Who We Are

Community Investment Alliance is a 501c3 organization based out of Aurora, Colorado.

The Community Investment Alliance partners with local communities to develop housing solutions across the continuum, create culturally appropriate services programming, and increase food access through strategic, community-led initiatives.

As we work across the state of Colorado, we acknowledge that we are on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Southern Ute, Ute Mountain Ute, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Apache, Comanche, and Shoshone People.

Dr. Kathleen Van Voorhis

  • Kathleen holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Walden University and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver. She has held a variety of leadership roles in emergency sheltering, service design, delivery coordination, and coalition building. A born-and-raised Coloradan, Kathleen is passionate about working throughout the state to bring about sustainable change.

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Stephanos Calligas

  • Stephanos brings a wealth of experience to his work, having immersed himself in various realms such as wilderness therapy, disability services, and emergency response. His diverse background equips him with a unique perspective and a deep understanding of human dynamics in different environments. What truly ignites his spirit is his unwavering passion for fostering genuine connections and sharing a profound sense of soulful humanity with others.

Director of La Plata County Services

Board of Directors

  • Peter LiFari

    Peter LiFari

    Executive Director at Maiker Housing Partners

  • Rebecca Miller Updike

    Rebecca Miller Updike

    Executive Director at Colorado Association of Family & Children’s Agencies (CAFCA)

  • Rev. Benjamin A. David Hensley

    Rev. Benjamin A. David Hensley

    Lead Pastor at Lakewood United Methodist Church

  • Jaimin Williams Harris

    Jaimin Williams Harris

    Entrepreneur & Housing Advocate

  • Cec Ortiz

    Cec Ortiz

    Community Activist & Project Management Consultant

  • Christina Garcia

    Christina Garcia

    Head of Programs at Community Economic Defense Project

Advisory Board

  • Advisory Board Member

    Brianna Adams serves as the Corporate Responsibility Officer for Colorado and Utah at KeyBank. In this role, she manages the financial resources designated for philanthropic endeavors and crafts investment strategies to address the requirements of the local community. She also plays a crucial role in cultivating and sustaining relationships with community-centric, charitable, and non-profit organizations. Furthermore, she is responsible for overseeing KeyBank’s adherence to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) compliance goals across the entire region.

    Previously, she served as Associate Vice President, Community Development Officer for the state of Colorado at Independent Financial. There, she identified, developed, and maintained partnerships throughout Colorado to meet community need and fulfill CRA service, lending and investment objectives.

    Adams is a recipient of a U.S. Fulbright grant and graduated with honors from the University of Alabama. Her Bachelor of Arts degree is in English Literature, with a specialized focus on African American women’s literature.

  • Advisory Board Member

    Naomi Amaha is an award-winning public affairs leader. She is the inaugural Director of Policy and Government Affairs for The Denver Foundation, the largest community foundation in the Rocky Mountain West. She previously worked for The American Heart Association, where she built strong stakeholder relationships and advanced policy change at local and state levels in multiple states.

    Naomi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Communication from the University of California Davis, a certification in Corporate Social Responsibility from the University of Colorado Boulder Leeds School of Business, and a Certified Nonprofit Professional certificate from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance. She co-chairs the City and County of Denver’s Sustainable Transportation Committee of the Sustainability Advisory Council, is a Board Member of the Alliance for Collective Action and Colorado Women’s Chamber Foundation, a steering committee member of the Downtown Denver Partnership’s Urban Exploration, and member of the Colorado Black Women for Political Action.

  • Advisory Board Member

    Melissa Mejía currently serves as the Director of State and Local Policy at the Community Economic Defense Project (CEDP), where she plays a pivotal role in spearheading and championing policy reforms aimed at advancing housing and economic justice across the entire state. Drawing upon her upbringing in Denver’s Northside, Melissa leverages her personal experiences and her unique ability to navigate a wide array of environments to shed light on systemic biases and give voice to the underrepresented.

    Previously, Melissa served as an aide in the District 3 Council office, focusing on the diverse, historically Latino/Chicano, and rapidly evolving Westside of Denver. Her primary mission revolves around fostering equity in practical terms, ensuring that everyone has a seat at the table, regardless of their current access to necessary resources. Melissa holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s degree in public administration, both earned at the University of Colorado Denver.