Conference Leadership Team
Ersaleen Hope
Executive Director
Ersaleen currently holds the position of Assistant Vice President of Institutional Equity and Belonging at Colorado College. Ersaleen brings an extensive background in event coordination, program management, social justice, advocacy, community engagement and leading with an antiracist, diversity, equity and inclusion approach. She is the founder of H.O.P.E. in Action LLC where she provides organization consulting and transformational coaching services for school districts, local and state governments, and nonprofits. Her eldest son attended the AAYLC in 2023, and she accompanied him. This allowed her to witness firsthand people working together for a common goal. She looks forward to leading similar experiences to enhance student empowerment in their communities and beyond.
Debra Johnson
Deputy Executive Director
For eleven years, Debra was the Director of the Colorado Springs Pregnancy Center. She has volunteered with several organizations, including the AAYLC. Given her outstanding experience in leadership and marketing, we believe she will be instrumental in driving our mission forward and having a substantial influence in the community. Her granddaughter attended the AAYLC as a sixth grader in 2023.