Our Team
Our team brings together diverse expertise across social work, education, law, public policy, and direct service, united by a shared commitment to advancing prevention, strengthening systems of care, and creating meaningful impact in the lives of youth and communities.
Mindy Van Kalsbeek, MSW/LSW
Mindy Van Kalsbeek is a licensed social worker in Colorado with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and extensive experience in program development within complex, highly regulated systems. Her work is grounded in a commitment to high-quality, person-centered services and educational excellence.
She began her career at a nonprofit serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, where she spent over a decade strengthening service delivery, aligning practices with regulatory standards, and enhancing organizational infrastructure. During this time, she also served as adjunct faculty in an online MSW program, teaching graduate-level social work courses.
Mindy later joined Colorado State University, where she advised MSW students and taught across online, hybrid, and in-person formats. She went on to serve as MSW Program Director, supporting curriculum development, program design, and operations.
She currently serves as Regulatory and Licensing Compliance Manager at Eating Recovery Center Pathlight, where she leads compliance and licensing efforts as a core component of patient-centered care. Across all roles, she brings expertise in program implementation grounded in integrity, transparency, and a commitment to excellence.
Heather Kopas, MSSA/MSW
Heather Kopas brings extensive experience in the nonprofit sector and a strong commitment to serving people through impactful, well-designed programs. She currently serves as Program and Grants Administrator for the Denver Housing Authority.
Throughout her career, Heather has held a range of client-focused and administrative leadership roles. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Intercultural Studies with a focus on Urban Homeless Ministry from Grace University and a Master of Science in Social Service Administration/Social Work with a specialization in Community Development from Case Western Reserve University.
She is a Certified Life Coach through the International Coach Federation and holds additional certifications as an Emergency Medical Technician, through FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute, and in Shelter Management through the Citygate Network. She is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Heather is driven by a deep commitment to helping people and supporting organizations in achieving meaningful, high-impact outcomes. She believes social programs must operate with the highest level of effectiveness to truly serve those who depend on them.
Jill Brogdon
Jill Brogdon serves as the Human Trafficking Program Coordinator for the Colorado Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Justice, Office for Victims Programs. In this role, she coordinates the work of the Colorado Human Trafficking Council and delivers statewide training to key stakeholders.
Appointed by Governor Hickenlooper in 2014 as the Council’s first survivor representative, Jill has played a significant leadership role in advancing prevention and policy efforts. She chaired the 2018 Prevention Task Force and served as Vice Chair beginning in 2020 before joining the Council team in a formal capacity in 2022.
Since 2015, she has also worked as an independent subject matter expert, providing trauma-informed consulting to nonprofits and government agencies, including the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Transportation. She completed the NHTTAC Human Trafficking Leadership Academy fellowship and contributed to the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report.
Jill’s work includes contributions to Colorado’s “This is Human Trafficking” public awareness campaign, and she received the 2021 Survivor Activist Award from the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault for her advocacy efforts.
Jeffrey A. Land, Esq.
Jeffrey A. Land serves as legal counsel to Youth Rising-Up Initiative. He holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis School of Law and is licensed to practice in Tennessee and Colorado, as well as multiple U.S. federal courts, including the U.S. Courts of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.
He brings over three decades of experience in business representation, nonprofit advising, and complex litigation. His areas of practice include corporate and contract law, employment law, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance.
Jeff has advised organizations on risk management, governance, and legal structure, and has served in both judicial and public service roles. His legal expertise supports the organization’s compliance, integrity, and long-term operational sustainability.
Reverend Janice Madsen, C.C.C.
Reverend Janice Madsen serves as a board member of Youth Rising-Up Initiative and brings extensive experience in faith-based service, recovery support, and child and family advocacy. She is an ordained Christian minister with a longstanding commitment to serving vulnerable populations.
She has worked directly with women recovering from human trafficking through Shannon’s House and has provided outreach and support to individuals experiencing homelessness through Christian Body Ministries. Her professional background also includes work as an adoption counselor and specialist with Adams County at Rocky Mountain Adoption Exchange.
Janice brings practical insight, ethical perspective, and service-centered experience to the mission and governance of Youth Rising-Up Initiative.
Dr. Mitch Peritz
Founder
Dr. Mitch Peritz, a recipient of the Mayor's Certificate of Recognition in New York City for his dedicated work with adolescents, has recently returned to his passion for youth engagement.
He graduated from the Master of Social Work program at Colorado State University, focusing on combatting human trafficking where he developed an innovative trafficking prevention program for youth, grounded in experiential learning through the creative arts.
With over 40 years of experience in the healing arts, including chiropractic and functional medicine, complemented by his trainings in Bioenergetics therapy and Jungian analysis, Dr. Peritz brings a fresh, integrated approach to creating a forum where adolescents are challenged to understand and combat human trafficking.