Associate Professor Aneesha Bharwani is the Assistant Dean for Freid Education at the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denier. Her practice expertise is leadership, tear derdlepiment and program development. She provides trainings to community partners and who supervise interns on communication, feed back, and effective suprusion. She has strong connections with scored in the community with a variety of State, local, & nonprofit 

agenues.

Deja Dunn is a naturopathic doctor with a passion for improving social determinants of health and health equity. She is dedicated
to partnering with individuals and communities to encourage healthy lifestyle habits for all. She is proud to be the Healthy Lifestyle
Director, in charge of resident programs and services, for CHDA – a nonprofit organization with over 20 years experience providing
dignified housing to people of modest means in the Denver Metro area. In her current role, she has developed a health strategy and
framework for program assessment and evaluation that is informed by the community and allows the organization to meet
resident needs. Acting as Healthy Lifestyle Director has also given her the opportunity to marry her love for event planning with
health promotion which she has found particularly enjoyable. Her focus on social justice and interest in behavioral health have
led her to joining The Conflict Center’s board where she hopes to use her skills and knowledge to further the mission of the
organization. Outside of her professional interests, Deja loves to cook, dance, and spend time with her family.

Jesús is the Director for the Grants Department with the Aurora Public School District, Aurora, CO.  Jesús has been an elementary teacher and a K-12 administrator in Arizona and Colorado for the past 42 years.  He has administered both state and federal programs that provide direct or supplemental educational programs for students identified as English Learners, Migrant, Immigrant/Refugee, Homeless, Native American or Disadvantaged.  He has also overseen the department for Diversity Education and organized professional development on equity with the Aurora Public Schools. 

 He is the current Co-Chair for the Colorado Association of Latino(a) Administrators and Superintendents  (CO-ALAS) but has served as the Chair and Past Chair for CO ALAS.  Jesús also serves on two CO Dept. of Education advisory committees for the Language, Culture, & Equity Office and the Federal Grants with the Colorado Department of Education.  He serves on various advisory committees, including the CU-Boulder Teachers of Color and Allies, Montessori del Mundo Charter, CO NAME (Multicultural Education) and with the Denver Foundation’s Education Committee.  He is a former school board member for the Phoenix Elementary School District, former member of the Arizona Association for Gifted Education & Talented and two charter schools in Colorado.

He received his Bachelor of Science in Education Degree from Northern Arizona University and his Master of Education Degree from Arizona State University.  He has taught graduate level classes on Parental and Community Involvement with Regis University.

George Price is a 1974 graduate of The Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado and a 1980 graduate of the University of Denver, College of Law. He was a staff member of the University of Denver International Law Journal and was recipient of the John Phillip Linn Labor Law Award in 1980. He was research assistant to John Phillip Linn during the 1979-80 acadmic year. In the latter part of 1974, he did graduate work in political science at the University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania.

After passing the bar exam in 1980, Price became the General Counsel/Director of Legal Services for the Colorado Education Association, Colorado’s largest public employee association. He served in that position for five years representing teachers and other school personnel in a variety of employment related matters in federal and state courts, in arbitration and before administrative judges. He advised the Board of Directors and the Executive Director of CEA on corporate matters.

Price entered private practice in 1985. He continued his work with CEA as retained outside counsel. In addition, his practice emphasized both public and private sector employment law, employment discrimination matters, school discipline and special education matters, real estate, real estate development law, and construction law. He provided voluntary, pro bono representation on behalf of the ACLU related to sex discrimination in school athletics. During this time, he served as counsel for several public sector unions. Later in his practice, he began representing criminal defendants.

Price served as counsel on a number of cases related to prison conditions, represented inmates in civil rights matters related to dietary and religious discrimination and served as counsel in cases involving injuries to and assaults upon inmates. A number of these cases were done on a court appointed, pro bono, basis.

Price successfully sued a number of private occupational schools that had failed to provide the promised education to students.

From 1999 to 2004, Price worked as a part-time consultant with the Federal Emergency Management Agency assisting communities in federally declared disasters. His responsibilities included working with the agency in the development of regulations related to the National Flood Insurance Program, the development and implementation of the Project Impact initiative and policies related to disaster assistance on sovereign Indian lands. He worked with the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program in overseeing the purchase of numerous flooded properties in North Dakota and a school safety initiative that was created following the Columbine tragedy.

Price currently is President and CEO of The Belle Isle Company, Inc., a Colorado based Corporation involved in the sale and purchase of commodities, real estate development, new product development and general business consulting.

For six years, Price was employed as Restorative Practices Counselor with the Denver Public Schools. In that role, he counseled students, helped resolve problems between students, staff members and parents. He trained teachers and staff in dispute resolution methods and introduced character education programs in various schools in Denver. He served on the African American Equity Task Force and other school and districtwide equity committees.

Price served on the board of the Center for Anti-Bullying and Non-Violence and currently serves on the Douglas County Historic Preservation Board. From 1995-1997, Price served as a board member of the Attention Deficit Disorder Advocacy Group, another Colorado nonprofit organization. Price was a member of the Park Hill Community Justice Council from 2001 to 2003, serving as its co-chair from 2002 to 2003. He served as a member of the Denver Community Accountability Board from 2001 to 2006. He has been a guest lecturer for the ACLU, the University of Denver, the University of Phoenix and for numerous in-service programs offered within school districts.

Lindsey E. Rasmussen joined The Conflict Center Board in 2022. Originally from Minneapolis, Lindsey grew up between New York City and Boston. Lindsey came to Colorado to attend college at University of Colorado, where she was an Economics and International Affairs major in her undergraduate degree. Lindsey’s career experience spans from working in the political nonprofit world early in her career to working in the Colorado General Assembly for various legislative leaders including Representative Tom Sullivan, where she helped pass groundbreaking Gun Violence Prevention legislation including Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) and the creation of Colorado’s first Office of Gun Violence Prevention. In 2020, Lindsey managed former State Representative and current Jefferson County Commissioner Tracy Kraft-Tharp’s competitive Jefferson County Commissioner campaign that ended in an eight-point victory over a powerful incumbent. Prior to her current role at reputable Government Affairs Firm Hilltop Public Solutions, Lindsey also spent time working for Cary Kennedy, Colorado Governor Polis’s Fiscal Policy Advisor and former State Treasurer, where her economic and fiscal research contributed to crucial statewide 2020 ballot measures. 

 

Lindsey is excited to utilize her unique skill set and background to help contribute to an organization like The Conflict Center. Her expertise spans from economics, fundraising and large budget management to advocacy efforts, politics, and program evaluation. Lindsey lives in Denver with her partner Slade, an engineer, and their golden retriever Ryder. 

Sander Bregman is an educator and nonprofit organizer who received a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from University of Michigan in 2015 and has since worked as a 5th grade teacher, as a short and long-term substitute teacher, and most recently, as a middle school science teacher in Denver’s Montbello community. In 2019, he became one of the founding board members of Mobile Studio, a music education nonprofit in Denver, which brought him to receive a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from University of Colorado Denver in 2022. He also volunteers as Mobile Studio’s curriculum writer and grant
writer. Sander is passionate about anti-racism, equity in education, mental health
awareness, and the power of the arts to transform lives and bring people together. In his free time, he enjoys breaking (commonly known as breakdancing), writing books under his pen name of Sandman Jones, and spending time with his wife and dog.

Rebecca joined The Conflict Center as a part-time Instructor in 2018. She was drawn to TCC’s work based on her degrees and experience in communication, teaching, and theological peace studies. In 2022, she was privileged to join the organization full-time, becoming the Communications and Organizations Manager and continuing her work as an Instructor. She is passionate about providing tools for better relationships, building community movements for the common good, and bridging cultural gaps. A California native, she grew up in a Mexican-American family, and is also fluent in Spanish. Throughout her lifetime, she has lived in Puerto Rico, Michigan, and Massachusetts, but is very happy to call Denver home. Outside of work, she enjoys philosophy book clubs, salsa dancing, swimming, and community volunteering.

Heidi Cardenas is a passionate advocate for the transformative power of restorative practices in people’s daily lives. Her journey began with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and ESL, and she spent five years as a fourth and fifth grade classroom teacher. During that time, she focused on fostering relationships and facilitating conversations with students to help them navigate everyday conflict. Heidi’s passion for restorative approaches led her to The Conflict Center, where she worked as a facilitator for Rethinking Conflict and Addressing Conflict and Anger Effectively. Now, she’s eager to apply her expertise as the Restorative Denver Case Manager. In her free time, Heidi enjoys being outdoors hiking, playing volleyball, and spending time with her husband and two dogs.

Amber Ford grew up in Aurora, Colorado. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado Denver and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Denver. Amber has taught in the Denver Public School District and the Cherry Creek School District. She is passionate about equity and social justice, using her career as an elementary educator to provide a welcoming space for all students, regardless of their background. As the Restorative Justice Program Manager with The Conflict Center of Denver, Amber is excited to facilitate access to restorative justice practices to all sectors of the Denver community!

Charlie is a former book editor, born and raised in West Michigan. After moving to Colorado in 2013, she pursued her master’s degree at the University of Colorado and pivoted to work with and for nonprofits, where she can help make the world a better place. Motivated by past experiences, Charlie is passionate about justice and equity. Outside of work hours, Charlie reads, spends time with her entirely-too-codependent pets, and rides her vintage motorcycle.

Rachel began her journey at The Conflict Center as an intern in September 2017, and has held her current role since her graduation from the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver in 2018. She is passionate about expanding the scope of programming at The Conflict Center and in the community, and in creating understanding through open and honest conversations. Rachel works on curriculum development, class/workshop facilitation, instructor management and training, and program development/evaluation. Rachel grew up in Massachusetts and in 2013 she graduated from the University of Vermont with degrees in Sociology and Spanish. She has since taught English abroad in Colombia and served in Americorps as a Care Coordinator at a community health center in Boston. Rachel is happiest when she is with her dog Zoe, in the outdoors, reading a book, or checking out events in the community.

Ronnie has a Master’s degree in Social Work and extensive experience in the non-profit arena that includes working in the domestic violence field at the local, statewide and national level for 15 years. Ronnie has also done extensive consulting work in the area of fund development with numerous nonprofits, which is the work that brought her to The Conflict Center and the field of violence prevention. Ronnie also has extensive experience in intern and volunteer recruitment and engagement. In her spare time she enjoys volunteering for service projects through her Rotary Club, reading, walking, yoga and spending time with family and friends, including kids and grandkids.

Kylee Wellons was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She is a community-driven, optimistic individual dedicated to creating a positive impact for diverse vulnerable populations. She uses visual and performance art as a means to influence change, promote wellness and build community. Her experience working with non-profit organizations in the Denver Metro area includes Art From Ashes, Poetry for Personal Power, The Athena Project, and Redline Art Gallery. Kylee is passionate about utilizing art as a tool for healing, trauma-informed care, and dismantling negative connotations associated with conflict.

Beth Yohe  is an accomplished facilitator, consultant and curriculum writer with over 20 years of experience, writing and delivering training programs on a variety of topics related to addressing bias, transforming conflict and creating dialogue.  Prior to joining The Conflict Center as Executive Director, she served in a number of roles at the ADL, including as the Regional Director of Development and as the Director of Training for the National Office of the ADL, overseeing its national anti-bias education training. She is involved nationally on issues related to conflict transformation, social justice, bullying prevention and social emotional learning, including serving on the Advisory Board for The Ad Council’s Love has No Labels campaign, the board of the International Bullying Prevention Association  and a facilitator for the Social Justice Training Institute.  She received her Masters of Science from Colorado State University and her Bachelors of Arts from Texas A&M University. She loves spending family time whether at home, at one of her daughters’ activities or out enjoying the beauty of Colorado.