The Neutral Infrastructure that Supports Collective Work
Evidence indicates that creating and sustaining community-wide collective impact requires a neutral infrastructure that supports partners to align their agendas and their work towards shared results. Some critical components of this infrastructure include:
- A collective Data Infrastructure that illuminates the greatest opportunities for collective work and holds the network accountable for improving shared targets and priorities
- A dedicated Backbone Team separate from partner organizations whose role is to convene and manage The Partnership and its collective work
All of this collective work is supported by a neutral infrastructure, a.k.a Backbone, that includes:
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RMP Backbone Staff
Becky Hoffman
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Email: BeckyHoffman@RMPBackbone.org
Twitter: @BeckyrHoffman
Linkedin: Becky Hoffman
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Why I LOVE RMP: I believe in the Rocky Mountain Partnership because of its unique and needed role in aligning the hearts, minds, and resources of our local, state, and national ecosystem, so that ALL kids can have a shot at thriving and contributing their true and authentic selves. This is the GREAT and necessary work of our time. Equity is a superpower and I am proud that we are leaning into the 'ALL kids' part. |
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What gets me out of bed in the morning: The chance to live life to the fullest again with my family, friends, and our amazing Backbone team. I am committed to leaving the world better than I found it, with our tribe, and I am energized by igniting and optimizing systems-level change, bent towards social justice. |
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More about me: I am a farm girl from the Midwest with roots in Colorado, and I am proud to have raised our two kids in Adams County for over 10 years. I am LEAN trained from Denver Health and have a B.A. from The University of Iowa, as well as a certificate in Event and Project Management from The University of Technology in Sydney, Australia. I have lived and worked in the U.K. and Australia, and use my experience and education to be outcomes-driven, challenge the status quo, and I aspire every day to play as hard as I work. I am enthusiastic about eliminating waste, especially time. Yet, I am learning the value of 'slowing down to speed up.' |
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Favorite Quote: “Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive” – Howard Thurman |
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Ask me about: More of my favorite quotes, authentic collective impact, what I am reading or listening to, my favorite karaoke songs, my bucket list for traveling the world (again). |
Lisandra Gonzales
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
LisandraGonzales@RMPbackbone.org
Twitter: @lisygonzales1
Linkedin: Lisandra Gonzales
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Why I LOVE RMP: My role as Chief Operations Officer of the Rocky Mountain Partnership (RMP) Backbone Team, allows me the opportunity to work with Partners to help improve critical community level outcomes that I know will impact my community ling into the future. I am specifically accountable for supporting RMPs Backbone Team with strategy and action to activate and organize the will and capacity of local leaders and community members towards collective action focused on community needs such as education, health, and financial stability. My team convenes and grows coalitions of stakeholders to create data-informed, equitable strategies for social change.I was born and raised in Adams County and love every fiber of this community. |
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What gets me out of bed in the morning: My faith, my family, and knowing that there is a team of us (region-wide) working together to accomplish shared goals. |
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More about me: I am proud to be a product of 27J schools and hold a degree in Business Management with a Minor in Marketing. I am LEAN trained from Denver Health and am an alumni of the Denver Metro Chamber Civic DNA Leadership Program, the StriveTogether Co-Development of Solutions Cohort, Tableau Data Fellowship, the StriveTogether Accelerator Program, and the Metro North Chamber Leadership Program. I have grown and developed as a professional through work I have done as the COO of A Precious Child, Executive Director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Adams and Broomfield Counties, and earlier in my career at the Metro North Chamber of Commerce, Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, and the Migrant Education Program. I also devote my time to supporting organizations whose missions are not only near and dear to my heart but have proven to be results oriented such as serving on boards for the Mexican Cultural Center, CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties, and A Precious Child. I am bilingual in Spanish and I love cheering on for the CSU Rams. |
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Favorite Quote: I have many quotes that I love, but here is one that has resonates well with my work … “Great leaders don't succeed because they are great. They succeed because they bring out the greatness in others.” – Jon Gordon. AND, I would be remiss to not share my favorite quote from the ever fabulous JLO, "You get what you give. What you put into things is what you get out of them." - Jennifer Lopez. |
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Ask me about: Strategy, Non-Profit Operations, Continuous Improvement, Fund Development, Marketing, PR, Communications, Event Planning, anything design related, about equity and social justice. |
Jody Nowicki
Senior Director of Stakeholder Impact
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Why I LOVE RMP: I love RMP because of the amazing team I get to work with every day and the inspiring Partners we support across the region. It is a privilege to support such a large and diverse Partnership committed to improving economic and social mobility in the region. Also, embracing the data-driven, outcomes-focused approach that the Rocky Mountain Partnership follows has transformed how I approach every aspect of my life, for better or worse! |
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What gets me out of bed in the morning: Usually it is one of my three pets walking across my face telling me they are dying from hunger, followed by lots of coffee, podcasts, and more coffee. |
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More about me: I’m an Arizona native, but living in Colorado has been a dream of mine since I was in grade school. I moved here in 2011 with my now husband and haven't looked back. I held direct service positions for nonprofits focused on mental health and domestic violence for 10 years, and graduated with my MPA from CU Denver with concentrations in Nonprofit Management and Gender Based Violence in 2017. I have one grumpy old dog, two ridiculous kitties, and the cutest baby niece in the whole world. |
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Favorite Quote: “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy." - Dale Carnegie |
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Ask me about: What podcast I am currently listening to, what recipes I am cooking this week, if it is too cold out for iced coffee (the answer is always no), and what recent adorable thing one of my pets did that I just happened to catch on camera. |
Kayah Swanson
Senior Director of Policy & Advocacy
KayahSwanson@RMPbackbone.org
Twitter: @kayahswanson
Linkedin: Kayah Swanson
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Why I LOVE RMP: Rocky Mountain Partnership's evidence-based approach and intentional leveraging of existing community resources is invigorating, intuitive, and essential to our community's success. Convening our community leaders to find common ground and work to improve systems just makes sense. |
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What gets me out of bed in the morning: A hot cup of coffee, conversation with my partner, the promise of scratching my dog Lola's extremely floppy ears, and my yoga mat. |
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More About Me: I spent my childhood moving around the midwest and earned my bachelor's degree in journalism at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. I started my career as a television reporter, then moved into communications and advocacy work first in Kansas City, then in Colorado Springs. I determined that I wanted to work in the field of public policy, so I completed my Masters of Public Administration in 2020 from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. |
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Favorite Quote: “You live on a tiny blue dot, lost in a sea of stars, and every speck of life around you is improbable and wondrous” – Unknown |
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Ask me about: What I'm reading, what I'm cooking, where I'm hiking, indoor and outdoor gardening, and the best plastic-free alternatives to the things you use every day (I'm always looking for new recommendations, too!) |
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Why I LOVE RMP: Because the work we do is meaningful and fulfilling. I get to work with people who inspire and motivate me as we work together towards a common goal; striving to make a difference one step at a time. |
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What gets me out of bed in the morning: The vision for a brighter future and the motivation to see and create new opportunities for the community. |
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More About Me: I was born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico. After completing my college degree in Ciudad Juarez, I moved to the state of Colorado to learn English and eventually fall in love with the state and making it my new home. In 2015, I started working as a Project Manager for the Colorado Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in Denver, Colorado. I enjoy every opportunity to serve the community by creating events and programs that benefit them. In 2017, I furthered my leadership abilities by joining the Aspiring Leaders Program, strengthening my leadership skills and giving me a new perspective on the importance of communication and education in order to ensure a better future for the community.Subsequently, I enrolled in Harvard Business School Online to take the course "Leadership Principals" earning a certificate at the end of 2020. At the beginning of 2020 I put my skills into action by creating a Spanish language podcast called "Sexto Sentido." I began this podcast based on my passion for creating strong relationships with members of my community. 'Sexto Sentido' is a platform I created to bring the stories of inspiring women entrepreneurs to inspire and empower the next generation of leaders. I also serve on the Board of Directors for Adelante Community Development.In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, dancing, and creating and attending events that support and motivate my community. |
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Favorite Quote: “My mission in life is not to merely survive, but to thrive; and to do so with passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." - Maya Angelou |
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Ask me about: The new books I'm reading, the things I'm learning, my podcast, and the new people I am meeting! |
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Why I LOVE RMP: I have found the organization with a vision that embodies many of my own core values and beliefs. I absolutely love the teamwork and the respect we all have for one another. |
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What gets me out of bed in the morning: A big cup of coffee, a bit of puppy love, and the knowledge that what I have done and what I will do is my best. |
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More About Me: I am native to Colorado and was raised and live in Adams County. Before joining RMP, I was a paralegal for nearly two decades. |
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Favorite Quote: “A house divided against itself cannot stand." - Abraham Lincoln |
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Ask me about: My two kids and how proud I am of who they are becoming and my four-legged children. I have 6 fur babies (4 dogs and 2 cats). |
Ashley Edinger
Senior Director of Strategic Supports
AshleyEdinger@RMPbackbone.org
Linkedin: Ashley Edinger
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Why I LOVE RMP: I love being part of a Partnership that wants to do better on behalf of youth and is working together to make that possible. Our teeny tiny team is the mitochondria of this work. |
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What gets me out of bed in the morning: The fight for social justice and systems change, people’s stories, a desire to be more and do more, the Hamilton cast album |
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More About Me: I graduated from the University of Denver in 2017 with my Bachelors of Arts in Socio-legal Studies and Political Science. My experience before landing at RMP initially as the Youth Engagement Intern includes coaching youth in community organizing, volunteer engagement and management, nonpartisan youth voter engagement, and higher education support for incoming first-year students and students engaging in undergraduate research. At RMP, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to support partners in working together and using an outcomes focused approach through our Collaborative Action Networks (CANs) and Institute, work towards authentic youth engagement, increase our following on social media, and support RMP communications. |
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Favorite Quote: “The things that make you strange are the things that make you powerful” – Ben Platt |
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Ask me about: What work our Partnership is doing, how you can get involved in the Partnership’s efforts, social justice and systems change, community organizing, cats, musical theatre (especially Hamilton), and being a millennial |
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Why I LOVE RMP: RMP isn't a non-profit with its own agenda. Everyone who works here is committed to empowering our partners in the community so that they can improve outcomes for young people. We also take the time to really listen to youth and learn what's going on in Adams County from them directly. |
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What gets me out of bed in the morning: Every day presents us with opportunities to improve ourselves and make someone else's life better. |
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More about me: Before RMP, I studied multimedia sports journalism at Mizzou and taught English in South Korea. In the fall, I coached a 9-10 year-old flag football team (Denver Parks and Rec Tier 1 Champions, no big deal). I'm very confident that I'm the biggest Chiefs fan to ever live in Denver. |
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Favorite Quote: "There is no way to happiness- happiness is the way" -Thich Nhat Hanh |
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Ask me about: My passion for music, both listening and playing. |
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Why I LOVE RMP: I get to engage with a team of positive change makers on a daily basis, knowing that the work we are doing with our partners will make a sustainable change at a systems level. Also, the team's mentality on using data as a tool, a language, and a way to tell a story. |
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What gets me out of bed in the morning: The knowledge that not getting out of bed invites likely attacks from the two- and four-legged animals that I share the house with. |
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More about me: I am a transplant from Ohio. I have a BA in International Studies from The Ohio State University and an MA in Political Science from Colorado State and have been fortunate enough to study abroad in Central Europe. I have also worked in non-profit areas of international education, animal welfare and homelessness. I love to travel (nationally and internationally), cook, be outdoors in pretty much any way, shape or form, and playing/listening to music. |
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Favorite Quote: “Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity." - Charles Mingus |
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Ask me about: My band, music, travel, food, geography, sports, and of course... Data! |
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What am I hoping to learn from my new position at RMP: I'm hoping to learn more about the process of engaging in advocacy and social justice work and how to bring people together to solve the big, hard, complex, problems we face as a society. |
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What gets me out of bed in the morning: Sunshine. |
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More about me: I'm a competitive athlete in trail running, nordic skiing and triathlon. I've traveled around a lot and have been fortunate to live in many beautiful places in the U.S and abroad. |
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Favorite Quote: “How wonderful it is that we need not wait a single moment before starting to change the world." - Anne Frank |
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Ask me about: My next big idea... the most beautiful places in Colorado... how the snow was last weekend...sustainability and conservation... health equity... education... and most importantly, how you can invest in the Rocky Mountain Partnership. |
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What am I hoping to learn from my new position at RMP: I'm hoping to learn how I can contribute to this amazing organization to fulfill our mission. I truly believe that this organization will pave the way for economic and social mobility and I am honored to be given the opportunity to embark on this journey with the Backbone Team. |
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What gets me out of bed in the morning: A fresh pot of coffee, a desire to improve daily, and the Rocky Mountains! I strive for a better tomorrow, not just for myself but for those that need a voice in a world that may not always listen. |
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More about me: Both my parents are from Zacatecas, Mexico and came to this country for a better life for their future children. I was the first in my family to receive my Bachelors of Arts in Sociology. I graduated from Fort Hayes State University (Go Tigers!). Prior to joining the Backbone Team, I worked for the Boys & Girls Club of Weld County as the Teen Director for seven years. |
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Favorite Quote: “Power comes in response to a need, not a desire." - Goku |
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Ask me about: Traveling, cooking, outdoors, my favorite tv shows, comic books. |
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Why I LOVE Being a Community Weaver: I love being a Community Weaver because it's such a unique job. Being a Community Weaver gives me the opportunity to give to my community and meet a lot of different people. Also, being able to interview different age groups especially the youth gives me a different insight of positivity for the future. |
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My Career Goals and Aspirations: My career goal is to be a concert photographer. Some of my aspirations are to add and spread a little more positivity, happiness, and love into the world. I also hope to see the world one day, or maybe a couple of years since the world is such a big place to explore and many different people to meet! |
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Favorite Wave of TEGA Research so Far: My favorite wave of research would have to be youth employment because I got to interview someone in the business industry and an educator. After both interviews, I was able to see both sides of why companies do and do not hire young adults. There are so many businesses looking for determined individuals for their companies, so hopefully, this study will help our community empower more young adults to be able to pursue better opportunities to be able to support themselves or help family members. After this round of research, it made me change my way of how much harder I have to work as an individual and hopefully help young adults who are struggling to find a good-paying job. |
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Ask me about: Anything! But if you want something to start off of asking me about the languages I am learning, my favorite hobbies, why I want to travel, where I want to travel, and how to get involved and/or help the network reach economic and social mobility for all community members! |
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What am I hoping to learn from my new position at RMP: I would like to garner a more robust understanding of the inner workings of the Backbone Team and how they support and synthesize the actions of the partnership as a whole. Having this team dedicated to collective impact is integral to the efficient use of the efforts of so many individuals dedicated to making a change. Most importantly though I want to learn how to make a change with an evidence based and action oriented approach. The world can get better and being able to dedicate time to that with others, simply put, is invigorating. |
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What gets me out of bed in the morning: Most days: Cold brew and breakfast, the unequivocal best meal of the day. Also a cat screaming at me. Some days: A good hike or skiing. |
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More about me: Originally from Pittsburgh, PA and moved to Boulder to attend CU as a major in physics. I love science for its implications in philosophy but realized pretty quickly that I liked learning it more than the painstaking process of discovering it which resulted in a number of different occupations after graduating. I tried everything from teaching skiing to owning a business but nothing has quite felt right until landing on the Backbone Team. I attempt to play music and read in my free time but occasionally end up engaging in less ambitious activities. I could try to walk through all the activities I like but at the end of the day it's easier to just say I'm a thinker. If it involves thinking I probably like it. |
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Favorite Quote: This is nearly impossible to answer. I have a large framed poster of Carl Sagan's pale blue dot on my wall that I custom made in high school. So I guess probably that. But there are so many. That quote is also probably too long to include here but stresses the importance of dealing "more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known." |
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Ask me about: Art: Music in general. Any genre and any subject from harmony to the psychology of music. I'm not an expert but certainly like to talk with other passionate people. Also movies. My favorite directors are Kubrick and Tarkovsky and I could talk about most of their movies for hours. These are just absolute favorites though.Philosophy: In college I was very into metaphysics and ethnics but recently have been almost solely focused on political philosophy which has even led to an infatuation with economics. I'm just getting started on learning about some of these things but I love them.Science: Space is cool. So is neuroscience although I know almost nothing about it. I just like to learn from people who do. Lastly, places to backpack and ski. National Parks. Anything outside. |
Elizabeth Martinez
Community Weaver Lead
Adams County Workforce & Business Center Work Experience Program
ElizabethMartinez@RMPbackbone.org
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Why I LOVE Being a Community Weaver: I love being a Community Weaver because I’m able to hear the authentic voice and perspective of youth in my community. I love the work we do and I love how much support we get while doing so. Not to mention, the amazing and indescribable opportunities that have crossed my path because of what I do are beyond me! I, one hundred and ten times, love being a Community Weaver and that is only the beginning of why so. |
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My Career Goals and Aspirations: I do too many things to share here at once. To make it simple, my heart is in clothing design so I make clothes from scratch. Aside from that, I operate a tow truck business and am looking to open another business in the near future. |
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Favorite Wave of TEGA Research so Far: My favorite wave of research has to be the Juvenile Justice wave of research. I feel like this has been a lot of people's favorite and it’s for a very obvious reason. It’s outstanding to hear the stories of people who have been in the juvenile justice system. Those stories and experiences are things you don’t hear every day. Those stories helped us become more neutral, understanding, and respectful of our respondents while also developing our professional skills. |
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Ask me about: My cats and the progress on my project car. |
Sarah Justice Hughes
Community Weaver Lead
Adams County Workforce & Business Center Work Experience Program
SarahJusticeHughes@RMPbackbone.org
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Why I LOVE Being a Community Weaver: I love being a Community Weaver because it allows me to engage with my passion of getting to know other people and the stories of their lives. There is nothing richer or greater than the story of a life that respondents give and I am proud to be involved in that process. |
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My Career Goals and Aspirations: I am currently attending Front Range Community College to do my prerequisites for a Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. I will be transferring there next year and I cannot wait. While at Mines, I am also going to go for my Master’s degree but I am unsure what I want it to be in. There are just so many interesting options that relate to my career field! When I graduate, I would like to be a computer programmer. |
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Favorite Wave of TEGA Research so Far: My favorite wave of research so far is the Middle Grade Math CAN because the respondents, who were primarily middle schoolers, gave such honest, deep, and clear answers. They know what they need from the education system to succeed; they just need someone to listen to what they want and to make it happen in the world. I’m glad that we are the ones to listen and help create a better world to live in. |
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Ask me about: Ask me about musical theater, opera, singing, or acting! |
Deysi Bueno De Luna
Community Weaver
Adams County Workforce & Business Center Work Experience Program
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Why I LOVE Being a Community Weaver: I love being a Community Weaver because I learn so many things from the community that helps me to grow each and every day with every wave of research we do. I also like being the person who is there to empower the voice of youth and being a part of the change to improve upon outcomes for them. In my time working as a Community Weaver, I have gained many skills that not only help me professionally but also help me to reach my college career goals. |
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My Career Goals and Aspirations: My career goals are to have a bachelor's degree in Social Work with a minor in Spanish and a Spanish Translation Certificate. When I finish this, I am considering to getting my master's in social work and maybe going to law school. I am still unsure of the population that I want to work with, but I am excited for where I am going. One of my aspirations has always been to travel around the world to get to see new places. There is always something new to learn about and a new adventure to stumble upon. |
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Favorite Wave of TEGA Research so Far: My favorite wave of research so far has been post-secondary research. Many students are not given the resources that are needed for them to be successful even when they decide not to go to college. I can put myself in their shoes because there were times when I didn't know what to do or who to get in touch with about helping me find something that I would really enjoy doing. After doing all these interviews, I feel very empowered and very empathetic to everyone's opinions. I know that, as TEGA’s, we are a part of changing the future of many students. |
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Ask me about: Mexican culture |
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Why I LOVE Being a Community Weaver: I love being a Community Weaver because it brings me so much joy to help give voice to the voiceless in order to create positive change. I feel honored to be a part of this organization and can't wait to see all the good it brings to our community! |
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My Career Goals and Aspirations: I have so many passions and aspirations. I want to A) write novels (YA romance/fantasy specifically), B) help others reach their publishing goals, C) run an animal sanctuary, D) teach English, E) conduct neuroscience research, F) study botany and environmental science, G) compose a musical (and write the lead for my amazingly talented sister), and H) increase awareness of and resources for mental health and environmental wellness. I clearly have a lot of passions and goals, but I have the heart, the support, the mettle, and the mind to accomplish it all. Above all else, I want to radiate positive energy to influence positive change wherever I go. |
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Favorite Wave of TEGA Research so Far: TBD! |
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Ask me about: Young Adult fiction, Broadway musicals, Wicca/Paganism (it's probably not what you think), ED recovery, neuroscience, botany, animals (I LOVE GOATS), Curly Girl hair routines, complicated family dynamics (I have 2 blood sisters, 2 step-sisters, 2 chosen sisters (one of which is a chosen half-sister), 2 chosen brothers, and 1 non-binary chosen sibling. Altogether I have 7 parents and 9 siblings. I'd say I know a fair amount about complicated family dynamics.) I'm very friendly and would love to answer any questions one may fancy asking! |
Karen Delgado
Community Weaver
Adams County Workforce & Business Center Work Experience Program
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Why I LOVE Being a Community Weaver: I love being a Community Weaver because I get the opportunity to interact and improve my very own community as well as make new connections. |
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My Career Goals and Aspirations: I hope to find a path serving the people as a social worker, mentoring & encouraging the youth especially. I also hope to publish a book one day. |
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Favorite Wave of TEGA Research so Far: My favorite wave of TEGA research would have to be the Middle Grade Math wave because the participants were so eager and overflowing with opinions, it was just as much fun as it was productive. |
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Ask me about: Shows to binge-watch on Netflix, music and cute poetry books, my family and culture, and love and why it’s so important to everything we do. |
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