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ABOUT

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Advocates’ Values:

Compassion – Empowerment – Collaboration – Boldness – Equity

Founded in 1983, Advocates began providing services for victims of domestic violence. Since then, Advocates launched a 24/7 crisis hotline, established a confidential safehouse for victims fleeing abusive situations, expanded services to victims of sexual assault, and developed a robust social change program to prevent violence before they happen.

The devastating impacts of violence on individuals and the community cannot be overstated. Beyond providing support for victims and survivors as they navigate healing, medical, and legal processes, Advocates also collaborates with schools, businesses, and organizations throughout the community. With greater awareness and developing necessary skills together, we can improve equity and make everyone safer.

Meet Our Team

Advocates of Routt County has assembled an extraordinary team of professionals with a dynamic range of experience. Beyond the immense compassion they bring to this work, their efforts also draw upon their time in government, legal, business, technology, education, juvenile justice, media, service, creative, and other sectors as well.

MARK FITZGERALD

MARK FITZGERALD

Executive Director

“Nothing endures but change” – Heraclitus

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Mark’s varied experience as a business owner, nonprofit board member, analyst, and software developer — across trades ranging from banking, healthcare, craft brewing, and the resort industry – has provided him a diversity of experience instrumental in helping Advocates improve processes, formalize procedures, and assist with a wide assortment of tasks. Approaching problems with creativity and a business perspective while guided by our mission is helping build a foundation for a stronger, more efficient organization that will endure for years to come.
PAMELA SERNA

PAMELA SERNA

Confidential Youth Advocate

“I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.” – Lily Tomlin

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Pamela is from Medellin Colombia, with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work, fluent in English and Spanish. Her friendly and outgoing nature means she have a knack for connecting with children and adults from diverse backgrounds and social situations. Pamela has knowledge of healthy relationships, consent, teen dating violence, children’s that witness domestic violence and consequences, etc.

Pamela has passion working with the Latinx community, she understands the culture and the many challenges that immigrants faced here in Routt County. She is also working with immigrants’ victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault.

 

CHELSIE HOLMES

CHELSIE HOLMES

Confidential Services Program Manager

“Leave your pain here and go out and do your magnificent things.” – Judge Rosemarie Aquilina (Larry Nassar case)

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Chelsie has years of experience working with survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault. She became passionate about this work as a volunteer first responder in college. Later, she supported survivors with finding safe housing and accomplishing other goals as a case manager in a domestic violence shelter in metro Detroit. After a couple of years, she transitioned into court advocacy, supporting survivors through every stage of the legal process. Chelsie also has experience educating teen girls on the topics of healthy relationships and consent. She has traveled extensively among several Latin American countries and speaks Spanish fluently. Chelsie recently moved to Steamboat Springs, and is now a Victim Advocate with Advocates of Routt County.
HANNAH SROOR

HANNAH SROOR

Confidential Advocate

“We will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one. There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it… if only we’re brave enough to be it.” 
– Amanda Gorman, The Hill We Climb
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Hannah is dedicated to helping survivors navigate the many challenges and feelings that arise after a violence experience. She is also passionate about collaborating with staff and the community to find innovative ways to reach the most underserved populations within Routt County.
Hannah‘s previous experience as an advocate includes her time as a Shelter Advocate and Art Program Coordinator at The Willow Domestic Violence Center in Lawrence, Kansas. While at The Willow, she also served as the Rural Outreach Coordinator where she worked to provide awareness about domestic violence and human trafficking to rural communities.This included providing healthy relationship support groups both in the community and the jails, facilitating trainings about trauma informed practices for community agencies working with survivors, and one-on-one support to folks who had experienced domestic violence or human trafficking. She also served as a member of The Willow’s Policy and Procedure Team where she collaborated with staff advocates to reimagine policies and procedures that were trauma-informed and survivor-centered. She is certified in Mental Health First Aid, trained in Applied Suicide Intervention, and has been a certified trainer through the Traumatic Stress Institute for their Risking Connection Curriculum.
She loves the outdoors no matter the season, and some of her favorite activities include biking, hiking and kayaking! She is very passionate about social justice, and believes Black Lives Matter.
GRAHAM HACKETT

GRAHAM HACKETT

Social Change Program Manager

“The world owes us nothing. We owe each other the world.” – Ani DiFranco

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A lifelong educator and justice advocate, Graham spent years working with “high-risk” youth and juvenile inmates as part of a regional gang violence initiative in North Carolina, which instilled a deep understanding of social conditions, impacts of trauma, and the roots of toxic behavior. In 2014, he designed and led a touring program Culture of Consent serving colleges across the United States, before becoming Director of Prevention Programs for the rape crisis center for Buncombe County, NC. In his current position with Advocates Graham designs and leads original workshop programs and events for schools, businesses, and the community.

Board of Directors

BETTER TOMORROW BOARD

Alyssa “La La” Cartmill

Board President

Brie Neppl

Board Vice President

Justin Keys

Board Treasurer 

Jordan Beall

 

Cecilia Escobar-Ceballos

 

Jennifer Przymus

ADVOCATES STEERING COMMITTEE

Carla Portigal

Macy Reisman

Kate Furnival

April Gilliland

Manuel Fajardo

Jeanne Mackowski

Chelsie Holmes

Graham Hackett 

Interested in joining our Board or Steering Committee?

Contact mark@advocatesrc.org

Confidentiality
Racial Justice Commitment
Employment
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