When John (he/him) joined Community Health Partnership as the Program and Outreach Director for Prism Community Collective (Prism), he brought with him over 15 years of operations and managerial experience with The Melting Pot Restaurants. As a survivor of the attack at Club Q in Colorado Springs in November 2022, he has witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of this tragedy on the community. This experience has driven him to shift his career towards survivor and LGBTQ+ advocacy and support.

In response to the institutional breakdowns in addressing the needs of Club Q survivors, he has taken a leadership role in advocating for victims, families, and survivors, ensuring they receive the necessary resources and support. He has engaged in conversations with statewide leaders and collaborated with government institutions, non-profits, and first response teams to drive systemic change in how mass tragedy events are handled in Colorado Springs following Club Q. Speaking about his experiences statewide with the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance (COVA), he strives to effect meaningful change at the Victim Advocate level by fostering a deeper understanding of how to address the needs of survivors and victims of mass tragedies.

John has been instrumental in the development, operations, and launch of Prism, Colorado Springs’ newest LGBTQ+ resource center. This center is dedicated to serving those directly impacted by the Club Q tragedy and the broader LGBTQ+ community in the Pikes Peak Region.