Maria has been in Colorado for almost 20 years and is bilingual.  As an immigrant, she knows the reality and the barriers that many immigrants are facing in order to thrive. Maria was part of the team that launched the first group of worker cooperatives and now leads the Family Leadership Training Institute program in Jefferson County.

In 2012, Debbi settled in Edgewater where she lives with her husband Jimmy and 3 dogs. Debbi has built her 20+ year career helping others advance in their roles with training and performance coaching as an instructional designer, facilitator, e-learning architect, and Chief Learning Officer. Debbi brings her enthusiasm for learning and supporting others to Edgewater Collective’s worker cooperatives to help advance the program for worker owners.

In 2012, Joel and his wife Hillary moved to Edgewater and enrolled their daughters at Lumberg Elementary School. As they learned more about the community, Joel realized a need for an organization that would connect local opportunities to local assets.  Joel is a graduate of Arapahoe High School, Taylor University and Denver Seminary and had over twelve years experience working with children, youth and families before starting Edgewater Collective. Joel is motivated by the opportunity to create systemic change so that all community members have an opportunity to thrive.