The Council hosted our annual meeting this week and we are pleased to share some announcements for our upcoming year.
Council Leadership Elections
Per our bylaws, Council Chair and Vice Chair positions must be filled with an individual with IDD or a family member of a person with IDD. Our various agency representatives are not eligible for these roles.
Congratulations to Sara Lovato, who was elected as Council Chair. Sara has been on the council for 2 years in November, serving as the Vice Chair for the past year. As Chair, Sara’s goals are to:
- Lead decisive, interactive, and efficient meetings.
- Continue to build a council that has positive, effective relationships and impact on our communities.
Sara says “By doing these two things, I think we can build a council that is a powerful force to help our Special Needs communities.” You can read more about Sara and her journey in her upcoming blog for the Council next month!
Joining Sara is Briana Anthony, who was elected as Vice Chair. Briana is a new Council member but has already jumped in to make an impact. She says “I believe I am well-suited for the role of Council Vice Chair due to my lived experience as a parent of two daughters with autism and my deep commitment to advocating for individuals with disabilities and all abilities. While I may not have formal experience as a chair, my advocacy work has honed my ability to collaborate effectively, ensure accountability, and uphold the principles and responsibilities of the Council. My passion for inclusive governance and my dedication to representing diverse voices make me an ideal partner to the Chair and a reliable leader in their absence.” Congratulations Briana!
Angie Moss was reelected as an at-large member of the executive committee as a family member of a person with IDD. Hanni Raley was reelected as an at-large member of the executive committee as a representative of an agency serving people with IDD (Arc of Aurora).
Committee Chairs
The Council ratified Committee Chair elections and is pleased to announce the following Committee Chairs. Committee Chairs also serve on the executive committee, per Council bylaws (one vote per committee):
- Planning and Grants Committee – Dina Johnson and Marcella Schieffelin
- Legislative and Public Policy Committee – Jenny and Lauren Thamer and Lacey Zembles
- Membership Committee – Amy Harris and Robin Ennis
Work Plans
At the annual meeting, each committee presented their annual priorities and work plans to achieve the state plan goals and objectives for Year 4 of the State Plan. If you’d like a deeper dive into what each of our committees will be working on this year, we invite you to check out their plans below.
Budget – Federal Fiscal Year 2025 (FFY25), October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025
The Council’s anticipated budget for FFY25 is $1,178,610. In the FFY25 budget passed by the Council, members budgeted $460,000 of project specific funding to be awarded through grants and contracts to help accomplish our state plan goals and objectives. Community agencies can watch the Council website and social media for grant announcements. The Council does not take unsolicited requests but we do accept meetings to discuss ideas related to systems change, advocacy and capacity building efforts of our community.
In addition, we are thrilled that our FFY25 budget passed by the Council includes compensation for full Council meeting attendance for community representatives with lived experience who serve on the Council. We believe that lived experience is crucial to our success and this investment helps ensure that people with disabilities and their families are financially compensated for the time they give to full Council meetings. People who participate in the Council as part of a paid position are not eligible for community compensation as they are already being compensated by their job to attend.
Community
Lastly, the Council set aside some time for connection and conversation. Members represent a variety of personal and professional perspectives from across the state, yet come together with 24 different voices to act as one. Making space for our member stories and experiences helps us grow and brings vitality to our work.
A heartfelt thank you to our Council members for their thoughtful contributions and meaningful leadership. We look forward to the coming year!
2024-25 Council Members
Our 2024-2025 Council membership is listed in full below, alphabetically by first name.
Amanda Lofgren
P&G Committee
Professional Representative
CO Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
Littleton, CO
Amy Harris
Membership Committee Co-Chair
Professional Representative
CO Department of Human Services
Denver, CO
Andrew Erhart
Professional Representative
CO Department of Public Health and Environment
Denver, CO
Angela (Angie) Moss
Executive Committee
Community Representative – Family Member
Fort Collins, CO
Anne Patton
P&G Committee
Community Representative – Family Member
Denver, CO
Bobbi Christensen
Community Representative – Person with IDD
Lafayette, CO
Briana Anthony – Council Vice Chair
Executive Committee
Community Representative – Family Member
Colorado Springs, CO
Darby Remley
LPP Committee
Professional Representative
CO Department of Labor and Employment
Fort Collins, CO
Dina Johnson
P&G Committee Co-Chair
Professional Representative
JFK Partners (University Center on Excellence for Developmental Disabilities)
Broomfield, CO
Dr. Gail Lott
P&G Committee
Professional Representative
CO Department of Education
Colorado Springs, CO
Hanni Raley
Executive Committee
Professional Representative
Arc of Aurora
Westminster, CO
Jennifer Penhale
LPP Committee
Community Representative – Family Member
Colorado Springs, CO
Jenny and Lauren Thamer
LPP Co-Chair
Community Representative – Family Member
Erie, CO
José Torres-Vega
LPP Committee
Community Representative – Person with IDD
Denver, CO
Lacey Zembles
LPP Committee Co-Chair
Community Representative – Family Member
Fountain, CO
Lillian Chazin
Membership Committee
Community Representative – Person with IDD
Denver, CO
Marcella Schieffelin
P&G Committee Co-Chair
Community Representative – Family Member
Grand Junction, CO
Megan Bowser
LPP Committee
Professional Representative
Family Voices Colorado
Littleton, CO
Moriah Rodriguez
P&G Committee
Community Representative – Family Member
Denver, CO
Nicholas Gagner
LPP Committee
Community Representative – Family Member
Denver, CO
Renee Payne
P&G Committee
Professional Representative
Disability Law Colorado (State Protection & Advocacy Agency)
Lafayette, CO
Robin Ennis
Membership Committee Co-Chair
Community Representative – Person with IDD
Denver, CO
Sara Lovato- Council Chair
Executive Committee, Membership Committee
Community Representative – Family Member
Grand Junction, CO
Timothy DaGiau
P&G Committee
Community Representative – Person with IDD
Durango, CO