CRC MAIN: 303.623.1540 or 800.516.6284

CRC Board of Directors

Pat Greer (she, her, hers)

Board Chair

Assistant Professor, University of Denver

Leslie Baldwin (she, her, hers)

Board Vice Chair

Grants Manager, Boettcher Foundation

Jaclyn Lensen (she, her, hers)

Board Secretary

Senior Communications Officer, The Colorado Health Foundation

Lee Wheeler-Berliner (he, him, his)

Managing Director, Colorado Workforce Development Council

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

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

Jodi Walker  (she, her, hers)

Executive Director, Kids At Their Best

John Owsley (he, him, his)

Finance Manager, Family Resource Center Association

CRC Team

Kristen Ashworth (she, her, hers)

Civic Engagement Program Coordinator

email hidden; JavaScript is required 

Kristen Ashworth (she/her/hers) is a Civic Engagement Program Coordinator working with the Participation Project and Root Causes Network. Kristen recently graduated with her Masters in Social Work at MSU Denver. Kristen is passionate about LGBTQIA+ rights, reproductive justice, education rights, healthcare rights, and voting rights. In her free time, she loves to hike, read, play in the snow (because winter is her favorite season), listen to music/play the violin/sing, bake/cook, and spend time with friends, family and partner.

Brianne Bond (she, her, hers)

Colorado Healthcare Human Resources Coordinator

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Brianne joined the Colorado Healthcare Corps Human Resources team as a Coordinator. She is a rural southeast Colorado native and graduated with her BS in Agricultural Business and Resource Economics from Colorado State University. After college Brianne returned to southeast Colorado and worked as an office manager and human resources director for a family-owned construction company. She stepped away from the corporate world to homeschool her two daughters from kindergarten through high school. Additionally, Brianne helped her husband manage the family ranch and sold health and life insurance to Medicare-aged beneficiaries. During this time, she also served on the board of directors for the Arkansas Valley Pregnancy Center. Brianne has a heart to serve others and is excited to be a part of the Americorp and CRC Family! In her spare time, she loves to watch her daughters play volleyball and rodeo!

Cristina M. Cabeza (she/they/ella)

AmeriCorps State & National Program Manager

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Cristina is a Program Manager for the Colorado Healthcare Corps with AmeriCorps State and National.  Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Cristina earned her bachelor’s degree in Communications and Business from Florida State University.  Her life has taken her out west, with each move more and more rural, until 2004 when settling into Crestone in the San Luis Valley.  Cristina brings 20 years of experience in small business and nonprofit management.  Most recently, as a charter school administrator, Cristina has experienced the AmeriCorps program as a beneficial force in meeting the crucial needs in rural public education and youth services.  She aims to build similar benefits for the healthcare sector with the CHC program by focusing on relationships and accessibility. Cristina loves to hang with her family, take long drives, saunter in the woods, dance, laugh, tend to her garden, and share stories around a crackling fire.

Kristin Carpenter (she/her/hers)

Rural Philanthropy Days Event Coordinator

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Kristin Carpenter (she/her) is the Rural Philanthropy Days Event Coordinator working in Southeast Colorado. She graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. After graduation, she took her degree right back home to lend a hand in helping improve her own backyard in La Junta, Colorado. Kristin was adopted at an early age and given a wonderful life as a result. Because of her parents’ kindness, she sought to spend her years paying it forward to other children. Kristin has spent her career as a child welfare caseworker investigating child abuse and neglect allegations, later as a child fatality review coordinator focused on prevention of child death, and finally as a coalition facilitator focused on youth substance use prevention and mental health promotion. Kristin is passionate about prosocial engagement for children, rural advocacy, civic engagement, and recovery-friendly communities to support individuals with substance use and behavioral health disorders. Kristin’s spare time is spent with her husband and children, she enjoys painting, DIY, home renovation and acts as a volunteer minister for last minute weddings.  As a life’s mission, she hopes to leave the world a little better than when she found it.

Madeline Cohen (she/her/hers)

Events Coordinator

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Madeline is an Event Coordinator focused on enhancing the education program and the Community Resource Center’s impact through events, trainings, and community engagement opportunities. Madeline has been involved in the nonprofit sector since 2016, first serving as Program Director for Teens In Public Service to connect local organizations with sponsored teen interns and leadership development resources. She is passionate about equity work and harm reduction, with an emphasis on advocating for mutual aid in the areas of progressive social policy, LGBTQIA+ issues and trans rights, and food justice. She launched a Harm Reduction project in 2022 aimed at facilitating safe, inclusive, and accessible dancefloor spaces in Denver’s underground music community . Madeline loves road biking around Denver and making jewelry and clothing from upcycled materials. She is currently a student at MSU Denver earning her BA in metalsmithing.

Lily Daugherty (she/her/hers)

Rural Action Network Coordinator

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Lily was born and raised in Granby, Colorado, a mountain town in Northwest Colorado. Lily has a passion for supporting rural nonprofits and the communities that they serve. Lily brings experience engaging individuals in the outdoors, sharing her love of fishing, boating, and camping across Colorado’s public lands. Lily has lived across many states in the Mountain West, as well as in Central America and Europe. In her role with the Rural Action Network, Lily is excited to serve rural communities like the one she grew up in and connect folks to resources to realize their visions. When not at work you can find Lily skiing, climbing, rafting and exploring wild places.

Monica DeWitt (she, her, hers)

AmeriCorps State & National Assistant Program Manager

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Monica has a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Psychology and a Master’s in Education. AmeriCorps has a special place in her timeline because the program is what brought her to Colorado. As an AmeriCorps alumni. She is excited to assist others by cultivating the joy of volunteerism and exploring their career goals. She is coming back to the nonprofit sector after a decade of public-school teaching. Outside of work, she enjoys camping, road trips with her family, reading, and doing yoga.

Ricci Dreier (she, her, hers)

Human Resources Coordinator

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Ricci Dreier serves as the Human Resources Coordinator for the Colorado Healthcare Corps program. With her, she brings over 10 years of healthcare administrative role and human resource experience. Born and raised in Sterling, CO she returned to northeastern Colorado after college to raise her family. Initially focused on a path to teaching, Ricci discovered human resources which combined her passions of service, community, education, and people. She is thrilled for the opportunity to continue to develop personally and professionally and be a representative of CRC. In her free time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, camping, fishing, reading, and watching movies.

Lisa Duran (she/her/ella)

Assistant Director of Statewide Education

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Lisa has worked for over 30 years in the nonprofit sector doing community organizing and social justice work.  She helped to build Colorado’s immigrant rights movement, directing Colorado’s first immigrant-led immigrant rights organization and serving as a co-founder of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. She also served as Executive Director of Grassroots Grantmakers, a national membership organization of foundations and community funders working to lift up grassroots voices and leadership in philanthropy. Lisa’s graduate studies included a focus on philanthropy, foundations, race, and social movements. In her organizing work she developed popular education practices that stress the co-creation of knowledge, the importance of participant stories in building relationship, and the necessity to productively address imbalances of power and privilege. Lisa brings to CRC a deep belief that directly impacted individuals must determine solutions and policies that affect them and a passionate commitment to building equity, inclusion and access among diverse communities. 

Kayla Evans (she/her)

AmeriCorps Assistant Program Manager for the Colorado Healthcare Corps

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Kayla is an AmeriCorps Assistant Program Manager for the Colorado Healthcare Corps. Her passion for serving the community started in college when she participated in a work-study program building capacity for local non-profits. This program allowed her to work with people of all different backgrounds and learn what it means to be part of an ever-changing work environment.

After Kayla graduated from Centenary College of Louisiana, she moved to Colorado to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA with United Way of Weld County. Over the last few years, she has worked with several non-profits in the Northern Colorado area. She feels like the most important aspect of her work is to provide opportunities and resources for people to push past their perceived limits. Her motivation for community work comes from being able to make a meaningful difference in a person’s life and she looks forward to continuing that with CRC. In her time outside of work, Kayla enjoys being in the mountains hiking, backpacking, rock climbing, and hanging out with her dog, Jax.

Maria Fabula (she, her, hers)

President & CEO

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Since 2013, Maria has served as President & CEO of the Community Resource Center (CRC). Maria believes in the power of the nonprofit sector to drive meaningful change and promote health and justice in our communities.

With over two decades of experience leading the social sector to become more transparent, community-driven and collaborative, Maria has spent her career connecting government, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to improve the community. Maria works closely with individuals, their teams, and organizations to build trust, create a space for open dialogue, and harness the power of change.

Maria’s visionary leadership has led to milestone improvements at CRC including the transformation of the Rural Philanthropy Days program, addition of AmeriCorps VISTA and State/National programs, acquisition of the Colorado Participation Project and the Nonprofit Social Enterprise Exchange.  Since 2013, CRC’s budget has grown from under $500K to over $8 million, CRC’s staff has grown from 5 to 33 team members and CRC’s impact across the state of Colorado has been felt at every corner.

Appointed in 2014 to the Governor’s Commission on Community Service, Maria served as the Commission Chair from 2018 to 2020.  Maria was recognized as “Who’s Who in Impact Investing” by the Impact Finance Center and Denver Business Journal in 2017 and 2018 and is an Everything DiSC® Certified Facilitator.

Tracie Fletcher (she, her, hers)

Operations Manager

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Josh Gaydos (he, him, his)

Marketing Coordinator

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Josh Gaydos (he/him/his), Marketing Coordinator, works to connect the targeted programs of Community Resource Center into a cohesive and appealing brand. Josh started with CRC in October 2022. Prior to his current position, Josh worked as an Account Executive at a communications firm and as a Corporate Relations Manager at a nonprofit focused on underserved Latinx populations in Denver. He began his career in South Carolina politics, working on a congressional campaign, managing a South Carolina Statehouse campaign and becoming Director of Principal Operations for a U.S. Senate campaign that holds the record for most funds raised within a month. Josh currently lives in Denver and appreciates the music and poetry scene throughout the city. 

Margaret Graham (she, her, hers)

Civic Engagement Program Manager

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Margaret Graham is the Civic Engagement Program Manager. She graduated in 2018 with a master’s in Human Rights, from the London School of Economics and is excited to be back in her home state empowering Coloradans to be active members of their communities. Margaret has been active in Colorado politics since 2008 and is passionate about the ability of grass roots organizing to create positive, lasting, systemic change to the community. In her free time, Margaret loves to spend time outside with her dog, ride horses and garden. She is also part of a community choir and enjoys watercolor painting and crochet.

Dave Grimsland (he, him, his)

Development Manager

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Dave Grimsland (he/him/his), Development Manager, manages the Colorado Grants Guide® (CGG), the premier grant research database for development professionals supporting Colorado nonprofits. Dave started with the CRC in December of 2022. Prior to that, Dave worked with Bright by Text, a nonprofit that delivers parenting tips via SMS technology nationwide designed to improve early childhood outcomes and family engagement. Dave has also been a volunteer board member and is currently the Fundraising Chairman for the Autism Society of Boulder County. Dave is a father of triplets and enjoys spending time with his family. They are avid hikers, campers, and skiers.

Natalie Georgalas (she, her, hers)

Rural Action Network™ Program Coordinator

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Natalie joined Community Resource Center as the Rural Action Network™ Program Coordinator after finishing a year of service as the Regional Engagement Associate VISTA with CRC. Natalie is originally from Ohio where she graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Economic, Education, Development, and Sustainability with a focus on international and community development. She is excited to bring her experience with community development and rural communities to the CRC team. When not at work, Natalie can be found cooking, roller blading, or going to concerts.

Grace Gilbert (she, her, hers)

Member Learning Coordinator

email hidden; JavaScript is required 

Grace Gilbert is the Member Learning Coordinator with the Colorado Healthcare Corps team. After earning a BS in Psychology from William & Mary, Grace moved to Durango and served as an AmeriCorps state/national member. She then stayed in the area and worked in youth substance use prevention at San Juan Basin Public Health. Grace is passionate about health care, mental health, and food security. In her free time, she loves to hike, ski, bike, and drink tea while reading a great book.

Rebecca Gorrell (she, her, hers)

Chief Program Officer

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Rebecca brings 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, leadership development, adult education and advocacy to CRC.  Rebecca has spent the majority of her career working to bring people together to do their good work better. She is passionate about the role of nonprofits in civil society, and is a fierce advocate for community-driven change. Prior to joining Community Resource Center in 2015, Rebecca served as Executive Director of the Colorado Participation Project, a nonprofit building advocacy capacity within human service organizations to engage their communities in elections and civic life, bringing the organization to CRC’s portfolio in 2016. Rebecca has held fundraising, business development, and program roles with Seniors’ Resource Center and Regis University.  She is a contributor to the Colorado Nonprofit Association’s Principles & Practices for Nonprofit Excellence and was recognized by the Denver Business Journal as a Who’s Who in Impact Investing. Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management from Regis University.

Kaylee Harter (she, her, hers)

Colorado Healthcare Corps Communications & Marketing Coordinator

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Kaylee is the Communications and Marketing Coordinator for the Colorado Healthcare Corps. Previously, she served as an AmeriCorps VISTA at CRC as the Statewide Social Media and Marketing Associate. She is originally from Ohio, where she graduated from Ohio State with degrees in journalism and environmental geography. Outside of work, Kaylee loves reading, hiking, camping, snowboarding and exploring Colorado.

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

Human Resources Manager

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!

Rhea Johnson (she, her, hers)

Assistant Director of AmeriCorps Vista

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Rhea Johnson she/hers/hers is the Assistant Director of AmeriCorps VISTA. Originally from upstate New York (the Adirondack Mountains), Rhea studied Outdoor Recreation and Management prior to moving to Boulder, Co to study Psychology, Environmental Studies, and Religious Studies. After university, Rhea had the opportunity to participate in two VISTA positions in Denver, Co and Fairbanks, Ak and returned to Colorado in 2019.  Rhea is passionate about Diversity Equity and Inclusion work, being a resource and facilitating space of growth. In her spare time, Rhea enjoys many outdoor activities in all seasons, baking/cooking and learning to play the ukelele.

Abhinav “Abe” Kaul (he, him, his)

Finance Coordinator

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Abe serves as CRC’s Finance Coordinator. In this role, he helps coordinate the monthly financial statements of CRC and CRC programs, deals with the account payable and account receivable, and helps to coordinate the operations of CRC. Abe was born in Chicago, spent a few years in Miami before moving to Seattle, and finally to Denver in 2014; he has lived in all four time zones in the U.S. mainland. Abe received his B.A. from Linfield University and majored in Political Science and minored in History and Creative Writing. He then received his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law where he served as the Vice-President of the North American South Asian Law Students Association and helped plan and run their national conference in Washington D.C.  After Abe was done with school, he worked on political campaigns before moving to Denver to work for a political research firm for the 2014 Election Cycle.  Before starting at CRC, Abe worked at the Center for Legal Inclusiveness doing work in operations and finance. 

Abe loves the Denver sunshine, a nice change of scenery from the gray of Seattle, and enjoys reading, hiking Colorado’s beautiful trails, going to museums, and debating politics with his friends. 

JoAnn Lopez (she, her, hers)

Director of Billing and Compliance

email hidden; JavaScript is required

JoAnn Lopez ( she, her, hers) is the Director of Billing and Compliance for the Colorado Health Care (CHC) Grant. JoAnn brings twenty plus years of experience in administration of both the fiscal and programmatic side of federal, state, and local grants. In her past positions she has always worked with diverse populations in mind ensuring that all programs are- developed to ensure the success of students and or clients. She feels it is always important to continue implementing new plans and programs to accomplish an organization’s objectives and meeting the needs of the underserved and marginalized populations. She has an M. S. in Adult Education and Training and Master Certificate in Integrating Technology in the classroom or training environment her undergraduate is in Accounting and Financial Management. JoAnn’s personal values and experience include the ability and willingness to stand up for beliefs, opinions, and know when to persuade and when to follow.

TC McCracken (she, her, they)

Human Resource Manager

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 ten 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 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.

Katy Pepinsky (she, her, ella)

Director of GrantCorps (Spanish Speaker)

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Katy Pepinsky (she/her/ella), Director of GrantCorps, works to build the capacity of Colorado nonprofits to access and manage public and private grant funds. Katy started with CRC in June 2022. Prior to her current position, Katy worked as the Executive Director of a youth services organization in La Plata County. For over twenty years, she 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. A native of Bloomington, Indiana, 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 lives in Durango and enjoys reading, gardening, practicing yoga, and exploring the rural rivers and trails of the Southwest with her two kids, husband, and dog. Ella habla español.

Sara Rodriguez (she, her, hers)

AmeriCorps Program Manager

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Sara Rodriguez is an AmeriCorps Assistant Program Manager with CRC’s newest program, Colorado Healthcare Corps. A Minnesota native, Sara graduated from Iowa State University with a double major in Child, Adult and Family Services and World Languages and Cultures (Spanish). Sara has spent the last five years working for a variety of non-profit organizations, with a focus on developing and empowering communities and individuals. Sara most recently completed a year of service with AmeriCorps herself and is thrilled to be a part of bringing CHC to life. In her free time, you can find Sara outside hiking, running, or climbing, and spending time with family and friends.

Katy Sawyer (she, her, hers)

Director of National Service

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Katy Sawyer brings the perspective of having working in grassroots nonprofits in development countries as well as national nonprofits in the US to her role as the Associate Director of AmeriCorps Programs. Katy’s passion for national service began during her own AmeriCorps service. After graduating from Tufts University, 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. Deciding to combine 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 can be found hiking and delighting in seeing snow again after five years in the tropics.

Kristi Smith (she, her, hers)

Event Coordinator

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Kristi Smith has been an Event Coordinator for non-profit organizations since 2010. She moved to Colorado from Nebraska, where she served as the Conference Planner for the National Collegiate Honors Council at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. She started her work with CRC in 2013 as an Event Coordinator for its 2014 Southwest Rural Philanthropy Days conference in Pagosa Springs, came back for the 2015-2016 Colorado Health Foundation’s Statewide Listening Tour, and most recently for its 2018 Southwest Rural Philanthropy Days in Cortez. Kristi lives in Pagosa Springs with her husband. She always tries to find time to support new restaurants, meander through museums, read recommended books, and play with her three spirited grandchildren.

Nellie Stagg (she, her, hers)

Senior Program Director

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Nellie Stagg is the Senior Program Director at Community Resource Center, working with hundreds of rural nonprofit leaders across the state to strengthen their organizations and communities. Nellie has a background in rural programmatic management, nonprofit capacity building, and data informed decision making. A proud AmeriCorps NCCC alumni, Nellie understands the value of national service and the impact it can have on individuals, organizations, and communities. As a former Program Officer with Serve Colorado – the Governor’s Commission on Community Service, Nellie brings the unique perspective of having been a grant maker overseeing a portfolio of rural and developing programs across the state. When not driving across Colorado, she can be found at the library, in a makerspace, or in the garden.

Tracie Sullivan (she, her, they)

Assistant Director of AmeriCorps State and National

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Tracie Sullivan serves as the Assistant Director of AmeriCorps State and National for CRC and is supporting the newly launched Colorado Healthcare Corps program. Tracie brings over 10 years of versatile experience in the non-profit sector, with a most recent focus on assisting healthcare non-profit focused organizations to mobilize their patient communities help change state and federal laws to provide more accessible and affordable healthcare for all. She has a background in government affairs and advocacy, volunteer management, strategic programmatic design and project management. She started her career as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Boston, MA and loved her year of service, leading her to seek out a mission and impact driven career path. Tracie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and a Master of Arts degree in Community Development and Planning. Outside of the office, she can be found exploring new trails, hikes, and national parks with her partner and Aussie pup.

Tayah Wheeland (she, her, hers)

Executive Assistant

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Tayah Wheeland is the Executive Assistant at Community Resource Center. She 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 has more than 10 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, going on picnics, hiking, watching documentaries, cooking, and making jewelry.

AmeriCorps VISTA Members

Lani Silva (she/her/hers)

AmeriCorps VISTA Leader

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Lani Silva is the AmeriCorps VISTA Leader at Community Resource Center, overseeing up to 28 VISTA Members throughout Colorado who are helping to build capacity for their respective nonprofit organizations. Most recently, she completed a year of service as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member for the City of New Orleans. As a native to the South, she graduated from Florida International University in Miami with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. With a strong passion for serving the community, Lani is excited to bring her skills and expertise to the team. In her free time, she enjoys being out in nature whether that be hiking, water sports, skating, or chasing sunsets.

Silas Babilonia (he/him/his)

AmeriCorps VISTA – Grant Writing Specialist – Grant Corps

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Silas Babilonia (he/him/his), Grant Writing Specialist, works to help non-profits across the state of Colorado receive the funding and resources necessary to thrive through the function of grant-writing. Silas started with CRC in October 2022. Prior to his current position, Silas has worked in the non-profit realm in various capacities. He has served previously with AmeriCorps, working with CRC to combat the COVID pandemic as a Contact Tracer/Case Investigator. Before that, Silas also served as both a case manager and overnight assistant at several different facilities run by Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. Silas grew up in Aurora, Colorado, and considers the state his home. He is a lifelong traveler, having been across Europe and the United States; however, Colorado always had a special place for him. He is currently located in the Capitol Hill area of Denver and spends his time with family and friends, works on making and producing electronic music, and spends time with his Guinea pig named Jim. 

Eugene Davis (he/him/his)

AmeriCorps VISTA – Data Analyst – Grant Corps

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Eugene Davis (he/him/his) is currently working as a Data Analyst for the AmeriCorps Vista Program with CRC to build capacity in the rural Colorado nonprofit ecosystem. Eugene began working with CRC in late October after graduating from the University of Oregon with a degree in environmental policy and globalization. Eugene has previously worked as a Communications Assistant for the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides in Eugene, Oregon, and has experience working with rural communities during his time in the University of Oregon Environmental Leadership Team. On his days off Eugene enjoys playing music and basketball as well as spending time with his close friends and family members. 

Terry Hessner (he/him/his)

AmeriCorps VISTA – Data Analyst – Grant Corps

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Terry Hessner (He/Him/His) is a Statewide Data Analyst Vista working with GrantCorps at the CRC. As a Data Analyst he acts as a resource for Colorado nonprofits to access funding for their organizations and navigate the Colorado Grants Guide. Terry started as a Vista at CRC in October 2022. Before joining the GrantCorps team he spent several years working in hospitality and food service, including three years helping to manage the food program at a Denver based youth shelter organization. Terry is from Lafayette, Colorado and lives there still. His hobbies include reading, writing, playing piano and watching movies.

Usman Muyeeb (he/him/his)

AmeriCorps VISTA – Data Systems Coordinator

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Usman Muyeeb (he/him), Data Systems Coordinator VISTA, helps the Community Resource Center with updating and inputting their databases in Salesforce. He has served in AmeriCorps for four years in a variety of states and roles. He started working with CRC in November 2022. Usman grew up in Queens, New York and has lived in Denver in 2020 and returned two years later after a stint in Indiana. He is a voracious creative, dabbling in 3D and digital art, fiction writing, poetry, animation, and music. Usman can often being found gaming at home, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of Denver on walks, and thinking up new story ideas.

Matthew Romanyk (he/him/his)

AmeriCorps VISTA – Grant Writing Specialist – Grant Corps

email hidden; JavaScript is required

Matthew Romanyk (he/him/his), Americorps Grant Writing Specialist VISTA, is helping build capacity, facilitate connections, and provide support for rural non-profits across underserved Colorado communities through grant development and organizational maintenance. Matthew started his service with Americorps and CRC in October 2022. A central New York native, Matthew found his home in southwest Colorado last year, and brought with him a love for expansive nature, music and solitude. In his free time, Matthew can be found participating in local open mics, reading, writing, hiking with his boxer-mix Martha, and thinking about what fundamental improvements could be made to the world around us. Matthew plans on using his research and education background to foster understanding and equity throughout Colorado. 

CRC Interns

Molly Eckerle (she, her, hers)

Advocacy Intern

email hidden; JavaScript is required 

Molly Eckerle (she/her/hers) in an Advocacy Intern working with the Participation Project and Root Causes Network. Molly is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work at the University of Denver. Molly is passionate about access to mental health care, health equity, and reproductive rights. In her free time, Molly can be found outside biking or hiking or in the kitchen trying new recipes.

CRC Volunteer Spotlight

Betty Allen-Parrish

Colorado Grants Guide® Research Volunteer

Betty Allen-Parrish, currently is a Research Volunteer, editing and researching the Colorado Grants Guide® since March 2011. She has recently been assisting with grant proposal writing and has participated in a number of trainings offered at CRC. Previously, she completed activities in a number of departments as an Intern at the Anschutz Medical Center and at a local television station. Betty has dedicated her career to promoting a stronger community through education, healthcare and telecommunications sectors. She has a wide range of experiences in K-12 public and private urban school settings. She holds Bachelor and Master’s degrees in French and Special Education as well as a Doctoral degree in Education.