About

Sade Cooper | sade@chicdenver.org

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Sade, a Denver, Colorado native, was raised in Moreno Valley, California, yet her roots run deep in the Mile-High City. She returned to Colorado in 2000 to complete her high school education and embark on a journey towards a degree in Healthcare Management. From a young age, Sade harbored a relentless curiosity, with aspirations of becoming either a doctor or a financial advisor. Her unwavering passion ultimately guided her to join U.S. Bank in 2004, where she discovered her true calling as a servant leader.

Sade’s unwavering commitment to her community has propelled her into various volunteer opportunities and prominent community leadership roles. Currently, Sade serves as a board member for the Parkhill Pirates and Bell Policy. She previously held positions on the boards of Project Voyce and Second Chance Home Ministries, as well as Nonprofit Board Bound, where she dedicated her time to preparing women for service on nonprofit boards. Additionally, Sade took on a mentoring role in Goodwill’s Summer Bridge Mentor Program and served as an American Heart Ambassador.

Sade is an alumni of the Urban Leadership Foundation, The Rose Foundation Endowment cohort, and the Denver Foundation Landscape cohort.

Continuing her commitment to serve, Sade co-founded and now leads as CEO of the Collaborative Healing Initiative within Communities (CHIC). She is also the visionary force behind Justice for Black Coloradans (JBC) and Educational Justice for Black Coloradans (EJBC). Through these initiatives, she empowers women, families and communities to develop economic, social, and cultural capital, recognizing that empowered women play a pivotal role in building healthy families and thriving communities. Sade remains a steadfast steward for her community, dedicated to changing lives one day at a time.

Hilari Smith | hilari@chicdenver.org

Co-Founder
Chief Operations Officer

​Being taught the importance of family and community relations at a young age, I know the positive affects of being surrounded with love and support in your life, and the difference it can make without it. I believe we often forget we have all been blessed with a superpower, which is the ability to Love. My personal commitment to invest back into my community and the women and girls who mirror who I am stems from my inherited responsibility to love.

​”It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” – Audre Lorde

Katherine Casey, ED.L.D. | katherine@chicdenver.org

Chief Stratagy Officer

​All young people are intelligent, creative, and filled with potential. After fifteen years in public education, I believe deeply in the power of our youth and the urgency of the work we must do to make our communities safe, equitable, and sustainable. With faith in children and refusing to accept inequality as a given, I commit to supporting allied efforts that enable educational, social, and economic justice. I believe that WE are the ones we have been waiting for: the change we need will come from the collective passion, wisdom, and capacity that exists within our communities.

​”Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” – Fannie Lou Hamer

Director of Workforce

Every woman has insight and wisdom that needs to be heard. As women, we come from a place of compassion, intelligence and grace AND we are not run by our ego’s. Women have been and continue to be silenced, marginalized and oppressed by men, society and systems. We know our worth and are coming into our power as daughters, mothers, sisters, friends and colleagues. CHIC is changing the narrative and creating power, opportunity and wealth in the lives of girls & women. I could not be more honored to be part of this team of women who are working and living tirelessly to empower and support all of us.

“I raise up my voice not so that I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard…..We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.” –Malala Yousafzai

Sheriece Hurd sheriece@chicdenver.org

Lead Youth Service Specialist

Dedication can become transformational when you are willing to follow your passion. I finally have the opportunity to help amend women’s lives from unfortunate circumstances and inequities that have limited their opportunities to success. As a result of following my passion I am happy to be a part of a team that is solution based, giving hope to those who may have lost it, and believing in dreams that with support and resources can easily become real.

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world”

-Mahatma Gandhi II

Noel Emerson noel@chicdenver.org

Re-Entry Elementary Coordinator

You’ve got a friend in me! After working in education for 12 years I have a strong belief that every child needs someone in their life that will be their biggest cheerleader, supporter and caring person they can depend on. That’s my life long commitment to the families, students and community that I serve.

Every child deserves a champion, an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection

-Rita F Pierson

Tia DeVille tia@chicdenver.org

Judicial Specialist

I truly have a passion for youth, community engagement and sisterhood. I’ve dedicated over 16 years to empowering youth and intentionally showing up as the person I needed in my own life as an adolescent. My personal mission is to “Be Present. Be Mindful. Spread Love.” CHIC provides a safe space for young girls and women to express when they are lost, feel hurt or broken, and own when they just need help. I am honored to have the opportunity to help drive our community forward and to prove just how magical we are.

Iram Abdullah iram@chicdenver.org

Director of Youth Programs

Iram was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She graduated from East High school in 2003, and went on to Howard University where she played Division 1 lacrosse and studied Communications. After graduating from Howard University in 2007, Iram began working in Education as a Special Education Para for her Alma Mater, East High School. During her sixteen years at DPS, Iram has served as Dean of students and Assistant Principal. In 2015, Iram decided to take a break from school work and became a Case Manager for a child placement agency, working with youth who were serving juvenile prison sentences and working to return children to their families. In July 2023, Iram obtained her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, from The University of Denver. Iram’s passion is serving her community and working with children and families of color, by providing education and mental health services. Currently, Iram serves as the Director of Youth Services at CHIC, where she is honored to be a leader and work alongside powerful women who share her passion. Iram is a mother of two daughters, and she enjoys traveling, reading, dancing and cooking.

How We Work – CHIC Values and Working Commitments

Invest in women – We believe that investing in the health, wealth, and wellbeing of women strengthens families and communities.

Support families – We believe in wrapping supports around the families of the women we serve.

Mentor mind, body, and spirit – We believe in healthy living, health relationships, and healthy decision-making.

Develop positive identity – We believe in personal and collective pride, efficacy, and power.

Cultivate capital – We believe that connections between families, institutions, and service providers strengthens the social fabric in our communities.

Innovate – We believe that we must adapt to fill unmet needs, find unrealized opportunities, and better serve our changing community.