Michael Sawaya

President

Attorney Michael Sawaya is the principal share holder in The Sawaya Law Firm. A Colorado native and long time Denver resident, Michael is a renaissance man who is an accomplished musician and a published author.  He sits on the Board for the Colorado Conservatory Jazz Arts and was a former advisor and counsel for the NAACP.  Michael possesses a deep and abiding interest in civil rights and the improvement of others.

Stephanie Syner

Vice President

Ms. Stephanie Syner, MSW is a Congressional Aide for Representative Diana DeGette, 1st District, Colorado.  Stephanie also has extensive experience in working with youth in Treatment Residential Child Care Facilities (TRCCFs).  As a Congressional Aide, Stephanie focuses her efforts on low income neighborhoods and organizing the community to voice their concerns around areas of change.  She is also a strong advocate of community policing and increasing respectful communication between law enforcement and communities of color.

Thiensa Nguyen

Board Treasurer

Thiensa is an Investment Advisor Representative & Branch Office Supervisor at Transamerica Financial Advisors, Transamerica Financial Group Division.  She has extensive experience in finance and has previously worked as an auditor, fraud investigator and loss analyst for a major government entity.  She also sits on the Asian Pacific Development Center Board of Directors.

Chy Montoya

Board Secretary

Ms. Chy Montoya presently serves as Denver City Council Aide to District 8 Councilman Albus Brooks.  Previous to her current position, she served as Denver City Council Aide to former Denver City Councilman At-large Doug Linkhart.  Chy also worked for 10 years at LARASA administrating programs, services and serving as the Board of Directors/Staff Liaison.  Chy has been involved with her community most of her adult life and believes that “giving back” is one of the most important facets of her life.

Board Member 

Jim is a retired tax attorney for Holme, Roberts & Owens, LLP.  He served six years on the board for Mile High United Way including a portion of this time as Board President. He has also served as President of the Board for Swallow Hill Music.  He is widely recognized for his expertise on board governance and philanthropy.

 Board Member

Comilla Sasson, MD, MS is an Attending Physician at the University of Colorado Hospital (Anschutz Campus) and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.  Dr. Sasson is also a Ph.D. candidate in Health Services Research at the Colorado School of Public Health.  She has worked on numerous health research projects relevant to Latino cardiovascular health.  She is deeply invested in the Latino community in Denver and hopes to empower community members to become health educators in their own neighborhoods.

Steven Chavez

Board Member

Steven is the Director for the Colorado Division of Civil Rights under Governor John Hickenlooper.  Steven also served in this same capacity under Governor Bill Ritter.  Steven has also been active for most of his adult life in issues of justice and peace that affect the Latino community and the community in general.

Cdr. Paul Pazen

Board Member

Commander Pazen is a North Denver native who is presently serving as the Commander for Denver Police Department District 1.  Cdr. Pazen is in the vanguard of a new movement in DPD to improve and strengthen community police relations and trust.

Elina Martinez

Board Member

Elina Martinez is a Northwest Denver resident with a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver.  She is an ELA S teacher in a Montbello school.  She is also the Co-Managing Director of Highlands Mommies and has significantly diversified and grown this neighborhood organization.

Qusair Mohamedbhai

Board Member

Qusair Mohamedbhai is an attorney who specializes in civil rights and employment law. He recently started up his own law firm Rathod/Mohamedbhai LLC with an office in Lower Downtown Denver. Qusair also serves as the Legal Counsel for the Colorado Muslim Society and is involved in many community issues of social justice and peace.

Board Member

Jacqueline Pickett, a Sunnyside community member of the Board of Directors, is the former Director of Community Development for Jeffco and Adams Counties.  She is presently working toward her Ph.D. at the University of Colorado at Denver.

Board Member

Charlene is a long-time supporter of Servicios, a strong community and human rights activitist, traditional curandera, expert in cultural competency and honoree of several awards on Diversity and Human Rights. She has authored numerous publications and has given many presentations in the public health arena, in which her affiliations as a human rights activist, curandera, public health professional and perspective as a Latina have intersected and informed her work.