IDDEAS Advisory Council

DHS values inclusivity and strives to create a council that consists of members from diverse backgrounds who can bring unique perspectives to the Council. We are particularly seeking applicants who reside or work in Denver City Council Districts 2, 3, or 8. These include neighborhoods such as Barnum, Westwood, Villa Park, Harvey Park, Kennedy, Berkeley, but anyone is welcome to apply.

What are the requirements to serve on the Council?

• Council members with personal or professional experience with I/DD are encouraged to apply.
• Council members who do not have an I/DD must live in Denver. If you have an I/DD you do not have to live in Denver to serve on the Council, but you must show that you spend lots of time in Denver doing things like working, going to school, or attending day programs.
• We value multiple perspectives. Applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

What do Council members do?

• Council members serve a two (2) year term.
• The Council meets every other month (generally the last Tuesday of the month, 1:00 – 3:00 PM). Council meetings are open to the public, and are usually held virtually on Zoom.
• Council Members are eligible for a $60 stipend per meeting (up to $599 per year). 
• Discussion topics include housing, inclusion, gaps in services, and more. Council members work to ensure they are considering the needs of people with I/DD across all of the diverse communities of Denver. 
• We also host occasional community gatherings for connection and fun.

The next Denver Human Services IDDEAS Advisory Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, 2026 from 1-3 p.m. on Zoom.

Register on Zoom

Submit Questions / Public Comment

Please email iddeas@denvergov.org or call 720-944-2782 with questions or to sign up for public comment. Community members can also submit a public comment online that will be read aloud by an IDDEAS team member during the public meeting. Please note that public comment is limited to three minutes per person and all topics outside of those listed on the public agenda must be pre-approved by an IDDEAS Advisory Council Co-Chair.  

Brian Be’s philosophy is written right into his name: “Simple, ‘Be’ yourself, quirks and all.” Brian identifies as an Autistic artist, advocate, and public presenter / facilitator. He is a caregiver and has a family member with I/DD. He is the first Self-Advocacy Coordinator for JFK Partners at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He is also a Leadership and Education in Neurodevelopmental Disability (LEND) alumni, with a focus on interdisciplinary healthcare leadership training.

Brian works to strengthen community wellness through outreach and engagement. He uses edutainment, showcasing people with and without disability. As a Poetry for Personal Power (P3) Artist/Advocate and Project Manager, Brian uses art to show that “distress can be temporary, and that adversity can be transformative.” He is also a proud co-developer of the P3 Wellness & Resiliency Story Circle model, as one of many community wellness tools to boost shared risk and protective factors.

“Much of my life’s work fosters empowerment and interdependence including with marginalized & diverse populations,” he says.

Kizzly Blue (she/her) brings more than 10 years of experience supporting diverse communities, including work within the juvenile court system. She currently serves as a non-voting delegate for Rocky Mountain Human Services, contributing her expertise in navigating the intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) determination and enrollment process.

Her work focuses on connecting individuals and families with the services and supports they need to thrive. Kizzly is passionate about advancing equity and expanding access to community-based services and is committed to helping inform programs and initiatives that improve outcomes for those served.

A Denver native, Kizzly enjoys traveling, exploring new cuisines, and experiencing different cultures.

Alicia is a steadfast advocate for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and people with disabilities at large. With a history of leadership roles, community partnerships, and driving initiatives to amplify marginalized voices, Alicia’s work centers on fostering equitable access, systemic change, and awareness. Her passion lies in ensuring every voice is heard and valued, whether empowering individuals or shaping policy for a more inclusive future.

We are working on translating this biography into English

Adriana Delatorre, Licenciada en Educacion en mi País de origen.

El lema con el que me identifico es "Todo lo lejos que he visto lo he visto detrásde los hombros de alguien mas" Soy esposa y madre de tres hijos, el menor con discapacidad, por Él me educó en el áreade discapacidad para abogar por Él en los diferentes aspectos que demanda su desarrollo, tambien me he capacitado como navegadora y líder comunitaria, para orientar y empoderar a la comunidad, especialmente a las familias con un familiar con discapacidad, para que accedan a los servicios que mejoren la calidad de vida de su ser querido con discapacidad. Creo en la equidad, me apasiona la lectura y mi deseo en la vida es seguir aprendiendo y compartiendo conocimiento.

Michelle Dumay is the mother of a terminally ill child born with a rare brain abnormality. Among other medical conditions (cerebral palsy, blindness and quadriplegia), her daughter suffers from four types of seizures.

Her experience as a caregiver and medical advocate has allowed her to serve on patient advisory councils for three children’s hospitals (Los Angeles, Phoenix and Colorado) and one insurer (Mercy Care).

Along with advocacy, learning has been a huge part of her journey. After relocating to Denver four years ago, she has learned of the difficulties of other Denver IDD community members in the areas of housing and civic life and has raised her voice for them by representing their views and serving on the Commission for People with Disabilities, the IDDEAS Advisory Council and the Community Advisory Council of RMHS.

Alexxa Gagner is a wife and mother of three girls. Her youngest daughter with intellectual and developmental disabilities inspires her and her family each-and-every day.

She is the Senior Director of Marketing & Communications at Denver Rescue Mission. For 15 years, she has supported communications and fundraising efforts to help vulnerable people in Denver through the services of DRM. Alexxa is a Phoenix, Arizona native and graduate of the University of Arizona, where she studied Journalism and Media Arts.

Through participating in this council, she is looking forward learning more about how to support the IDD community.

Stefanie Gross (she, her) joins the IDDEAS advisory council as an experienced educator. She is an advocate and the founder of Move Through Yoga, a nonprofit organization that works to close the gaps in health and wellness education for students with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. She has worked as an innovator in several spaces, including as a curriculum designer and as a health and wellness programmer. As a college and career counselor, Stefanie has worked closely with students who have diverse academic backgrounds in the public-school setting.

Whether it’s in an academic setting or as a yoga teacher, Stefanie is committed to making learning spaces more inclusive for people with I/DD. Stefanie started Move Through Yoga (a 501C3) as a solution to what she saw as “huge gaps in physical education programming available to students from different athletic backgrounds.”

In joining the IDDEAS advisory council, Stefanie is excited to help build a healthier community, while ensuring all people with I/DD – as well as those who care for them – has a platform to share what they want and need. “I believe that everyone deserves to have equal access to health and wellbeing programming,” she said. “I want to ensure that the voices of the community, especially in schools, including administrators, parents, students, and teachers, are heard and shared with the Board.”

Seth Grove is currently an advocate for adults at Advocacy Denver, working in this position since 2024. He has many years of experience working in Colorado's IDD field as a direct caregiver, day program manager and case manager. He has lived in Denver since 2010 and strives to improve IDD services and access to IDD supports.

Molly Mason (she, hers), has worked with individuals in the Denver I/DD community for the past ten years. She is currently a Special Education Teacher and Case Manager in the 18-21 Transition Program in Denver Public Schools. Molly holds her masters degree in literacy instruction from CU Denver. She is hoping to increase awareness and access of the resources and supports available to the I/DD community here in Denver.

Chris has always considered himself a teacher and a poet. Though he does not speak, he uses a variety of keyboards to type his thoughts. It is his greatest desire to use his words and unique voice to create positive change and make an impact on our world.

Chris graduated from PS1 Charter School in Denver in June 2005. His senior project involved silk-screening his “sayings” on t-shirts, and with the success the sale of these shirts brought, he became the first self-employed person with a disability to be funded by the Colorado Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. Chris continues to sell his shirts at a variety of conferences and local arts festivals, and on his website.

Chris was a member of Watch our Words (WOW), and with a number or colleagues, is involved in developing best practices and training people in supported typing throughout metro Denver. In addition, Chris has made presentations to a number of groups including State Wide Assistive Technology, Augmentative & Alternative Communication (SWAAAC), Peak Inclusion Conference, and Sewall Child Development Center.

Jessica is a community member within Denver serving on the Council to share her lived experience and advocate for other community members with disabilities.

Julissa Sota stands at the forefront of the movement for Latino health equity, a beacon of empowerment and change. With over three decades of dedicated service, she has tirelessly championed the rights and well-being of Latino immigrants, leaving an indelible mark not only in Colorado but across the nation and beyond.

Julissa Soto has been a force for change, leading the charge for Latino immigrant equality, inclusion, and health equity not just on Colorado, but across the entire world. From her roots in teen parent programs to her pivotal role on the Colorado Vaccine Equity Task Force and her advocacy for health equity at the American Diabetes Association, Soto has relentlessly pioneered programs aimed at empowering marginalized communities.

As the founder and CEO of Julissa Soto Latino Health Equity Consulting, her influence spans Colorado, reaching nationwide and extending internationally and globally. Through her consultancy, she provides invaluable guidance and education to organizations and agencies, paving the way for health equity initiatives that resonate on a global scale.

Spanish interpretation of the meeting is available upon request as an audio file, which accompanies the recording on YouTube. To make a request, please email: IDDEAS@denvergov.org

Note: due to disruptions and technical issues, no recording for this meeting is available.