Lived Experts Action Panel (LEAP)
TheGoalsof LEAP
OurLEAP Team
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.
Dominic Chavez
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.
Lexi Jones
Lexi Jones
Lexi is a lived experience consultant specializing in foster care. As a former foster youth who experienced teen pregnancy and went into care at 17 years old, she has developed a passion for helping bring awareness to issues within the foster system and is determined to use her lived experience to make positive changes for the new generations. Throughout her journey, she has overcome significant challenges with strength and perseverance, all whilst being a full time mom. Now focused on building a brighter future, Lexi is pursuing her degree in psychology whilst working alongside numerous nonprofit organizations around the country in hopes of giving back to the community and inspiring others who face similar obstacles. She refuses to let her and her children be another statistic and is dedicated to being the change she wants to see in the world.
Sydney Lomheim
Syndey Lomheim
Sydney is a former foster youth who went into care due to a dependency and neglect case when she was 16 years old. Her mother had just passed away, and she and her sisters had no primary caregivers in Colorado. Throughout her journey, she overcame significant challenges with strength and perseverance. Now focused on building a brighter future, Sydney is pursuing her goals, including a Master’s degree in economics. Sydney hopes to use her experiences to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. She is passionate about supporting young people who have faced challenges similar to her own and hopes to use both her personal experiences and education to advocate for and create opportunities for those navigating difficult circumstances.
Vanessa McLoid
Vanessa McLoid
Vanessa is a former foster youth who entered the system at the age of twelve and remained in the system until eighteen. She is currently a student at CU Denver and is majoring in creative writing with the main goal of one day becoming an author. Due to her experiences as both a former foster youth and a survivor of abuse (both inside and outside of the system), she is extremely passionate making the world a better place in anyway she can and creating positive lasting change. She hopes to be able to help to improve the foster care system and the conditions of foster youths and former foster youths.
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.
Colt Ryder
Katie Simmons
Katie Simmons
Kathryn Simmons is a Master of Social Work student in the Child Welfare Track at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She earned two bachelor’s degrees in Psychology Summa Cum Laude and Sociology, a Certificate of Health, Care & Resilience, and a Leadership Minor, all on the Pre-Law track from the University of Colorado Boulder. She also completed an honors thesis examining stigma and placement instability in the U.S. child welfare system.
As someone who grew up in foster care, Kathryn understands firsthand the challenges many young people face while navigating the child welfare system. Today, she is dedicated to ensuring that other youth have the support, opportunities, and advocacy she wishes she had. She hopes to become a child welfare lobbyist, helping bridge the gap between research, lived experience, and legislation to create meaningful, evidence-based reforms. Outside of school and advocacy, Kathryn enjoys cooking new recipes, exploring local restaurants, spending time with her boyfriend, Anthony, and watching television.
Malachi Sanders
Malachi Sanders
I am attending Emily Grifith technical college, where I study cosmetology. I am also currently employed in the food service industry. In my future, I plan to own my own business where I will contribute as much as I can to make the future a better place for everyone to create healthier habits and help everyone optimistically work together.
As a child and youth, I had Juvenile Delinquency, Dependency and Neglect, and Foster Youth in Transition Program Cases in Arapahoe and Denver Counties. In my Foster Youth in Transition Program Case, my Counsel for Youth (CFY) and I filed a lack of reasonable efforts motion because I wanted to address the situation and see some beneficial changes. I testified during the hearing. We won. It felt amazing and enlightening in so many ways because all I wanted was to be heard so the problems could be addressed on a larger scale and it seemed like that was exactly what happened.
I joined the Office of the Child’s Representative’s (OCR’s) Lived Experts Action Panel (LEAP) because I want to advocate for the people who do not know how to advocate for themselves, as I have learned over the years that not everyone feels comfortable or knows where to start. I am passionate about changing environments for the better and building new relationships that are mutually beneficial. I hope to see everyone – including myself – make it out the other end of whatever we are going through and live a long and lovely life.
Isis Taylor
Isis Taylor
Isis is a former foster youth who spent much of her childhood in and out of the foster care system. After experiencing significant challenges and adversity, she worked hard to overcome the obstacles in her path and build a future for herself. In May 2026, Isis graduated from Rocky Mountain High School and is now pursuing her education while working toward her future goals. She is passionate about working with animals and is currently working toward obtaining her pet grooming license, with hopes of eventually building a career in the animal care field. Isis is also passionate about supporting young people and advocating for youth who have experienced foster care. Through her own experiences, she hopes to use her voice and the lessons she has learned to inspire others, raise awareness about the experiences of youth in care, and help create positive change for the next generation.
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.
