A Denver native who received his degree in history from Brown University, Bill returned to Denver and began his teaching career with the launch of the Rocky Mountain School of Expeditionary Learning (RMSEL). He spent six years at RMSEL as a humanities teacher and Upper School Director, and completed his MA in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Colorado at Denver. Upon leaving RMSEL, he worked as a facilitator and coach to schools in the national Expeditionary Learning network, helping them develop strategic plans for whole-school change.
In 2000, Bill helped establish the Denver and Rocky Mountain States office for Facing History and Ourselves, an internationally acclaimed curriculum project that uses case studies from history to engage students, teachers, and communities in the process of creating a stronger civil society. He recently completed a doctoral program at the University of Denver and Iliff School of Theology focusing on public dialogue, collaboration, and civil society. He lives in Denver with his wife Marcia, and children Ben and Elena.
Drew takes primary responsibility for the Neighborhood Vital Signs project and outreach efforts to foundations, civic organizations, and other community partners. He brings a strong background in facilitation, community organizing, civic indicator development, and executive experience to the Canopy team.
Prior to joining the Canopy staff, O'Connor served as Executive Director of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods (CHUN) in Denver. In that role he led a 38 year old, grass-roots, neighborhood organization bringing residents, city government, non-profits, churches, civic organizations and businesses together to engage in dialogue and address pressing community issues.
Before CHUN, he served as Community Services Director for the National Civic League based in Denver, developing community planning and civic engagement projects in cities throughout the United States. As Healthy Communities Coordinator for the Louisiana Health Department, Drew guided citizen-driven, systems-change projects to improve the health and quality of life in Louisiana communities.
In the early 1990s, he spent two years with the Peace Corps in Paraguay developing health education/water sanitation projects in rural villages. Drew has MA in Public Health from Tulane University and BA in Political Science from Rutgers. Creating the conditions for meaningful dialogue and the strengthening the civic health of communities are the common threads of his varied experiences.
Ana Soler comes to the Canopy with 20 years of service in both the nonprofit and government arenas. She began her career with Denver Partners and then had the opportunity to work with runaway and homeless youth at Urban Peak, developing the outreach program. At the Denver District Attorney’s Office Juvenile Diversion program she managed a caseload of juvenile offenders and created an art program for youth to pay victim restitution. Ana then became a staff member of a Department of Justice grant-funded program within the DA's office, Victim Services 2000. The purpose of the 5 year model program was to improve services to crime victims through collaborative strategies among 40 plus agencies. Ana left to focus on service learning and education as the Executive Director of FrontRange Earth Force.
Ana brings a passion for facilitation, collaborative partnerships, program development and inclusivity. She has an extraordinary gift for building community among individuals and organizations.
email: ana@civiccanopy.org
phone: 303-292-3144
Rose Maes, Office Manager
Rose Maes, a native of Colorado, has joined our team as the Office Manager. She has worked in office management for over 15 years. While she gained knowledge in office management, she was involved with various community programs which began in 1993 when she participated as an Americorps volunteer with the Metro Denver Gang Coalition representing Youth Train A Parents Movement as the office clerk, community organizer and educator on gangs.
Rose earned a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science with an emphasis in Political Science and a minor in criminal justice from Metropolitan State College of Denver. She is currently an administrative support assistant supervisor for the City and County of Denver Environmental Quality Division and continues to give presentations on females in gangs at Metro State College.
