She is eager to apply her skills as an intern and gain valuable experience.