Dianne Cooks is a proud long-time 40-year resident of the Montbello neighborhood. Mother of four grown kids and seven grandkid’s and raised 15 other kids who were not biologically hers. Dianne worked for Denver Public Schools as Family Service worker for 30 years whereas she retired in 2018 is why she is well known to many families in the community. One can stroll through any of Denver’s historically black and brown neighborhoods, particularly Montbello, and hear from the local residents about the positive impact Dianne has on the community. Simply participating in one of FAVA’s outreach programs, such as the Grief Support Group, Get the Mess off your Chess, or the FAVA Annual Heal the Hood Resource Fair, which has been running for 18 years, would be sufficient to learn about her contributions.

As the founder of FAVA, a non – profit organization, established in January 2006, was developed as a result of senseless violent acts in the Denver community, to administer preventative and assistance programs to families who have been affected by a violent act of all kinds. Fava was created and began holding weekly support groups for families. Through the years FAVA has expanded to include parents and family members of those on the other side of the gun trigger – families of the shooters. Many believed that including families from both sides would not work. But Dianne held strong in her belief that pain is pain, The loss of a loved one is the same regardless of which side of the trigger your family is on, but the grief is different.

Dianne Cooks have been a part of the faith-based community for many years, which is an integral part of the Montbello and far northeast Denver communities. She serves a myriad of families throughout the greater Metropolitan Denver area administering several community programs in the areas of education, health and wellness and many others. And she is the founder who leads the Annual heal the Hood Community resource Fair. Dianne personally oversees the events and works tirelessly each year to ensure its success and effectiveness. Dianne continues to develop innovative ways to impact her community and that is most evident in FAVA’s partnerships. Everything Dianne do with partners and families is about trust and relationship.