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Ronnie Weiss, Staff Member

Celebrating Ronnie Weiss: A Peacemaking Legacy 35 Years in the Making!

We love celebrating at The Conflict Center! Birthdays, new arrivals, holidays, restorative justice cases… all receive their due celebrations. Recently, we had the privilege of celebrating our Director of Development, Ronnie Weiss, for her 35th anniversary working at The Conflict Center! Just for fun, we did a little trip down memory lane with Ronnie to commemorate her and learn about her journey with TCC over the years!

 

1) Ronnie, what did you do before you started working at TCC? Why were you initially attracted to working here?

I worked in the domestic violence field for 15 years before joining TCC: first, at the local level with a battered women’s shelter, then at the state level in the policy arena, finally at the national level, doing fundraising.

My work at the national level was part time and I also had my own consulting business doing grant writing for a number of nonprofits. TCC was one of my clients starting in 1992 and I worked with Liz Loescher (TCC’s founder), 4 hours a week, to get funds rolling in.

At the time, I was burnt out from the stress and crisis of domestic violence work and I found the preventive mission of TCC’s programs to be a refreshing change. In 1996, when the building on Tejon Street was donated to TCC and we started the Capital Campaign to renovate it, my hours increased to about 20 hours a week. I gradually dropped my other grant writing clients and became totally immersed in the work and community at TCC.

 

2) What are some of the main initiatives you’ve helped to create?

I have seen TCC evolve and grow over the many years I’ve been involved. The original skill building programs and Reading for Peace have continued, while programs offered in schools have evolved into Social Norming, Hot Spot Mapping and Restorative Practices.The most recent addition is the Restorative Denver Program in partnership with the Denver D.A.’s Office. It has been exciting to watch this evolution over the years, and to work with the many dedicated staff, interns, volunteers, contractors and supporters who have contributed to this work. Many of the original folks are still connected and involved and it is a strong and nurturing community!

 

3) What are you most passionate about at TCC? How come?
I am most passionate about TCC’s focus on prevention and offering practical alternatives and skills to people of all ages to manage feelings and conflict in positive ways. In the past few years, TCC has also integrated youth leadership and voices into many aspects of programming, which has added another exciting dimension as we see the next generation stepping up to continue this work.

4) How many years have you lived in CO?

I moved to Colorado in 1983, after completing graduate school and working for a few years in Baltimore. I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah and after living on the east coast for five years, I decided I needed to be in a dry climate and be near the mountains again, so I landed in Denver.

5) Is there a specific story or fun moment you would want to recall from your years working with TCC?

It is almost impossible to pick one, but the TCC potlucks are always fun, delicious, and memorable as we celebrate key moments, holidays, new arrivals, milestones, and appreciations.

6) What is your hope for TCC in the future?

I look forward to seeing TCC continue to grow and evolve while maintaining a strong focus on prevention and the importance of social and emotional skill building for people of all ages. The roots continue to provide a solid foundation, so that the branches and leaves can flourish and grow!
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