Meet the Board

Our Growing Up Boulder (GUB) board represents local and national thought leadership in children's rights, education, social justice, entrepreneurship, systems-change, strategic planning and fundraising.

(Bios listed in alphabetical order by last name.)

Growing Up Boulder December 2022 board meeting: from left to right: (back row) Cathy Hill, Mark Davison, Felicia Naranjo Martinez, Erin Saunders, Sarabeth Berk, Bernadette Stewart, Mara Mintzer; (bottom row) Warren Binford, Jenny Donovan, Debbie Brown, Kazuyo Morita, Aidan Chopra.

 

Former Board Member, Sarabeth Berk

Creatie Disrupter, Innovation Strategist and Systems Designer, Hybrid Professional, TEDx Speaker, and Foundation/Former Director of CU Boulder's Innovation and Entreneurship Intitiative

​Dr. Sarabeth Berk is a hybrid professional who also researches hybrid professional identity. She's an author, TEDx speaker and was recognized by Colorado Inno as one of 50 “Inno on Fire” recipients. Sarabeth calls herself a "creative disruptor" because she blends her artist/researcher/educator/designer identities to lead and create innovation strategies that radically connect resources and people in new ways. After Sarabeth underwent her own professional identity crisis, she learned she was a hybrid and that concept revolutionized her career path. Now, she's obsessed with changing the way we see the workforce and helping professionals realize that their unique value lies at the intersections of their multiple identities. She enjoys pondering questions like: What are the sticking points? Where are systems/beliefs stuck? Sarabeth obtained her PhD in curriculum studies and teaching from the University of Denver, and has degrees from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Rhode Island School of Design. Her background includes leading innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives in K–12, higher education, and community programs. She often mentors startups that are building social impact ventures and is a mayor-appointed member of Denver County Cultural Council.

​In her free time, Sarabeth enjoys mountain biking, downhill skiing, and paddleboarding or you can find her seeking novel, creative experiences at immersive eco-art parks or visiting art fairs and artisan markets. 

Why are groups reluctant to involve children or not even cognizant that children are missing in the first place? I've always been a proponent of including the audiences in the work who are most affected by and experiencing the problem, so that's why I love what Growing Up Boulder is advocating for and spearheading as a national leader.”

 

Warren Binford

Professor of Pediatrics, Professor of Law (by courtesy), and a Core Faculty Member in the Center for Bioethics and the Humanities

Warren Binford is an international children’s rights scholar and advocate. She is the inaugural W.H. Lea Endowed Chair for Justice in Pediatric Law, Policy and Ethics at the University of Colorado where she is a Professor of Pediatrics, Professor of Law (by courtesy), and a Core Faculty Member in the Center for Bioethics and the Humanities. She is the Director of Law, Policy & Ethics at the Kempe Center on the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect. Prior to joining CU, Warren represented numerous children and families in the Child and Family Advocacy Clinic she founded and ran for 16 years at Willamette University in Oregon. She also has served as an inner-city teacher, a CASA, a foster parent, and co-founded a micro-school nonprofit.

Warren has published a wide variety of 80+ works and given hundreds of presentations worldwide. Media appearances on children’s issues include CNN, BBC, NBC, NPR, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Newsweek, Washington Post, the New Yorker, the Atlantic, and many others. From 2017 to 2019, she served on a multidisciplinary team interviewing hundreds of children and families arriving to the United States. Those interviews became the narratives of the award-winning children’s book, Hear My Voice/Escucha Mi Voz. Warren has been both a Fulbright Scholar in South Africa and the inaugural Fulbright Canada-Palix Foundation Distinguished Visiting Chair in Brain Science and Child and Family Health and Wellness. She holds a BA, summa cum laude with distinction, in Literature and Psychology and an EdM from Boston University and a JD from Harvard Law School.

​Professor Binford enjoys spending time in the mountains with her husband and children snowboarding, skiing, horseback riding, hiking, and backpacking.

 

Debbie Brown

Organization Development Specialist and Social Justice Champion

The mission of Growing Up Boulder is aligned with Debbie’s passion for youth advocacy, social, political, and environmental justice. Growing Up Boulder engages Gen Z and Gen Alpha to express their wise and authentic voices regarding city planning in all aspects with equality and inclusiveness at the forefront.
 
Debbie spent over 20 years as an executive in the corporate world in Organization Development and Human Resources. Her passion was specializing in the design and implementation of people, cultural, and operational strategies with performance metrics designed to manifest an inclusive, productive, and successful work environment.
As Board Chair and member at SMWS, Debbie served the community by collaborating to create a revised vision and the implementation of the long-range strategic plan; co-designed and facilitated the board and College of Teacher’s retreat focusing on the 21st century educational needs; led the Capital Campaign to successfully purchase property to expand the campus; and chaired the ED search.
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She now consults and mentors’ young adults in career searches, resume positioning, behavioral based interviewing, and graduate school applications. Debbie consults with non-profit organizations around strategic planning and fundraising.
 
On the playful side, Debbie’s passions are practicing Iyengar Yoga, hiking in nature, and spending quality time with her daughters, friends, and puppy. She is politically active around civil and social justice for all of humanity. She is known as a “connector” to help elevate the collective through networking. In her spare time, she is a voracious reader in several genres. 

Throughout our lives from adolescence to adulthood, we aspire to have sovereignty over our choices, voices, and communities in which we reside. We want to feel safe, seen, and heard.”  

 

Edgar Chavarria

Neighborhood Liaison, City of Boulder Communications and Engagement

Edgar Chavarria participated in Growing Up Boulder activities as a child, and as an adult, he continues to give back to his community through his work as a Neighborhood Liaison for the City of Boulder and by serving on the board of Intercambio.  Edgar graduated from the University of San Diego.

Former Board Member, Mark Davison

Senior Planning Manager for City of Boulder Parks and Recreation, Advocate for Nature for All

Mark Davison is a Senior Planning Manager in the Parks and Recreation Department at the City of Boulder.   Prior to this, her served as the Community Connections & Partnerships Deputy Director at Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks.  Mark has led planning, design, and environmental education efforts for Oregon State Parks and the National Park Service. His career has focused on park planning, land management, environmental conservation and youth engagement. He has worked on numerous projects in Europe and the United States as well as teaching at the university of Oregon, the Parhassian Heritage Park Field School and is Principal Investigator for the Parrhasian Heritage Park, an effort to develop the first National Heritage Park in Greece. He received his Master’s in Environmental Planning and Landscape Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania and attended Manchester University in England for his undergraduate degree in Landscape Architecture.  He is passionate about connecting young people with nature and making such opportunities available to all, especially children with disabilities.

 

Jenefer (Jenny) Donovan

Impactful Board Member, Mom, Art Director

Jenefer is a full time mom of two and believes strongly in the importance of education and cares deeply about young people and equity. She has served on the board of trustees of Thorne Nature Experience and the board of Friends School in Boulder, CO. Jenefer and her husband moved to Boulder in 2009, falling in love with the mountains and outdoor lifestyle. In what feels like a previous life, Jenefer ran a global marketing team overseeing launches of major interactive entertainment titles, was director of a contemporary art gallery in London, a teacher in Paris, and graduated from University of London with a BA in European Studies/French and an MA in French /Theory of Art and Literature.

 

Charles Ferrer

Content and Communications Specialist​, University of Colorado

Charles has more than 10 years experience in the world of public education, college success, communications and advocacy.

Previously, Charles oversaw an internship program at DSST: Public Schools, a STEM-focused charter network in Denver partnering with organizations related to business, STEM and advocacy to provide experiences for high school students. In that role, he also worked on college-going initiatives supporting first-generation students with college and financial aid applications, along with family engagement.
Charles worked at FORTUNE 500 companies handling corporate communications and media relations.

He received his undergraduate degree in geography from Pennsylvania State University. In his free time, Charles enjoys hiking and searches for the best local coffee shops during his travels around the world.

Polly Fields

International Philanthropy Specialist

Polly Fields has been working in philanthropy for more than 25 years in a number of fields: global health, education, technology, and the arts. She has held leadership positions in the private and nonprofit sectors, and also serves as a Trustee for her family’s foundation. Polly has devoted her personal and professional life to protecting human rights for local and global communities around the world. 

Most recently, Polly was Head of Social Impact at Dropbox and launched the Dropbox Foundation prior to the company going public in 2018. In addition to developing the company’s human rights portfolio, she spearheaded employee giving, developed community engagement partnerships, and supported the company’s first sustainability efforts. Prior to Dropbox, Polly spent 8 years in public affairs and government affairs roles at Gilead Sciences, a company known for its HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis treatments. She focused on expanding Gilead’s treatment access efforts in the developing world, the Gilead Foundation, and health policy initiatives, working in close collaboration with U.S. and international policymakers, multilateral donor organizations, academic institutions, clinicians, and NGOs. Polly was also the first Chief of Staff for President Clinton’s HIV/AIDS Initiative, working in Africa and the Caribbean to partner with country governments to develop and implement national HIV/AIDS care and treatment plans.  
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Polly earned her undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. She serves as co-chair of the Board at WITNESS and as an executive committee member of the Board at the Colorado Chautauqua Association. She is involved with Flatirons Elementary School and Next Chapter. She lives in Boulder, Colorado with her husband and two sons. 

Kazuyo Morita

Trademark and Intellectual Property Lawyer, Community Volunteer, Creative Thinker

Kazuyo Morita is an intellectual property and trademark lawyer at Holland and Hart.  She provides creative legal advice by applying her background in educational neuroscience, synthesizing complex information into a more visual and understandable format. She regularly provides counsel to clients in the consumer products, food and beverage, fashion and luxury goods, jewelry, scientific instruments, resort and entertainment, and pharmaceuticals industries.  Prior to joining Holland & Hart, Kazuyo was an educational neuroscience researcher with an emphasis on emotions and their effects on decision-making.  She has served on the Boulder Library Foundation and volunteers for many local nonprofits.  She received her J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School, her M. Ed. from Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and her BA from the University of California Berkeley.

 

Felicia Naranjo Martinez

Director of Special Projects for the University of Colorado, Boulder Department of Environmental Studies

​As of November 2022, Felicia Naranjo Martinez has joined the Department of Environmental Studies, University of Colorado Boulder staff to direct various projects, programs and initiatives put forth by the Department Chair and faculty under the title of Director of Special Projects.  In 2010, she signed on as Administrative Manager, for the Colorado European Union Center of Excellence, University of Colorado Boulder, she served two years in this capacity. Then from 2012 – 2022 she served as Center’s Executive Director.

Felicia earned a BA in English and Primary Teaching Certificate from the University of Colorado Boulder and holds an Associate Degree in Human Services from Metropolitan State University where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She serves on the board of directors for the Santa Fe World Affairs Forum, POCACITO and Growing Up Boulder.
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Her interests include climate change mitigation and just transition, programs for youth that encourage and support social justice and the ongoing evolution of the European Union. On a lighter note, she enjoys time with family, friends, walking in nature, esoteric studies, music and reading.

 

Charlotte O'Donnell

City of Boulder, City Planner

Charlotte O'Donnell is a bilingual city parks planner, dedicated to deep community engagement and great design.  In her day-job, she collaborates with Growing Up Boulder on the Violet (soon to be "Primos") Park project via her role at Parks and Recreation.  She is also committed to taking climate action.  During her year abroad in Talca, Chile, she worked with the municipal government and a team of graduate students on "Re-imagining Campus, Revitalizing the City: Feasibility for earthquake reconstruction in Talca." Charlotte received her bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of California, Berkeley.

Former Board Member, Arlando Smith

Retired Superintendent, Systems Thinker, Consultant on the Union City Kids' Zone, and Former San Jose State Professor

Arlando describes himself as a "social justice educator" with the emphasis being on the word justice.  With 40 years in the field, he has had the wonderful opportunity to experience the spectrum of urban public education. Prior to serving as superintendent he was Chief Academic Officer,  an assistant professor in Educational Leadership at San Jose State University, where he was Director of the Urban High School Leadership Program. He also developed and led the Educational Leadership Program at John F. Kennedy University. Arlando has spent a considerable amount of time studying and teaching on a wide range of topics, including issues of race and equity, power, leadership development, and educational politics. During Arlando’s tenure as superintendent, he received the “Valuing Diversity Award'' several times, from within the district and from the Association of California School Administrators - a statewide organization. ​

 

Bernadette Stewart

Assistant Dean of People, Engagement & Culture, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder

Bernadette Stewart started her career at CU Boulder over 20 years ago in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Academic Advising Center. 

​The CAS includes of 45+ academic units, programs, and centers, 1300 faculty, 400 staff, and over 18,000 undergraduate students.  Bernadette is the appointing authority for CAS the university and classified staff, and is in charge of CAS personnel, and wellness initiatives.  She serves as an advisor to seven deans and more than 45+ faculty chairs and directors on faculty affairs and HR-related matters including: recruitment, compensation, onboarding, employee engagement and development, performance management, evaluation and merit, dispute resolution and progressive discipline, leave administration, and resignations and retirements.

Bernadette’s interests include civic engagement that encourages social justice, equity, and access for all.  She serves on the Workforce Boulder County board and Growing Up Boulder.  Bernadette works to building strong relationships across CU Boulder, and beyond, in order to offer strategies and solutions to critical business challenges.  Her intersectional identities as a multiracial, working class, hetero, cis gender woman have caused her to experience life in the margins.  Her experience has taught her that students, faculty, and staff need to see and hear reflections of themselves, which is why she is called to search for and cultivate connectivity, challenge barriers, fight for equity, and to seek inclusion. 

Bernadette received her BA in Anthropology, and Art/Art History with a minor in Ethnic Studies, and her MA in Educational Foundations Policy and Practice from the University of Colorado Boulder.