Meet the Staff
Yo! We are the people who make up the Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program at Project PAVE. With the help of our management and clinical team, we are the folks who make it happen in the classrooms across Denver and surrounding counties. As a team, we are dedicated to empowering youth to end the cycle of relationship violence.
Now, a bit more about us.
Lorrie Johnson, Violence Prevention Coordinator
Lorrie Johnson has recently moved to Denver from Wichita, Kansas to work on the END Violence Project at the University of Colorado Denver and the Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program at Project PAVE. Lorrie has spent the past 10 years doing community work and collaboration focused on intimate partner violence and positive self esteem for girls and women. Her previous position as a Violence Prevention Specialist on the Wichita Start Strong Project was housed out of a domestic violence shelter in Wichita, Kansas. Much of Lorrie's previous and current work responsibilities focuses on educating middle and high school teens about healthy relationships skills and empowering students to have respect for themselves and others. Also, she works with school staff members on recognizing the signs of kids coming from homes of domestic violence and helping those students through assistance and providing community resources. Lorrie has obtained an undergraduate degree in Women's Studies and Masters in Business Administration; she uses her education, activism, and passion to demonstrate and motivate positive change for women and children's rights.
Lorrie Johnson has recently moved to Denver from Wichita, Kansas to work on the END Violence Project at the University of Colorado Denver and the Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program at Project PAVE. Lorrie has spent the past 10 years doing community work and collaboration focused on intimate partner violence and positive self esteem for girls and women. Her previous position as a Violence Prevention Specialist on the Wichita Start Strong Project was housed out of a domestic violence shelter in Wichita, Kansas. Much of Lorrie's previous and current work responsibilities focuses on educating middle and high school teens about healthy relationships skills and empowering students to have respect for themselves and others. Also, she works with school staff members on recognizing the signs of kids coming from homes of domestic violence and helping those students through assistance and providing community resources. Lorrie has obtained an undergraduate degree in Women's Studies and Masters in Business Administration; she uses her education, activism, and passion to demonstrate and motivate positive change for women and children's rights.
Derek McCoy, YCEP Coordinator
Derek was drawn to the Project PAVE family due to the positive community building work that is done through the Youth Community Educators Program. After serving as a technology instructor at Global Leadership Academy in Denver for three years he felt it was time to seek a new space where he could continue to learn from and mentor youth. Derek earned a Bachelor Degree in Business Marketing from the University of Colorado and plans to further his education throughout his life. In his free time Derek enjoys spending time with his family and friends, coaching high school football and track, meditating through various forms of exercise/reading/writing, spreading ideas through the books he writes and conversing with others about ways to make their personal lives and all life better.
Susan Waruinge, YCEP Senior Team Leader
Susan became a part of East High School's Angels Against Abuse (AAA) club after watching the AAA spring assembly her Junior year. She became active the following year, helping plan the spring block party with fellow members and acting in a skit for that year's assembly. Additionally, Susan became an Educator for the Youth Community Educators Program (YCEP). Through YCEP she gained more knowledge on the issue of Teen Dating Violence and was promoted to a YCEP Team Leader in 2010. She is currently the YCEP Senior Team Leader, acting as a member and leader Educator for YCEP. Susan is currently attending the University of Colorado Denver with a major in Engineering.
Bayron Romero, YCEP Team Leader
Bayron serves as a Team Leader for YCEP. Bayron is a 2011 East High School graduate and plans to attend the Community College of Denver in hopes to transfer to CSU- Pueblo for Engineering. At East HS, Bayron was involved in Choir, Latino Students Unidos (LSU) and the Angels Against Abuse Club. Bayron has said that getting involved with AAA was the best thing he did because it brought him awareness to Teen Dating Violence. With the club and now YCEP he has met many amazing people and learned how to help people with TDV. When Bayron is not at work he likes to hang out with his friends and watch movies, play football and video games. He believes people should just live life like there is no tomorrow.
Bayron Romero, YCEP Team Leader
Bayron serves as a Team Leader for YCEP. Bayron is a 2011 East High School graduate and plans to attend the Community College of Denver in hopes to transfer to CSU- Pueblo for Engineering. At East HS, Bayron was involved in Choir, Latino Students Unidos (LSU) and the Angels Against Abuse Club. Bayron has said that getting involved with AAA was the best thing he did because it brought him awareness to Teen Dating Violence. With the club and now YCEP he has met many amazing people and learned how to help people with TDV. When Bayron is not at work he likes to hang out with his friends and watch movies, play football and video games. He believes people should just live life like there is no tomorrow.