Staff

Avi Haimowitz has worked as a victim advocate with DOVE since late 2011. She began in the Outreach Coordinator role, and became Program Director in 2013. Avi was incredibly honored to be promoted by the Board to the Executive Director position in early 2018. Working with Deaf, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and Hard of Hearing (DDBDDHH) victims and survivors within the community has taught Avi so much. As an advocate, she has witnessed the barriers that DDBDDHH victims/survivors often face when navigating the legal, medical, and human services systems across Colorado. These experiences re-traumatize our community members who have already gone through so much. It is Avi’s lifelong goal to try her hardest to help ensure that the needs of DDBDDHH victims are recognized and addressed in equitable ways. Additionally, Avi is proud to have a team of staff, volunteer advocates, and Board members who recognize the importance of racial, economic, and social justice for all. Reducing and ending the impact of abuse requires lifelong efforts to also end the discrimination and oppression of marginalized groups within our larger DDBDDHH community.

As the current Executive Director, Avi’s role is to sustain and build DOVE’s financial health; work closely with DOVE’s Board of Directors as well as funders; ensure DOVE’s programs and activities align with our organizational mission and values; and support the needs of DOVE’s staff and volunteers so that all can, in turn, best serve our community of victims and survivors. A Licensed Social Worker, Avi graduated from Gallaudet University with her MSW in 2010. When she’s not in the office or working with survivors, you can find Avi hiking or snowshoeing in the mountains with her two beloved dogs.

With 7 years of experience working within the Social Services field as a case manager, advocate, and forensic social worker, one of the most valuable things Sabrina has carried with her is the ability to be mindful of variations in perspectives. Being able to respect various perspectives allows Sabrina as an advocate to wholeheartedly provide support that takes into account other service providers’ perspectives along with the perspectives of DDBDDHH individuals.

After graduating with a Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Denver, obtaining her Animal-Assisted Therapy Certification, and completing certification training to certify her Deaf dog as a Therapy canine, becoming involved with DOVE as the Program Director only felt natural for Sabrina. She feels blessed to be a part of an organization that has an amazing mission and vision, and is very fortunate to work with a great team. As the Program Director, it is Sabrina’s responsibility to ensure the successful delivery of all DOVE programs and activities as well as to provide victim advocacy services. On the days Sabrina is not working, you can find her out on the open road as she loves taking road-trips and exploring untouched parts of the country. Otherwise, Sabrina is often gardening, crafting, or going on day-long hikes with her furry ones.

Yuni is a first generation Mexican-American born and raised in Colorado with a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish from Gallaudet University. For the past 5 years Yuni has been involved in many different kinds of jobs such as Student Teaching Assistant for World Language and Culture Department and Student Organization Assistant for Campus Activities at Gallaudet University. She also served as President for Latinx Student Union, and was involved as Volunteer Coordinator for ColorFEST sponsored by Student Body Government during her time as a student. Yuni also did her internship in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico working closely with the Deaf Mexican community teaching ASL and English and at the same time learning Mexican Sign Language.In August 2018, Yuni traveled to Quito, Ecuador on behalf of Gallaudet University’s Master Program in International Development and the Burstein Center for Excellence, Leadership, and Innovation to be one of the co-trainers on a Deaf Leadership training project working closely with FENASEC, a well-known Deaf organization in Quito.

Yuni is honored to work for DOVE as Advocacy Coordinator; her responsibilities include monitoring and responding to our 24-hour crisis line, recruiting and supervising volunteer advocates, supporting DOVE programming including community education workshops, Youth Advocacy, and of course most importantly, providing victim services. Yuni’s main goal is to promote more awareness regarding diversity and social justice within and outside of DOVE. In her free time, Yuni likes to shop at the mall, read at home or watch movies, try out new cuisines, and when she can, traveling!

Ami has been with DOVE since 2001, starting as the Victim Advocacy Coordinator, moving to Program Director, Executive Director, and now the Survivor Resiliency Coordinator position. After graduating with her Master of Social Work degree from Boston University, Ami worked as a Mental Health Therapist at Mental Health Center of Denver (MHCD) Deaf Counseling Services for over eight years before becoming full-time with DOVE. Ami continues to be involved with Colorado Daylight Partnership as a consultant and trainer focusing on advancing access in Mental Health and Substance Abuse settings for Deaf and hard of hearing Coloradans.

Al was born in Denver, Colorado and has been Deaf since birth. With a background in Criminal Justice from the University of Whitewater, he has spent 10 years volunteering and working with victims, providing resources and advocating for them within the court system, as well as monitoring crisis lines. In the past, Al volunteered for DOVE before moving to WI to work for Deaf Unity for 8 years. It is an honor for Al to return to Colorado as the Resource Advocate for DOVE; it is also an honor for him to work alongside co-workers, survivors and community members, and victim service providers. Al’s goal is to provide education and awareness to Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing communities about domestic and sexual violence. He also wishes to raise community awareness about the services DOVE provides.