The Colorado Trust Hires New Community Partners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:  Julian Kesner, Director of Communications
303-539-3147; [email protected]

DENVER, COLO.—The Colorado Trust, a foundation dedicated to creating fair and equal opportunities for Coloradans to lead healthy lives, announced the hiring of five new Community Partners. In this role, the Community Partners will work in regions across the state and be responsible for partnering with resident-led groups to develop and implement strategies to advance health equity, ultimately leading to place-based initiatives and grantmaking.

“The Trust is committed to advancing health equity by authentically partnering with the residents at the community level,” said Gwyn Barley, PhD, Director of Community Partnerships and Grants. “We will work with our neighbors to understand the assets, challenges and priorities of unique places, as every community in Colorado has different health disparities and opportunities to address them. I am excited about the experience and expertise each new Community Partner brings to The Trust.”

The five new Community Partners are:

• Krista Martinez, who lives in Fort Collins, has a background in equity work, including community organizing, nonprofit management and leadership development. She was previously Director of Programs for The Family Center/La Familia in Fort Collins. Martinez looks forward to partnering with residents and communities in Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld and Yuma counties.
• Heather O’Malley, who lives in Eagle, has a background in immigrant and refugee integration, education and intercultural leadership development. She was previously the Student Support Services Coordinator at the Colorado Mountain College Edwards Campus. O’Malley looks forward to partnering with residents and communities in Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Mesa, Moffat, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Routt and Summit counties.
• Arden Trewartha just completed two years as a Community Health Coordinator in Peru in the Peace Corps. She previously worked in a variety of positions in central Colorado, ranging from spearheading a prevention organization in Chaffee County to managing mentoring programs in Lake County. Trewartha looks forward to partnering with residents and communities in Chaffee, Clear Creek, Custer, Gilpin, Lake, Park and Teller counties.
• Theresa Trujillo lives in Pueblo and has a background in community organizing. She was previously the Southern Colorado Director for the Colorado Progressive Coalition. Trujillo looks forward to partnering with residents and communities in Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Crowley, Elbert, Huerfano, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Las Animas, Lincoln, Otero, Prowers and Pueblo counties.
• Tera Wick, who lives in Montrose, has a background in community-driven program development. She was previously Coordinator of LiveWell Montrose Olathe with Valley Food Partnership, and founding Program Director of Village Gardens in Portland, Ore. Wick looks forward to partnering with residents and communities in Alamosa, Archuleta, Conejos, Costilla, Delta, Dolores, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Rio Grande, Saguache, San Juan and San Miguel counties.

For additional information about the Community Partners or The Trust’s Community Partnership work, contact Gwyn Barley.

About The Colorado Trust
The Colorado Trust is a health foundation dedicated to achieving health equity. The Trust believes all Coloradans should have fair and equal opportunities to lead healthy, productive lives regardless of race, ethnicity, income or where we live. The Trust focuses on policies and information related to advancing health equity, as well as projects that address health equity in partnership with communities throughout Colorado. For more information, visit www.coloradotrust.org.

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