Council membership is outlined in statute (C.R.S. § 18-3-505(b)). According to statute, some members are appointed by the Governor while other members are appointed by Executive Directors of state agencies. There are up to 35 total seats on the Council.
What is the Colorado Human Trafficking Council?
The Council is composed of up to 35 appointed members who represent a wide range of agencies including state agencies, law enforcement, prosecutors, NGOs, lived experience experts/survivor leaders, regional coalitions and task forces, legal services, victim service providers, academia, faith-based organizations, etc.
Council members play an important role in addressing human trafficking in the state of Colorado by focusing on central matters that ultimately affect all survivors in the state. Members of the Council, help inform the general public about the work of the Council, how the State of Colorado responds to the crime and provides input regarding statewide legislation.
Responsibilities of Council Members
- Attend the all-day annual retreat of the Council (in-person only) on the 4th Friday of January.
- Attend monthly meetings of the Council either in-person or virtually.
- Council meetings take place on the 4th Friday of each month from February – November from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Mountain Time.
- If attending meetings virtually, a computer, stable internet connection and ability to engage in virtual conferencing (webcam & microphone) are required.
- Participate in a minimum of one advisory committee of the Council. The advisory committees focus on a variety of subjects such as training and education, data collection, prevention and more. Advisory committees generally meet once a month following the Council meeting from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and may meet more often, or on a different day if determined necessary by committee members.
- Willingness to commit to a four-year term on the Council.
Benefits of Council Membership
- Opportunity to inform state-wide policy to best address human trafficking in Colorado.
- Opportunity to co-create recommendations for the Council’s Annual Report that often helps the legislature improve policy in the State of Colorado.
- Opportunity to deepen your knowledge of the anti-human trafficking field by learning from fellow Council members as well as guest speakers.
- Expand your network of professionals who are equally passionate and motivated to have an impact on how Colorado can best address human trafficking in the state and nationally.
- Receive a one-hour Board Orientation prior to starting on the Council.
- Option to participate in our Council Buddy program where you will be paired with a seasoned Council member to provide support during your first year serving on the Council with the option to continue after year one.
- Reimbursement for travel expenses incurred for attending meetings (e.g. mileage reimbursement, lodging, airfare, car rental, etc.) if traveling from outside the Denver metro area.
How to Apply for an Appointment of the Council?
To apply for a seat on the Council, submit an application to the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions:
English Version
Spanish Version
For additional language versions, please complete this short form.
Individuals from historically excluded communities are encouraged to apply. Imposter syndrome can sometimes keep people from applying for such a position and we believe there is no such thing as a “perfect” candidate.
For questions about the application process or serving on the Council, email our maria.trujillo@state.co.us
Council Members
Current as of September 2024
Chief James Baird | Breckenridge Police Department| Rep. of a statewide association of chiefs of police | Council Chair
Evanne Caviness |National Young Farmer's Coalition | Rep. of the Department of Agriculture
Janet Drake | Colorado Attorney General's Office | Rep. of Colorado Department of Law
Amanda Finger | Colorado Network to End Human Trafficking | Rep. of a regional/city-wide human trafficking task force or coalition
Christian Gardner-Wood | Colorado District Attorney's Council | Rep. of a statewide organization of district attorneys
Diana Goldberg | SungateKids | Rep. of a child advocacy center
Jenelle Goodrich| From Silenced to Saved | Rep. of a faith-based organization that assists victims of human trafficking
Chris Henderson | Office of the Child's Representative | Rep. of a statewide organization that provides legal advocacy to abused, neglected, and at-risk children
Irma Jaimes-Alonso | Community Partnerships, EDI Unit | Rep. of the State Department of Labor and Employment
Mona Petrocco Klein | Alliance to Combat Human Trafficking - Pueblo | Rep. of a regional/city-wide human trafficking task force or coalition
Meghan LaPorte Trujillo | Urban Peak | Rep. of an organization that provides direct services to victims of human trafficking
Josh Landy | Colorado Criminal Defense Bar | Rep. of a statewide organization of criminal defense attorneys
Rebekah Layton | Community Member
Gina Lopez | Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault | Rep. of a statewide coalition for victims of sexual assault
Andrew Lorensen| Lincoln County Department of Social Services | Rep. of a rural county department of social services
Major Mark Mason| Colorado State Patrol | Rep. of Colorado State Patrol
Patricia Medige | Colorado Legal Services | Rep. of a statewide immigration rights organization
Jo-Ann O'Neil | Human Trafficking Task Force of Southern Colorado | Rep. of a regional/city-wide human trafficking task force or coalition
Steven Ramirez | Shiloh House | Rep. of a nonprofit organization that facilitates the treatment or housing of human trafficking victims
Tammy Schneiderman | Division of Youth Services, CDHS | Rep. from Department of Human Services
Hava Simmons | Larimer County Department of Human Services | Rep. of child welfare services for a county department of social services
Molly Stevens| Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance | Statewide organization that provides services to crime victims
Caleb Stewart | Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network | Rep. with extensive experience with labor trafficking
Dr. Meghan Stidd | Office of Children, Youth, and Families | Rep. from the Colorado Department of Human Services
Dr. Michelle Sunkel | Colorado Mesa University, Social and Behavioral Science | Rep. from a college or university department that conducts research on human trafficking
Bailey Thiry | El Paso County Human Trafficking Coalition | Rep. of a regional or city-wide human trafficking task force or coalition
ReJeania Tolliver | Violence Free Colorado | Rep. of a statewide coalition for victims of domestic violence
Sheriff Darren Weekly | Douglas County Sheriff's Office | Rep. from statewide association of county sheriffs