Ending recidivism in Colorado, one resource at a time.
The mission of Remerg is to stop the revolving door of recidivism, one resource at a time. Our vision is a world where people released from incarceration are able to restart successfully and never go back.
There are enough barriers to starting over–navigating resources shouldn’t have to be one of them. Our re-entry website, Remerg.com, provides verified resources updated on a regular basis. Remerg.com also identifies gatekeepers when appropriate, provides informational videos, and incorporates navigation and mobility tools.
In short, we connect people released from prison and jail to resources and information they need, when they need it. By doing so, Remerg.com fosters agency, supports success, and ultimately helps to reduce the rate of recidivism in Colorado.
The need to reduce recidivism is in the numbers.
Percentage of people released from Colorado’s prisons re-incarcerated within three years
Estimated cost of a single incidence of recidivism
Percentage of people incarcerated in our prisons released back to our communities
Meet Remerg
Carol Peeples
Founder & Executive Director
At one time a teacher in public and private schools, executive director and founder Carol Peeples became interested in mass incarceration after teaching in a prison and developing the first two editions of Getting On After Getting Out: A Reentry Guide for Colorado, which was the first written statewide re-entry guide for Colorado. Both experiences inspired the passion Carol has for the field of re-entry from jail and prison, specifically in fostering success and creating connections to the community. Carol founded Remerg in 2015 in order to create remerg.com, a re-entry specific website for people coming out of jail and prison in Colorado, which is the nonprofit’s first project. Carol recently sat down with a student videographer, who produced this film for Remerg.
Roohallah Mobarez
Director of Communications
Roohallah Mobarez is the youngest son of Afghani refugees, arriving in America at the age of three with his parents and five siblings. An entrepreneur, he started his first business with a $20 loan from his father and most recently graduated from Rocky Mountain Microfinance Institute’s Entrepreneur Boot Camp (winning the pitch competition for his graduating class--raising crickets as a protein alternative). Roohallah survived eight years of incarceration via art, education, CrossFit, ultimate frisbee, and camaraderie. Since he's been out, Roohallah has welcomed individuals released from incarceration into his own home, overcome the challenges of re-entry, and now provides firsthand guidance through Remerg. Roohallah is grateful for his family, especially his sister, for their unconditional love and support.
Jeff Wise
Director of Development
Prior to joining Remerg, Jeff spent the majority of his career working for large nonprofit organizations as well as serving in a consultant role for emerging NGOs through his own grant writing company. Jeff also has first-hand experience navigating the criminal justice system. He has seen the barriers formerly incarcerated populations face and understands the need for sweeping change in how we help those individuals return to the community. He is subsequently thrilled to be a part of the Remerg team and able to use his experience to further the organization’s impactful mission. Jeff studied Business Communications and Political Science at the University of Northern Colorado. He enjoys golfing, hiking with his dog, and spending time with friends and family.
Board of Directors
ELIZABETH OJEDA
BOARD CHAIR
Liz has led efforts for a variety of workforce programs under the Denver Economic Development and Opportunity Workforce Services for more than thirteen years. She most recently administered the successful completion of the Technology Employment in Colorado-Partnership, a $6.18 million US Department of Labor HIB Ready to Work grant. Prior to her work with Denver, Liz was a business owner of several small local businesses and spent seventeen years with the Xerox Corporation. Liz has been a member/volunteer for Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Development Council since 1999 and volunteer facilitator for local high school and intern programs over the past decade. Liz has a passion for connecting businesses and individuals to the resources and services they need to be economically successful--a perfect fit for the vision of Remerg!
JAMES SCHULTZ
BOARD TREASURER
Jim retired as division vice-president of Performance Development for Walgreens Corporation and now specializes in human capital strategy development. He was President of the Illinois Occupational Skills Standards and Credentialing Committee and teaches graduate courses for the School of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois. Tikkun olam, a signature theme of Jewish tradition, refers to repair of the world. Jim serves on the board of Remerg because the work strikes him as “the perfect route to that end.”
MARGOT PLOTZ-RODRIGUEZ
BOARD SECRETARY
Margot is a Senior Director for Basis Policy Research, an independent research firm specializing in applied research in K-12 education, where she specializes in project management and business development. Margot wants to break the cycle of incarceration from the perspective of a parent and knows that successful parents have children with a better chance to succeed in the world.
BILL LENNON
BOARD MEMBER
Bill is a computer engineer with Nordstrom supporting their credit business. While competing in a computer programming contest hosted by the state of Colorado, Bill researched the problems faced by those currently and formerly incarcerated, an eye-opening moment for Bill about this societal issue. Bill brings his tech skills to the remerg.com goal of providing re-entry information for free to tens of thousands of people whenever they need it.
DIANNE TRAMUTOLA-LAWSON
BOARD MEMBER
Dianne is the founder and chair of the Colorado chapter of Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (CO-CURE) and the chair of National-CURE, headquartered in Washington, DC. Dianne also serves as a citizen member on the Denver Community Corrections Board and the Denver Sheriff Department Advisory Board. In addition, Dianne has been an active member of the American Correctional Association since 1999, serving on numerous committees. Because of her extensive experience, Dianne appreciates the need for a free online re-entry website and is one of the nonprofit’s most ardent supporters.
TAMMY BELLOFATTO
BOARD MEMBER
A staunch advocate of those who are disadvantaged, Tammy Bellofatto is the Executive Director of Bayaud Enterprises, a Denver-based nonprofit that provides hope, opportunity and choice to thousands of people through its employment programs. Prior to joining Bayaud, Tammy served as the Director of Vocational Services at Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. She co-founded the Denver Homeless Taskforce and from 2014-2016 Tammy served as Chair of The Denver’s Road Home Employment Subcommittee. In addition, Tammy is a member of the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Community Advisory Panel for Denver Health and sits on the Veteran's Administration's Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans since 2018.
CHRIS MEEKS
BOARD MEMBER
Chris Meeks is the President and Founder of Hope Homes, a real estate company that gives back a minimum of 10% to the community with every project. Appointed by Mayor Hancock in 2020 to be on the Denver Community Corrections Board as well as the newly appointed Secretary for the Colorado Association of Community Corrections Board, Chris is an advocate for criminal justice reform and regularly visits Colorado Prisons to provide hope and mentorship for others that are incarcerated, as he was once in their shoes. Chris’ inspiring story includes obtaining his civil engineering degree upon release from incarceration and going on to start his own company to provide affordable housing for people in need.
JHIL MARQUANTTE
REMERG HONORARY BOARD
Jhil is a property manager for SWAN Enterprises and Consulting and an active volunteer in the community. Jhil brings over 25 years of personal experience in Colorado’s state prisons, lending insight into what is needed for successful re-entry and bridging the distance between those who have been incarcerated and organizations like Remerg that want to reach and help justice-involved members of our society. Jhil’s experience since his release from prison is an inspiration to all who meet him. After serving several years as the co-chair of our board of directors, Jhil recently became the founding member of the Remerg Honorary Board.
In Memory of Tina Yankee
Reverend Tina Yankee brought passion and force to our board of directors. As the executive director of Turnabout for 14 years, she and her team connected 30,000 people to employment after incarceration. For many years, Tina was also a Community Pastor for Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Denver and provided religious services at Denver County Jail. Most recently, she chaired the Criminal Justice Task Force for the Colorado Council of Churches. Just days before her death on October 6, 2018, Tina was developing a project to address the dual societal issues of recidivism and income inequality. We miss Tina’s fierce spirit and dedicate Remerg.com to her.
Join the Cause
Please support our effort to help people succeed with a one-time or recurring donation of any amount. Donations are easy to make through Paypal, or you may send a check payable to Remerg at PO Box 18463, Denver, Colorado 80218. Because Remerg is a 501(c)(3) organization, every donation is tax deductible. Our FEIN number is 82-1801077. You may read more about us on Candid (Guidestar). https://www.guidestar.org/profile/82-1801077
Make a DonationOur Supporters and Sponsors
I believe that people need a second chance, especially if they’ve paid their dues to society, but they need an opportunity to go forward and Remerg provides this for people who want a better future.
VICKI, a Remerg.com donor
Remerg is a one-of-a-kind resource helping to solve one of our nation’s biggest crises. There is no other online resource that provides current holistic resource information for returning citizens. It is essential that individuals are aware of all of the resources available to them, and Remerg makes it possible for returning citizens to educate themselves, reach out for support, and become contributing members of our communities as a result.
STACEY, a Remerg.com donor
Remerg provides support for people to remain in society and out of incarceration. When parents are in prison, they aren't able to provide this for their children. I support Remerg because by helping incarcerated parents connect to what they need to start over after release, it’s a catalyst for breaking the cycle of generational incarceration.
MARGOT, a Remerg.com donor
I support Remerg monthly because I believe in giving people the tools they need to get their lives back. I want Colorado to be a safe place to live, where my neighbors can find the resources they need.
ERIN, a Remerg.com donor
Press Coverage
How to Help Someone Coming Out of the Criminal Justice System by Casey Kuhn for PBS News Hour
Solitary Man: A Convict’s Journey From Lockdown to Standup by Westword
Removing A ‘Lifelong Scarlet Letter’ by Michael Booth for The Colorado Trust
Website to help people with criminal records by 9 News
Website Helps Former Offenders Navigate The Outside World by CPR News
