About

Naomi (she/her) grew up in upstate New York where she received her BA in Psychology from The College of Saint Rose. She moved to Colorado in 2006 and received her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree at the University of Denver. Naomi has worked as a social worker in various capacities for nearly 20 years. She brings a holistic perspective to the work and hopes to create positive change in the community. In her free time, Naomi can be found spending time with her two daughters, hiking Colorado’s beautiful mountains with her rescue dog Bodhi, snowboarding, and practicing yoga.

My name is Jorge Gonzalez-Soria, my pronouns are he/him/el and I proudly identify as a Chicano. I was born and raised in the mountains of Eagle, Colorado to multi-generational Mexican household, where familia, cultura, and comunidad were core, celebrated values that continue sustaining and guiding my life and work to this day. My background is in housing, community resourcing, and supporting survivors of Domestic Violence through a client-centered and trauma-informed approach. I’ve worked as a youth specialist, served as an AmeriCorps with an education non-profit supporting students and families navigating the education system and other community resources, and most recently I was the Spanish-Bilingual Housing Stability Coordinator at Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN) for three years. I’m passionate about working alongside my community, building trust, and ensuring everyone is treated with the dignity and respect we all deserve.

Hi, I’m Alex! I grew up in Connecticut before moving to Colorado in 2017. After working in town for a year, I went to CU Boulder to study sociology. During my time at CU, I worked as a Student Peer Educator in the Health Promotion program, where I worked with fellow students to help them stay safe and healthy through college. After I graduated, I worked at the Wardenburg Medical Center on campus, helping students get the medical care they needed. In 2022, I worked with a healthcare company in Denver. I led mobile vaccination clinics for Covid-19 and Mpox.

I love being a resource navigator because Boulder County has become my home, and I know the county has a lot of resources to help. However, there hasn’t been a clear way for residents to access these resources. I want to make it easier for people in Boulder County to get the care and help they need in an inclusive, effective, and predictable way.

Mar was born in Puebla, Mexico. She attended the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla where she earned her degree in Modern Languages with a minor in Translation. During her studies, she also worked as a journalist for “La Región de Puebla” and other publications. Mar has over a decade of international experience as an artist, community advocate, and educator. Throughout her life, she has collaborated with various non-governmental organizations in Europe, Africa, and Central and Latin American countries. Her areas of expertise include non-profit management, program development, and community outreach. As an immigrant in the United States, Mar celebrates cultural roots and identity. As a cultural broker, she is passionate about creating connections and building united, resilient, and creative communities. In her free time, you can find her painting, trail running, backpacking in the mountains, and enjoying sunsets with her daughter, husband, and dogs.

My name is Maria Belen Zea, and I was born in Manta, Ecuador. I moved to Colorado in 2010. I have a bachelor’s degree in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado Boulder. My background of experience is in the health field, having served as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), assisting the senior community. I have worked for the University of Colorado Boulder in various capacities over the years, including as a student coordinator, research intern, resident manager, and member of the resident council. Additionally, I have experience in mental health, having worked as an emotional companion and case manager for El Centro AMISTAD. This has provided me with the opportunity to assist the Latino community within Boulder County for the last two years, and I’m looking forward to providing support to the Boulder community in both Spanish and English. In my free time, I love spending time with my family and friends in the beautiful Colorado weather.

Jessica Jaramillo (She/Her) is a Licensed Professional Counselor, licensed in both Colorado and Florida. She graduated with a M.S. in Professional Counseling Psychology from Florida International University in Miami, FL. Jessica started her career in the mental health field over fifteen years ago in Mexico City, where she grew up, and has since been part of a wide variety of work settings that range from residential treatment centers, university counseling departments, and research programs that focus on the development and implementation of new culturally informed treatments. Jessica specializes in crisis intervention, emotional dysregulation, and suicidal ideation; she has also worked extensively with LGTBQ teens and Latinx communities. Her theoretical foundation is rooted in evidence-based practices and third wave approaches such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Motivational Interviewing (MI). In her practice, she seeks to deliver culturally sensitive interventions, in which the person’s cultural background is acknowledged, respected, and incorporated into treatment. Jessica provides services in both English and her native language, Spanish, depending on individual preference.

Zachary Brown (he/him) has a diverse academic and professional background. He studied at the University of Colorado Boulder and graduated with bachelor’s in psychology and strategic communications. After some tine working in the inpatient unit at Boulder Community Health, Zachary pursued work in community mental health. He began his role as a Clinical Case Manager on an assertive community treatment team. He worked closely helping guide individuals from underserved communities in their recoveries from mental illness, homelessness, substance use, and much more. Zachary has a strong foundation of evidenced based practices such as Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Nonviolent Crisis Intervention. He seeks to continue taking an empathetic and strengths-based approach to helping embrace all members of the community in their journey of recovery.

Hey there! My name is Jesus, but I go by Chuy. I am Salvadorian and a proud graduate of The University of Colorado Boulder. I earned a Bachelors degree in Integrative Physiology and a minor in Ethnic Studies. In addition, I have a blue nose pitbull named Ivy, inspired by the Frank Ocean song “Ivy.” As a huge fan of the Nuggets and Broncos, you can often find me cheering on my favorite teams/ being depressed because of them. Fun fact: I’ve had the incredible opportunity to meet Lebron James and Michelle Obama. In my free time, I love hanging out with my dogs, listening to music (mainly Hip Hop and Rap) and being outdoors with friends. I am excited t to make a difference in the boulder community and making a positive impact on mental health. 

Melissa Valkyria Rivas (she/her/ella) is a Bilingual Crisis Interventionist with Boulder County Community Services, dedicated to supporting the Boulder area community. Born amid the Salvadoran civil war, her early experiences shaped her lifelong commitment to advocacy. Melissa holds a B.A. in Psychology from St. Edward’s University and has significant experience in crisis intervention, including roles as a crime scene counselor for the police department and a military domestic abuse advocate. She uses attachment theory and nonviolent communication in her work and is certified in Comprehensive Victim Intervention, CO TiPS, and CPR. Inspired by her Guxgatanćanej heritage, Melissa is a strong advocate for equity and radical inclusion, addressing colorism and promoting the inclusion of all Black people. In her off time, she is a local athlete and known as CYBIL WAR in the roller derby community, she blends professional expertise with personal passion.