Brian Barhaugh, Co-Founder and Executive Director
Brian has been working with young people for more than twenty years! He started out as a General Contractor and found his calling when he volunteered teaching inner-city youth construction skills. Not long after he became the Founder and Executive Director of YouthBiz, Inc. where he served for 14 years. In 2007, he co-founded Project VOYCE, and has remained at the helm here ever since. In his spare time he grows an amazing organic garden and enjoys spending time with his family. bbarhaugh@gmail.com
Dayna Scott, Deputy Director
Dayna has always had a passion for positive youth development! During her own teen years she was part of a group called Youth to Youth of Ohio that focused on helping students make healthy choices and become positive role models for their peers. As an adult she got to utilize the skills she learned as a teen and served for two decades as the Director and later Grants Manager for a non-profit in Vermont called Connecting Youth. While at CY she worked on many projects “with, not for” youth, including leadership retreats, parent-teen dialogue nights, youth-adult mentoring, and the See Why Teen Theater Improv Troupe. Dayna loves to laugh and her hobbies include theater improv, dance, yoga, skiing, cooking and reading. Dayna joined Project VOYCE in April of 2013. daynascott1@gmail.com
Lorenzo Sanchez, Site Coordinator
Lorenzo Sánchez is a recent DU graduate and a Daniels Scholar. He first got involved with Project VOYCE in 2008 when we was a senior in high school and is now working full-time at Project VOYCE at two Chapter Teams–Manual High School and Bruce Randoph High School. In his spare time, he enjoys engaging in activities ranging from boxing and martial arts, to running and hiking, and even drinking tea and playing chess. l.sanchez.pv@gmail.com
Shelby Gonzales Parker, Co-Training Director and Site Coordinator
Shelby’s life was headed in a dangerous direction in middle school. Fortunately a remarkable teacher connected with her. Seeking a school that fit her culture and her voracious desire to learn, she attended 4 different schools before graduating from one of Denver’s newest charter schools as the first Valedictorian. She is a single mom and has just entered Metro State University where her career goal is to be a teacher. In addition to being a Trainer at Project VOYCE , she was the sole student representative on the State Council of Educator Effectiveness appointed by Bill Ritter from 2010 to 2012. shelby@projectvoyce.org
Samantha Lobato, Co-Training Director and Site Coordinator
Samantha is a Youth Trainer at Project VOYCE and as a high school student attended CEC Middle College of Denver. All of her life she has liked school and has excelled in academics. Growing up, she was very shy throughout out her childhood, but has begun to find herself and come out of her shell after being with Project VOYCE for more than two years. Samantha is a very strong and motivated student who has a large interest in film and photography, although her career goal is to be a Math Teacher. She is now attending the University of Denver. samanthalobato30@gmail.com
Uche Ohaya, Site Coordinator
As an adolescent, Uche never really understood the power of her voice. Having felt as though middle school was a wasted three years of her life, she went on to attend a more challenging high school in hopes of new-found knowledge and something different. Up until her freshman year of high school at DSST, Uche was more timid than outspoken. It was the Spring semester of 2007 when she found out about the power of a student’s voice. Project VOYCE was Uche’s first job at age 14 as she joined the second PV crew. The excitement that came with a first job fueled a passion that she hasn’t let go of since. Finding her voice enabled Uche to not only positively shape her high school experience but to impact her community from high school, on to her undergraduate studies. Uche attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley for two years and recently returned in the Summer of 2012 to attend Metropolitan State University of Denver. She is currently a Youth Leader and Site Coordinator for the Noel Community Arts School at Project VOYCE. Uohaya@gmail.com
Sir Martin, Project Specialist
Involved at Project VOYCE since the summer of 2010, Sir Martin has made some big life changes. “Make your next move your best move,” became his model after being sent to jail for drug charges. PV welcomed his return and supported him in many ways during his metamorphosis from a hardcore gang member to a meta-cognitive team-member of PV. Today, he is currently attending the University of Colorado Denver and will major in business. In his free time he enjoys making chess moves on the board and off and spending time with loved ones, particularly his son who happens also to be named Sir.
Additional PV Youth Trainers
Brea Harris, Chaunsae Dyson, Destiny Carney, Luis Robles, Monique Lobato, Sindy Ramirez, and Spencer Edwards
We read your storys about your life.