Meet Our Team

Emilia grew up in North Jersey, but has spent the last decade in Philadelphia. She received her bachelors in Early Childhood Education from Temple University and her masters in Social Work from Columbia University School of Social Work. Emilia has over seven years of experiencing working in the out-of-school time field in Philadelphia. Emilia is thrilled to join the Heart & Hand team and is committed to providing high-quality opportunities for young people using a positive youth development framework and healing-centered approach.

Emilia is new to Colorado, but since arriving in September 2020, she has enjoyed the access to the mountains, where her and her partner have spent the winter snowboarding. In her spare time, Emilia also enjoys live music, escaping with a good novel, snuggling with her two cats, and eating delicious food. One of her newer food ventures has been making handmade tortillas every Tuesday for Taco Tuesday!

Amber is originally from Fort Collins, Colorado and was eager to join the Heart & Hand team in 2019 after working with various youth and after-school programs in the past. Amber is a Licensed Social Worker who holds a Bachelor’s in Social Work from Belmont University and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Denver. Amber has worked extensively within refugee resettlement organizations with youth and families in both youth programming and mental health capacities. She fully believes in the importance of building relationships with youth and their families and providing opportunities to learn and grow together. In her free time, Amber enjoys anything outdoors or adventurous and can often be found playing music or with friends and family.

I was born and raised in the small town of Great Falls, Montana. I moved to Denver in 2015 seeking a more diverse community, better opportunities, and a degree in social work. I have an AA in General Education as well as experience with facilitating social emotional learning (SEL) workshops at a Head Start program, and providing community based support for families who have mental health and/or developmental disabilities at AWARE Inc. When I started the Social Work program at MSU Denver, I also began volunteering for Heart & Hand and eventually joined the staff as a Program Leader. I found my strength in building relationships with students and families, and teaching SEL skills and restorative justice to our youth. I started working with the CCR program as an intern in 2019 and discovered my passion for working with older students. I am passionate about collaborating with CCR students and their families to set intentional goals and establish a plan for a bright future using a strength based lens. Being a mother is my proudest accomplishment so in my free time I enjoy spending time with my two sons and two bonus daughters. I also love to visit my family in Montana whenever I get the chance.

​Kate started at Heart & Hand as an intern in 2018. After completing her MPA at CU Denver in 2019, Kate joined the team full time as Development Coordinator. Kate is passionate about ensuring all youth have access to enriching learning opportunities, academic resources, and relationships with trusting adults. In her free time, Kate enjoys hiking with her dog, reading, and sharing food with friends and family.

Nikki Cady attended York University in Toronto, Majoring in Psychology. After college, she spent time interning for Mental Health Canada working with adults suffering from mental illnesses, operating a retail store, as well as, owning and operating two restaurants until moving to Denver in 2005. Prior to becoming the Executive Director of HALO Denver, Nikki spent six years as as a Board Member and an advocate for Denver's abused and neglected children through Denver CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).

In 2008 Mrs. Cady opened Denver's branch HALO Foundation, which is committed to improving the lives of homeless, orphaned and at risk youth worldwide. In 2009, Mrs. Cady launched weekly art-mentoring programs working with homeless youth in the Metro Denver homeless shelters. She then opened The Heart & Hand Center and was instrumental in raising one hundred percent of the annual budget.

Gwen Farnsworth is a third-generation Denver native with strong ties to the Park Hill and Five Points Neighborhoods. A longtime development professional, Gwen believes in philanthropy as a vehicle for social justice and the promotion of the greater good, and that working with community for solutions is the best way to achieve impactful results. A graduate of Denver East and Metropolitan State University, Gwen is also a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and is working toward her Certified Fundraising Executive certification. In her time away from the office, she enjoys cooking, bingeing Netflix, and spending time with her family.

Blaine began working with the Heart & Hand Center as an intern in 2010 and is now the Chief Operating Officer.  She is a Colorado native who graduated from Colorado State University and is now pursuing a Masters Degree at Regis University. Blaine's favorite thing about working with Heart & Hand are the relationships she has developed with H&H families, youth and coworkers. She enjoys reading, creative writing and spending time outdoors.

Relationships, culture, and community are the core of Timiya’s personal and educational philosophy. Timiya holds a BA in Secondary Education/English from Point Park University and a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Fort Hays State University. She is passionate about working with unprivileged populations and being an advocate for social justice.  When Timiya is not working, she enjoys spinning, crafting, or spending quality time with family and friends.

Maya McDowell was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She joined Heart & Hand in 2017 as a Program Leader, after serving a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA Development and Community Engagement Coordinator at a youth leadership and food justice nonprofit. Maya is also a certified yoga teacher, and a founding member/owner of Satya Yoga Cooperative, which focuses on offering accessible trauma-informed yoga for communities of color that may not otherwise have access to culturally aware and inclusive yoga. Maya has found a joyful and enlightening home in her time with Heart & Hand, and is continually moved by the power and spirit of the youth and families we serve. In her free time she enjoys growing nutritious food in her garden, dancing while cooking, reading and writing, and traveling by train.

Jennifer Rivera (known by Jenn) is our Family Development Program Manager, was born in Puerto Rico, and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and recently relocated to Denver to enjoy a change of pace and scenery. In NYC, she worked as a Career and Internship Coordinator at a non-profit school program for overage and undercredited high school students. She's incredibly passionate about the work that nonprofits accomplish, and the impact of trusted individuals in young people's lives.

Jenn is a music and nature lover, has a serious sweet tooth, and is a big fan of a daytime nap. In her free time, she is spending time hiking or at silly events with her rescue dogs, Zoe, Ellie, and Beau who are loving Denver too! Jenn is active in volunteer and animal rescue work, serving as a core coordinator for a NYC based animal rescue for the past year. Jenn loves how entrenched her life is in service work, and wouldn't change it for the world.

Cami has always been passionate about building relationships with youth and ensuring that youth in historically underserved communities are provided with the resources and supports needed to help create more of an equal opportunity to quality education. Having worked and volunteered for various after-school programs, Cami is excited about helping build the new High School Program and working with the youth at the Heart & Hand Center. Cami holds a BA in Psychology with a minor in Education Studies at the University of California, San Diego and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Denver. Originally from Richmond, California, Cami enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, being outdoors, reading, trying new foods, and sleeping in her spare time.