Our Team
Christina Coughlan
Executive Director
Founder
Logistics, Support
"You have aggressive breast cancer Christina".
I can still hear those words echo in my heart as I was standing in the hallway of the Department of Biology at DU on the other end of a cell phone. A colleague was walking by and smiled. I smiled back. But inside I was lost. What was I to do and where could I turn.
During my surgery and infusion times, while I had many hours of sitting and resting, I trained online in Strategic Intervention and Divorce Prevention with Tony Robbins and Cloe Maddanes and I am now Certified in both these areas. I also have a PhD in Pharmacology, I ran my own lab for 7 years, I have mentored and advised hundreds of students for various academic career paths, have taught thousands of students in classes that include Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Ethics in Science, Neuropharmacology and Anatomy Physiology.
I have coached people who have been victims of shootings, those with eating disorders, those suffering from Depression, PTSD, ADHD, alcoholism, those who are homeless and getting back on their feet, those who cannot find their calling in life, or need academic guidance. I am a campus trained hotline responder for Sexual Assault cases and a Creighton Fertility Care Practitioner.
My volunteer and work experiences have allowed me to find my passion which is working with the homeless and low income individuals. Often in these situations children and parents are suffering from malnutrition, something we can and want to change. I have also volunteered with Baby Holding programs, often helping newborns detox from mom's drug intake. My research focus and passion is Neurodegeneration, in particular Alzheimer's disease and I love to give outreach talks on this topic. I have been a Home Health consultant Pharmacologist, a companion to the homebound, a nursing home assistant and I am also a Nationally Registered AEMT. My passion is helping others.
I feel my life is richer for all of these experiences. I want to give back to society, with the life that was given back to me. And Yes We Can Help you when others cannot.
Read More about Christina's story here
Zaira Acevedo
Intern- Nutrition Student
The first time I read Christina’s testimony I was immediately inspired and motivated to do more as well as captivated by Yes, We Can Help vision.
Currently, I am a student at Loma Linda University, and am completing a coordinated RD/MPH program, becoming a Registered Dietitian while earning my Master’s in Public Health. I was originally drawn to nutrition because I saw a need in the world to decrease childhood obesity. The obesity epidemic is affecting future generations, physically and mentally. When I was an undergrad student studying Culinary Arts and Nutrition at Johnson & Wales University, I volunteered with multiple organizations around Denver, including teaching cooking classes to children and families through Cooking Matters. The classes I taught were targeted towards Hispanic families, and the lessons were full of nutrition tips and healthy recipes. Throughout the years, I have volunteered with different organizations such as Cooking Matters and Diabetes Prevention Program and have learned more about how to empower and assist individuals with their dietary needs.
I was born and raised in a small town in northern Mexico called Durango. I love my mom’s cooking she makes the best tamales and pozole. I naturally love Mexican and overall Hispanic cuisine. I find the diverse flavors, colors, and textures exquisite. In life, I have been fortunate to pursue an education in nutrition, and I believe I can give back by helping others attain a healthier lifestyle. Sometimes, we take things for granted and our food consumption and choices is what makes us thrive or dive. I would like to help you feel and be better, so you can live an optimal life. Nutrition can be both simple and complex. I will help you navigate and cruise through this upcoming journey because, yes, we can help!
Zoe Hohman
Chef- Johnson & Wales University, Degree in Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry & Bachelor's in Science and Culinary Nutrition
Chef Zoe Hohman grew up in her mother's coffee shop in Towson, Maryland and as you can imagine, began drinking coffee at the ripe of 8 years old. Her mom put that creativity and energy to good use helping her create menu items for the shop and baking goodies for the guest!
She knew that food, and the science behind food would be her passion as she grew older. She graduated from Johnson & Wales University with two Associates degrees, one in Culinary Arts & one in Baking and Pastry addition to her Bachelor's in Science and Culinary Nutrition. She has been working in the food industry for 10 years and has been the Executive Pastry Chef at Colorado’s own Yaya’s European Bistro among other positions.
She desires to be a Food Technologist for a test kitchen, focusing on recipe development, and in the meantime LOVES teaching others about cooking, helping people, and bringing a smile to everyone’s faces around her.
