Our Team

Coatney moved to Denver, CO 3 years ago to attend the University of Denver for my Master of Social Work. Prior to Denver, she lived in Oklahoma City, OK where I worked in several local schools creating murals and running events. She fell in love with creating and running events because of the wonderful teamwork that occurs and the ability to come up with creative solutions. Seeing the final event and the smiles on attendees faces makes the whole process worth it! Coatney has always enjoyed being creative and in her free time and can still be found creating props for a local dance studio, working on macrame, or painting. She also enjoys camping, hiking, and being outdoors as often as possible. Fun fact, Coatney is currently aspiring to live in an RV full-time so that her daughters can see as many National Parks as possible. The nomadic lifestyle has always been a dream of hers. Coatney is adaptable, driven, energetic, and easygoing.

Taryn began at The Conflict Center in 2015 as an intern working to develop our social norming program. After a personal shift from classes at TCC, she was drawn to share the same skills she’d learned around healthier ways to be in relationships with others. She combines strategies from multiple fields to create a comprehensive, strengths-based approach to macro work with young people. Currently, she directs The Conflict Center’s communication strategy and two youth engagement programs, along with leading evaluation. Outside of work, she coordinates a group that creates space for young moms to find community and mentoring and loves home projects!

Some of Erica’s fondest family memories stem from summer trips with her Dad and younger brothers to Detroit, MI. There she would see her cousins and aunty seamlessly conducting community events to support local initiatives. Back at home Erica was immersed in learning radical hospitality & loving accountability through working with her Mother’s restaurants. It was there she first learned that community is like family, except with boundaries. She has been soulfully influenced by the strong examples in her life to care for and with community. Erica is a member of the Board of Directors of Longmont Community Justice Partnership and volunteers as a Restorative Justice community conference facilitator. She spent a decade studying with educators at Challenge Day, a national leader in Social & Emotional Learning which led her to ongoing study of social justice with Michelle Cassandra Johnson, Ruth King & Dr. Mosby Tyler. Erica weaves together an interdisciplinary approach of Holistic health, Social & Emotional Learning and Insight Mediation. She is described as grounded, diplomatic, playful and relatable in her approach to facilitating. As a community leader, Erica helps reorient folks to their own innate goodness and capacity to connect.

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.