Resilience1220 names new executive director

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Resilience1220 has someone new at the helm.

e nonpro t organization that provides mental health counseling to those 12 to 20, plus o ering group sessions and working with parents, has named local Annie Cooley as its executive director. Cooley replaces Heather Aberg, who founded the organization with Jen Pearson in May 2019.

Cooley has been interim executive director since Aberg stepped down in November and has been working closely with Aberg through the transition, said Susan Kramer, chair of the Resilience1220 board.

“ e Resilience1220 board of directors is thrilled to have appointed Annie Cooley as executive director,” Kramer said. “She is passionate about the work and very committed to the organization and the young people of the mountain communities.”

Cooley joined the Resilience1220 panel of therapists in 2020. She was the organization’s group and intake coordinator, connecting young people and their families with Resilience1220’s therapists and support groups. For the past two years,

Cooley has overseen the 21st Century Grant, a partnership with the Clear Creek County School District that enables Resilience1220 to provide mental health-related activities for Clear Creek youth outside of the school day.

“I’m so happy she’s in charge (of Resilience1220),” Aberg said. “She understands the people and the needs of the community. She is organized, kind and sweet as can be, and she totally understands what we’re doing and why.”

Cooley said a position like Resilience1220’s executive director has been one of her career goals.

“It’s such an important mission to provide mental health to youth and families,” she said. “I wanted to be part of making sure it kept going.”

She hopes to nd more grants that could help expand Resilience1220’s reach and to build more relationships with schools in the four-county area the organization serves: Jefferson, Clear Creek, Gilpin and Park. In the future, she’d like to see the organization reach out to children younger than 12.

“I hope we can reduce the stigma of mental health,” she said.

Cooley has a master’s degree in foundation of applied behavior analysis from the University of Cincinnati and an undergraduate degree in communications from Whitworth University. She is a Board Certi ed Behavior Analyst.

Since May 1, 2019, Resilience1220 has served more than 1,100 youth, 191 parents/guardians and 49 teachers in individual therapy, providing more than 7,744 hours of free counseling and more than 1, 465 hours of free case management.