WHO WE ARE

Stacey believes fiercely in challenging perceptions and in the power of transformation. Growing up in an entrepreneurial household, with a father who took full advantage of his second chance in life after recovering from addiction, Stacey has always been inspired to facilitate transformation in the lives of others. Stacey received a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Colorado State University and a master’s in social work from the University of Denver. Prior to joining Defy Colorado, Stacey provided mental health and substance abuse treatment to men on parole and probation.

Izzy believes people are not meant to do life alone and that laugher is healing. Her belief stems from personal experience. When she immigrated from Mexico with her mother, the community they found helped a single mother get back on her feet. Izzy was adopted by her father. The acceptance extended to her by her adopted father’s family helped strengthen her drive for connection and humor. Izzy had the privilege of being mentored by professionals. This mentorship allowed her to practice her skills while learning from the lives of others. These experiences led Izzy to gain her Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology and her Master of Arts in Youth and Family Development. Today she uses her expertise to form community and educational programs.

Nick has been with Defy Ventures Colorado from the very beginning—starting with DVC’s first cohort at Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility. He has a background in IT and web development, having spent nearly eight years leading a website that generated $10-16M in revenue for the state of Colorado annually. Having attended the Bachelors of Marketing program at Metropolitan State University of Denver, he looks forward to matching his technical skills with his deep understanding of the struggles Defy’s graduates face upon release.

Belle is a graduate of the first cohort Defy launched at La Vista, earning co-valedictorian honors along with a finalist finish. She passionately believes that no one should be remembered only for the worst decision they ever made. She is using her lived experience to challenge the perceptions of what prison is like for women and what re-entry can look like. While inside, she completed Cosmetology, the Art of Being Human, the Inside-Out Prison Exchange, Beyond Thinking, and served as a Peer Education Mentor and a 7 Habits Core Group Member. She worked as the Pre-Release Clerk and assisted in the development and implementation of the Re-Entry Unit Program at La Vista. She is the first Fellow named at the Prison Journalism Project and is the visionary behind the graduate program at The Realness Project. She was the first woman from La Vista to be published in The Inside Report and has an essay published in the CCJRC Go Guide about being successful on parole.