ABOUT
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
Executive Director
“Nothing endures but change” – Heraclitus
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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
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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HANNAH SROOR
Confidential Advocate
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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