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TCC Board Members

Aneesha Bharwani | she/her

Assistant Dean for Field Education Graduate School of Social Work University of Denver

Deja Dunn | she/her

Healthy Lifestyle Director | Community Housing Development Association (CHDA)

Jesus Escarcega | he/him

Board President | Retired | Aurora Public Schools

Erin Kozakowski | she/her

Board Secretary | Senior Product Manager | Charles Schwab

Dillon Manly | he/him

Certified Financial Planner | Fidelity Investments

Maura McGrath | she/her

Intermountain Health | Knowledge Management Process Lead.

Justin Miller | he/him

College Recruiter | Emily Griffith Technical College

George Price | he/him

Board Treasurer | President and CEO | The Belle Isle Company, Inc.

Lindsey Rasmussen | she/her

Board Vice President | Associate | Hilltop Public Solutions

Alana Saragosa | She/Her

University of Colorado Denver | Graduate Student

Jannette Scarpino | she/her

Retired | CFO | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Sandra Tucker | she/her

Grant Writer | Cloudbreak Collaborative

TCC Staff Members

Working in a small non-profit, our team is committed not only to the mission, but also to investing in one another. Quirks and talents are continually revealed, as we learn who likes board games, who can Tango or breakdance, and who is obsessed with donkeys. However, we all agree — we love marking special occasions with food! We are a kid-friendly/dog-friendly office and feel very passionately about what we do! Learn more about The Conflict Center staff — where we’ve been and what we value.

Mina Bradley-Belcaid | she/her

Skill Building and Programs Training Manager

mina.bradleybelcaid@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5633

Sander Bregman | he/him

Youth Programs Manager

sander.bregman@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5632

Heidi Cardenas | she/her

Restorative Denver Case Manager

heidi.cardenas@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5621

Sam Green | she/her

Communications and Operations Manager

sam.green@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5643

Amber Ford | she/her | Spanish-speaking

Restorative Practices Program Manager

amber.ford@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5624

Charlie McTavish | she/her

Development Manager

charlie.mctavish@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5629

Ronnie Weiss | she/her

Volunteer and Intern Manager

ronnie.weiss@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5634

Kylee Wellons | she/her

Restorative Denver Intake Manager

kylee.wellons@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5621

Beth Yohe | she/her

Executive Director

beth.yohe@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5625

Are you looking to join our team of fun, energetic, and talented professionals? We are always looking for new stars and people committed to making a difference. If that is you, please get in touch!

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Simply put — we teach people to solve problems and build relationships. We want families, schools and communities to put themselves at the center of nonviolence. Our programs equip people with skills to navigate conflict productively.

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Aneesha Bharwani | she/her

Assistant Dean for Field Education Graduate School of Social Work University of Denver

Associate Professor Aneesha Bharwani is the Assistant Dean for Field Education at the Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver. Her practice expertise is leadership, team development, and program development. She provides trainings to community partners who supervise interns on communication, feed back, and effective supervision. She has strong connections in the community with a variety of state, local, & nonprofit agencies.

Deja Dunn | she/her

Healthy Lifestyle Director | Community Housing Development Association (CHDA)

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.

Jesus Escarcega | he/him

Board President | Retired | Aurora Public Schools

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.

Erin Kozakowski | she/her

Board Secretary | Senior Product Manager | Charles Schwab

Erin is a business/technology consultant with Slalom Consulting in Denver, Colorado. Her professional experience of more than 10 year in customer service and hospitality includes companies large and small, primarily within the ski and travel industry. Six years ago, she seized an opportunity to change careers and has been working in technology and consulting since. Her areas of expertise include the Salesforce platform, business analysis, product management, and Agile software development methodology.

Dillon Manly | he/him

Certified Financial Planner | Fidelity Investments

Dillon Manley is a financial advisor and Certified Financial Planner TM with Fidelity Investments. As the son of an Air Force pilot, Dillon has lived in various states around the country including Alaska, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Texas, Montana, and Colorado. After graduating highschool in Oklahoma, Dillon attended Montana State University where he found a passion for financial planning and education, and received a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting. Since his graduation Dillon has worked in the financial services industry as an annuity consultant, 401k investment planner, and personal financial advisor. Outside of work, Dillon has a passion for community involvement, snowboarding, and golf.

Maura McGrath | she/her

Intermountain Health | Knowledge Management Process Lead.

Maura McGrath is the Knowledge Manager for Intermountain Health, a leading non-profit health system that serves patients in several Western States. As a Knowledge Manager she promotes knowledge sharing across the workforce to positively impact the organization. Prior to her work at Intermountain, she worked with an educational research firm. She has a BA in both English and Theater Arts from the University of Iowa and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Denver. Outside of work she enjoys reading way too many books, running, and walking her two dogs.

Justin Miller | he/him

College Recruiter | Emily Griffith Technical College

Justin was born in Denver, CO on July 9th 1981. He went to elementary and middle school where he grew up in Aurora Colorado. He graduated from Overland High School in 1999 where he played soccer all four years. After which Justin attended college at Community College of Denver and Metro State for one year, before transferring to the University Of Colorado at Colorado Springs where he played soccer for four years while receiving a degree in Communication. Upon graduating Justin coached soccer at Overland High School for a season before he became the Gym attendant at Clare Gardens in Denver Colorado, where he would work for the next 17 years. In 2010 Justin was promoted to Recreation Program Coordinator, a position he held until 2021. In 2018 he started coaching soccer at Barcelona Elite Soccer Academy in Aurora Colorado. He stopped working at Clare Gardens in 2021 before becoming the College Recruiter at Emily Griffith Technical College, where he works to this day.

George Price | he/him

Board Treasurer | President and CEO | The Belle Isle Company, Inc.

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 Rasmussen | she/her

Board Vice President | Associate | Hilltop Public Solutions

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.

Alana Saragosa | She/Her

University of Colorado Denver | Graduate Student

Alana is currently a graduate student at the University of Colorado Denver, where she is studying Applied Mathematics. She is passionate about utilizing real-world data to effect meaningful change. In addition to her academic pursuits, Alana works at her family’s restaurant, Tamales by La Casita. There, she enjoys connecting with customers and serving the North Denver community and beyond. Her favorite pastimes include spending time with her family, traveling, and learning about other cultures. Alana is a former high school intern at The Conflict Center and is excited to support its work and contribute her expertise in a new role.

Janette Scarpino | she/her

CFO | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Jannette has diverse experience in financial management, corporate finance, financial planning and analysis, accounting, budgeting, banking and treasury, and strategic and capital planning. She has held senior financial roles in the for profit, non-profit, and public sectors.

After spending nearly 20 years in the corporate banking industry, she left banking to work as a CPA. Subsequently, she spent time in public accounting, became treasurer of a public company, then budget director for the Regional Transportation District’s $2 billion budget. Most recently she served as CFO of the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment, where she oversaw the financial services team of 50+ staff and a $1 billion budget.

In addition to her CPA designation, Jannette has an MBA in Finance from the University of Denver andholds a BA in political science. She has taught Accounting at Metropolitan State University of Denver, and served as Board Member/Treasurer of Smart Girl, a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower young girls. She is passionate about servant leadership, which focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. She views leadership as an act of service and a conscious choice to better serve others.

Sandra Tucker | she/her

Grant Writer | Cloudbreak Collaborative

Sandra Tucker has been a community organizer and fundraiser for 14 years with different organizations, including the American Transplant Foundation and Denver Public Library Friends Foundation. She has a passion for building strong partnerships with corporations in the Denver community, as well as their employees. Sandra has two young boys at home who keep her informed of the most important things, aka Hot Wheels, and anything to do with water. Reading and traveling are her favorite activities to do by herself or with her family.

Mina Bradley-Belcaid | she/her

Skill Building and Programs Training Manager

mina.bradleybelcaid@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5633

Mina was born and raised in Denver, and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in music from Metropolitan State University, where she studied harmony and jazz. She has spent the last ten years playing music locally and 2023-2024 touring the US and Canada singing in a band. She found a love of training and education in the nonprofit world early in her career, and remains passionate about connecting people to resources. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, long walks, and exploring restaurants around town.

Sander Bregman | he/him

Youth Programs Manager

sander.bregman@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5632

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.

Heidi Cardenas | she/her

Restorative Denver Case Manager

heidi.cardenas@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5621

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.

Sam Green | She/Her

Communications and Operations Manager

sam.green@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5643

Sam grew up in the heart of Denver and realized her passion for writing at a young age. She later attended Colorado State University and received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Media Communication. She is driven to use her digital skills for the greater good by bringing attention to the many social justice issues she cares about. Sam previously worked for 9to5 Colorado where she centered her comms work on advocating for tenant rights and worker justice policy. She finds purpose in getting involved with her community and working in nonprofit spaces to contribute to positive change. In her free time, you can find her watching documentaries and horror films, escaping the city for a hike or Red Rocks show, and going to as many poké restaurants as possible.

Amber Ford | she/her | Spanish-speaking

Restorative Practices Program Manager

amber.ford@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5624

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 McTavish | she/her

Development Manager

charlie.mctavish@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5629

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.

Ronnie Weiss | she/her

Volunteer and Intern Manager

ronnie.weiss@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5634

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 | she/her

Restorative Denver Intake Manager

kylee.wellons@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5621

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 | she/her

Executive Director

beth.yohe@conflictcenter.org

(303) 865-5625

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.