About Us

MENTOR Colorado is the unifying champion for expanding quality youth mentoring relationships in Colorado.  Founded in 2014 by the passion and vision of a number of grassroots mentoring organizations in Colorado, MENTOR Colorado leads initiatives that will strengthen communities through mentoring.  MENTOR Colorado provides a public voice, develops and delivers resources, and promotes quality for mentoring through evidence-based standards, innovative research and essential tools.  Together with mentoring programs across the state, we strive to ensure that all youth have the support they need through mentoring relationships.

Meet The Team

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Lindsey Cali

Executive Director

Lindsey Cali serves as the Executive Director of MENTOR Colorado where she leads a team dedicated to ensuring that every young person in Colorado will have the supportive relationships they need to grow, connect, and thrive.

Lindsey was previously the Associate Director at MENTOR Colorado, where she led the expansion of our TA program and partnerships with government entities.

A former teacher, she has spent her entire career dedicated to youth and ensuring they have access to the support and resources necessary to succeed. Working with young people, specifically in communities that have been traditionally marginalized, has always been her passion. Lindsey is enthusiastically committed to the mission of MENTOR Colorado and dedicated to impacting young people on a large scale by working alongside mentoring programs to increase their capacity and quality.

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Sarah Provino

NQMS Manager

Sarah Provino, based in Breckenridge, joined MENTOR Colorado in July of 2021 but has been a part of the organization since its inception, serving on the initial task force, Advisory Council, as a TA provider and NQMS reviewer. Sarah is a strong advocate of the mentoring movement and is passionate about working alongside mentoring agencies to build capacity and expand the quality of mentoring across Colorado. In her role, Sarah works alongside mentoring organizations, providing support, as they engage in the National Quality Mentoring System.

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Tanya Simental

Program Outreach and Support Specialist

Tanya Simental’s passion for helping others is fueled by opportunities to amplify the mentoring movement—both locally where she resides in Pueblo, Colorado, and statewide. She spent the last several years in the nonprofit sector managing United Way of Pueblo County’s multi-school based mentoring program and participating in several MENTOR Colorado technical assistance projects and the National Quality Mentoring System (NQMS). Tanya also served as the Pueblo Mentoring Collaborative chair where she led efforts to help individuals become or find mentors and facilitated resource networking. She enjoys working on projects that expand her creativity and experience in communications, social media management, and program development. Tanya is actively involved in several campaigns that promote positive youth outcomes, including Communities That Care-Pueblo, Southern Colorado Youth Go, and Pueblo Everyday Heroes. She loves spending time with her husband, David, and three grown children any chance she gets.

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Jessie Nance

Special Projects Consultant

Jessie Nance is a nonprofit consultant whose work is focused at the intersection of sports-based youth development, equity, and community building. She began her career in Denver Public Schools, as a TNLI (transitional native language instruction) educator. Writing curriculum and training educators in new educational resources heightened her passion for curriculum and training. She transitioned her role from the classroom to the soccer field - where she worked as the Community Partnerships Manager at the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club. In 2017, she joined the US Soccer Foundation as the Programs Manager in Washington, D.C. Her current work in the consulting space weaves her past ten years of experience into a pillar of support for nonprofit organizations. Jessie works with several clients on maximizing their impact through events, including strategic fundraising endeavors - while continuing her passion for developing coaching and training resources that foster more equitable outcomes for teachers, coaches, and young people. She was born and raised in Denver, doesn’t ski, and loves to fish with her family!

Board of Directors

Vernon Jones Jr.

Board Chair
FaithBridge

Lesley Martin

Vice Chair
School Principal and Youth Mental Health Director

Bill Peffer

Secretary
Sherman & Howard

Paul Nocco

Treasurer
KMPG

Bill Allshouse

Core-Mark
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Brian Breitenwischer

Jacoway Financial Corp.

Lindsay Fisher

Print Pionte

Stuart Harrison

Ernst & Young LLP

Vince Luparell

Sherman & Howard

Sandy Mathias

Skratch Labs

Wayne McDonald

Denver South High School

Chad Olivier

LOM Consulting Services
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Kevin Smith

Al Troppman

Kris Webster

DAT

David Anderson

CSU Pueblo Campus Connections

Maria Borrego

Save Our Youth

Letia Frandina

Adams County Education Consortium

Carlo Kriekels

YESS Institute

Elisa Lemack

A Precious Child

Alyssa Lenhart

La Plata Youth Services

Lindsay Lofaro

Buddy Program

Vizier LuQman

Sims-Fayola Foundation

Jorie McCann

Montezuma Youth Alliance

Tina McGuinness

Gunnison Valley Mentors

Erin Miller

Partners for Youth

Shalonda Palmer

STAR Girlz Empowerment, Inc

Melody Parker

Summit County Mountain Mentors

Dr. Rhonda Richmond

Elevate USA

Elizabeth Williams

SOS Outreach

Chad Olivier

Board Liaison

NEW Colorado Youth Action Board

We are thrilled to announce the launching of our inaugural MENTOR Colorado Youth Action Board! We are looking for leaders from our Partner organizations who want to be co-creators of our Youth Action Board. This community will elevate youth voice and leadership, integrate the expertise of young people into our work, and ensure all we do is rooted in the voice of young people in our state.

Youth Co-Creation Circles: Register Today!

Our Co-Creation Circles are virtual forums where youth participate in 90-minute discussions where they share their lived experience and wisdom, and help build the foundation of the Youth Action Board. We've already met and learned from youth across the state during our recent sessions, and based on popular demand, we've added another session.

Registration Details

Youth leaders from our Partner organizations must register using this link for the upcoming Co-Creation Circle session:

  • Sunday, September 17 | 6:00-7:30pm

After registering, attendees receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

For more information, check out the flyers below:

Youth Action Board To Youth

Spanish Youth Action Board To Youth