Lived Experts Action Panel (LEAP)
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OurLEAP Team
Marisa Acosta
Marisa Acosta
Marisa Acosta is a 24-year old mother of two daughters. In addition to raising her oldest daughter while she was in foster care starting at age 15, Marissa graduated high school early and emancipated at age 17.
After struggling with not having family and other connections to depend on (like most young people who emancipate), Marisa is proud to say that she has learned the ways of society on her own and is thankful for where she is. She is currently employed at Pueblo County Department of Social Services, where she works to change the system in ways that support young people. She is currently serving as a paid surrogate for a wonderful family looking to raise a child. She will use the surrogacy money to make a better future for her daughters and herself.
Marisa joined LEAP because she wants to be a part of something that helps young people create beautiful and fulfilled lives for themselves.
Elizabeth Arrieta
Elizabeth Arrieta
Elizabeth is a young adult who grew up in the foster care system since the age of 12 but has successfully accomplished her goal of emancipating and moving out on her own at the age of 18. She is also part of LEAP who are all working together to help make the changes needed in the system to help more young adults to be successful. Elizabeth is currently part-time working and part-time schooling. She goes to Community College of Denver planning to transfer to Colorado University of Boulder and major in Political Science for a bachelor’s degree. Later hoping to go to law school and either become an Immigration Attorney or a Guardian Ad Litem, Elizabeth would most of all love to make an impact in people’s lives who are living through the foster care system and say that you can always do it and to never give up.
Maya Chandler
Maya Chandler
I am a first generation college student attending the University of Colorado Denver, where I study Political Science and Public Policy with a minor in Legal Studies. I am currently employed as a legal assistant and paralegal-in training. I work in areas including workers’ compensation, automobile accidents, family law, social security, and housing.
Through LEAP, I have trained Guardians ad Litem (GALs) and Counsel for Youth, testified on a bill related to juvenile restitution and rights for young people in foster care, and served as a Colorado Ambassador to the federal review of the National Youth in Transition (NYTD) Database.
As a child, I had Juvenile Delinquency and/or Dependency and Neglect cases in Gunnison, Denver, Larimer, and Weld counties. I plan to attend law school and continue to help young people through advocacy. I have always been passionate about being a lawyer. I hope to use my trauma to help change laws for youth in care.
Shelby Costello
Shelby Costello
Shelby is a 5th generation Denver native. Her goals are to make it far in life heading in the social work direction and bettering the foster care community. Being a former foster child, and having a rough come up on and off the streets and in the system, she aspires to achieve eventually opening her own second chance center.
Nyomi Davis
Nyomi Davis
Nyomi Davis (she/her/hers) graduated from University of Denver with a Bachelor of Arts in socio-legal studies and public policy with a minor in business ethics and legal studies in June. Nyomi attended DU on a full ride scholarship from the Daniels Foundation, a Colorado based organization. In Fall of 2024, Nyomi began attending the University of Colorado Boulder Law School with a special interest in child advocacy while pursuing a J.D. using the funding from FosterEd. Nyomi is involved with Denver CASA as a volunteer in their Older Youth Program and has Colorado Office of Child Representatives Lived Experts Action Panel (LEAP) as a youth with experience in the foster system since 2021. Nyomi is a resilient, hardworking, and highly motivated individual who is pursuing a law career to help youth in similar situations. With LEAP, Nyomi has helped train GAL’s and participated in the process for passing legislation to move Colorado to youth-directed representation in D&N and juvenile cases. She recently began working with the Butler Institute on their Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Multidisciplinary and Cross-Jurisdictional Training Project and is a voting board member for Foster Source and the Colorado Department of Human Services’ Reimagining Steering Committee.
Emilio Flores
Emilio Flores
Emilio Flores is twenty-two years old and joined OCR as a LEAP member in 2024. Emilio is a lived expert, having experience with both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Emilio had several placements, including placement in a group home when he was ten years of age upon entering the juvenile justice system. Emilio eventually found permanency when he was adopted by his former GAL. One thing Emilio wants to do in the future is open and operate his own group homes throughout Colorado. One thing Emilio would like everyone to know is that he is always very happy and smiling, is the same person every day, and is a very helpful person if someone comes to him for advice.
Kobe Gordon-Mingo
Kobe Gordon-Mingo
Kobe is 19 years old. He is a lived expert with experience in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Kobe has been in the system since the age of 7. He joined OCR as a LEAP member in 2024. He decided to join LEAP after he spoke with his GAL about some of the experiences he had in the system. He wants to have a positive impact and improve the lives of young people who are involved in the system. He is currently working full-time and attending school full-time. He intends to join the military after graduation.
Maddie Lang-Silva
Maddie Lang-Silva
Pronouns: They/them/theirs
Maddie lived in foster care starting at the age of 14 through a dependency and neglect (D&N) case. Maddie also had a Foster Youth in Transition Program case and emancipated at age 18. They are currently attending the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs majoring in social work and work part-time as a student employee. They plan on working in child welfare when they graduate. Maddie enjoys spending time outdoors, taking advantage of the beautiful scenery Colorado has to offer.
Alisiana Medina
Alisiana Medina
Alisiana is Native to the state of Colorado and is a member in her tribe Diné/Navajo, also recognized as ‘Navajo Nation.’ Her Nation regions over what is known as the ‘Four Corners.’
She is grew up in child welfare system in various forms, which were from group homes, foster care homes here in the state of Colorado and eventually ‘aged out of the system’ (emancipation). She continues her journey by continuing her education with graduating with her AAS (Associate of Applied Science) and Pre-law with a Paralegal certification and transfer into University of Colorado, Denver in the SPA (School of Public Affairs) in pursuit of her BA in Criminal Justice and minor in Legal Studies.
All the while continuing her advocacy work through Children’s Bureau and CDHS (Colorado Department Human Services), CWD (Child Welfare Division) with ‘Pathway to Success – Milestones of Foster Care,’ ‘Pathways to Success Steering Committee,’ part of designing of NYTD ‘National Youth in Transition Database,’ advisor ‘Educational Opportunities Workgroup, ‘Collaborative Child Welfare Response to Human Trafficking Task Group,’ and the Continuing Jurisdiction Exploratory Committee,’ CYLN (Colorado Youth Leadership Network,’ and ‘Colorado Foster Youth Successful Transition to Adulthood Program Advisory Board.’ Collaboration with CNAY (Center for Native American Youth) and CCIA (Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs) with ‘SAIGE Leadership’ and ‘ICWA (Indian Child Welfare Act) Tribal Families Coalition.’ Collaboration with NFYI (National Foster Youth Institution) with legislation processes.’ Collaboration with RMCLC (Rocky Mountain Children Law Center) with ‘Children’s Caucus,’ ‘Catalyze,’ ‘project Foster Power (pFP). And now serving and collaborating with DIFRC (Denver Indian Family Resource Center) with other nonprofits to help our relatives and native community members and the OCR (Office of Child Representatives) with LEAP (Lived Experts Action Panel) and also, Appointee by Jared Polis for Colorado Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Council.
In hopes to become a GAL (Guardian of Ad Litem) or a Family law, Tribal, Juvenile Attorney would be her dream!
“As I walk, As I walk the universe, The universe is walking with me, In beauty it walks before me, In beauty it walks below me, In beauty it walks above me, In beauty it is on every side as I walk, I walk with beauty.” ~Navajo Proverb
Efrain Medina-Grajeda
Efrain Medina-Grajeda
Efrain Medina-Grajeda is an ex-foster youth and current advocate who’s focused on improving the foster care system and foster care experiences. He has experience working with professionals who support foster youth through independence and empowerment. Efrain continues to be involved in advocacy as a LEAP member.
Alexander Miller
Alexander Miller
Alexander Miller was an active LEAP member until his passing in March 2022. He will always be remembered for his huge heart and smile, artistic talents, and advocacy for youth in foster care. Alex wrote the following biography.
My name is Alexander Miller. I was born in Denver Colorado, where I currently reside. I graduated from Gateway Highschool with my diploma in 2018. During my matriculation I was involved with multiple different placements in foster care. My lived experience provided me a lot of strength and maturity as I became more involved with making change in the foster care system. I have been involved with Project Foster Power, which is a youth led organization that brings change to the foster care system. In 2019 we passed the Sibling Bill of Rights. The Sibling Bill of Rights is a bill passed into law which establishes certain rights to keep the siblings together/connected where I was actively involved in that process. I have had immense work with Arapahoe County Chafee, building my life skills and attending multiple events to make change. I was involved with Metro Youth Alliance which is a youth advisory board making change in the community. All this work brought me closer to my motivation of making change in the system. I am currently involved with the Lived Experts Action Panel (LEAP) through OCR and that has motivated a very positive direction in me making a difference.
Lindsay Alexandria Saunders-Velez
Lindsay Alexandria Saunders-Velez
Lindsay Alexandria Saunders-Velez is a former foster child and youth from the Division of Youth Services. She is now the Founder and Senior Executive Director of the Colorado Justice Advocacy Network, an organization that aims to provide equal access to justice for individuals who are justice-involved, safeguard the rights and liberties of such individuals, and resolve matters in a timely and efficient manner. Lindsay also serves as a Commissioner of the Colorado Jail Standards Commission, the Vice Chair of Community and Personal Advocacy for Colorado Young Democrats, and a member of a stakeholder group through the Colorado Child Protection Ombudsman. Lindsay has been recognized by the Colorado Department of Corrections for her outstanding service to justice-involved individuals. She is currently working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Metropolitan State University Denver and has a long-term goal of earning a Juris Doctorate.
Braeden
Braeden
Braeden is a young adult who has lived experience in the Division of Youth Services (DYS). While in DYS, Braeden achieved certificates related to running a victim empathy group, dog training, and Servsafe management (which is a nationally-accredited food management program). He enjoys baking! He is passionate about the rehabilitation of committed youth. He advocates for stakeholders and laws to view DYS as a treatment provider rather than a correctional system. Braeden hopes for equal opportunities for expungement for all committed youth. Braeden has completed courses at Colorado State University Pueblo and will transfer to a university in Washington for Applied Sciences. Braeden hopes his efforts in LEAP will contribute to statutory and practice changes related to juvenile adjudications.
