What is your 'day job' when you aren't supporting CSPI ? I’m the COO of the Barton Institute for Community Action.

How do you connect personally with CSPI mission? Over the course of my life, starting in childhood, I’ve known and cared for people who have experienced homelessness. I’m so grateful to help this organization as it creates the infrastructure for people who are sheltering in vehicles to meet the many challenges they face.

What other volunteer work do you enjoy? I’m on the board of Lighthouse Writers Workshop – and love that one of their programs is Hard Times, in partnership with the Denver Public Library. Many people experiencing homelessness make use of that program as a way to express their creativity through writing.

What is your hometown? Hard to answer because we moved around a lot – but went to high school in Carbondale, Illinois

Things you enjoy doing outside of volunteer/professional work: I write poetry, essays, and fiction; I love to hike, bike, and spend time outdoors.

Do you have a chosen or pet you'd like to brag about? I have a wonderful husband, Rick, who works in the substance abuse field, and a son, Nick, who’s 26 and just got his degree in film from CU Denver. Another cherished family member lives with us – my 92-year-old mother-in-law, Phyllis.