Colorado Council of Churches

January Lunch 'n' Learn: Legislation and Advocacy 101
2026-01-08 12:00 - 13:00 UTC
Rev. Roland Halpern
For our January 2026 “Lunch ‘n’ Learn” online seminar, Rev. Roland Halpern, a longtime lobbyist with Colorado Voters for Animals, will show the process of how a bill becomes a law in the Colorado General Assembly and how to be an effective advocate.

Roland Halpern is the Executive Director of Colorado Voters for Animals. Roland holds an undergraduate degree from Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio, a Master’s in Nonprofit Management from Regis University, Denver, Colorado, and is an ordained animal chaplain through the Emerson Theological Institute.
Roland was instrumental in helping to pass Prop 106, the Colorado End of Life Options Act, making Colorado the sixth state to offer terminally ill individuals an additional medical treatment option at the end of life.
A staunch advocate for individual rights, Roland has been the recipient of several ministerial awards for outstanding community service in the area of social justice. He is actively involved with animal welfare groups both locally and nationally. He serves as vice-president on the board of the Colorado Council of Churches and is certified as a Human-Animal Bond Specialist by the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI.)

When: Thursday, January 8, 2026. The Zoom waiting room will open at 11:45 a.m., and the seminar will begin at noon. This webinar will be recorded and placed on the CCC YouTube channel for those who can’t attend the seminar.

Cost: FREE.

Webinar Link: Register HERE.

Unlock Your Advocacy Power: Making Change at the Federal Level
2026-02-24 12:00 - 13:00
For our February 2026 “Lunch ‘n’ Learn” online seminar, Jeff Tieman of the Colorado Hospital Association will share how you can engage the federal government and become a more effective advocate for those causes that are important to you.

Jeff Tieman is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Colorado Hospital Association (CHA), which he joined in August 2022. In his role at CHA, Jeff provides leadership and direction for the Association’s work to serve and advocate for the state’s 100+ hospitals and health systems.
Prior to CHA, Jeff served as the President and CEO of the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (VAHHS) for six years. In that role, he led the association in creating and carrying out its strategic vision; managing advocacy, policy, and member relations initiatives; leading public affairs and partnership work; and serving as a liaison to regional and national policy boards and hospital organizations.
Before VAHHS, Jeff was Chief of Staff for the Catholic Health Association (CHA) in Washington, D.C., a national organization representing more than 700 hospitals. He worked at CHA for 12 years where he managed the office of the president and CEO, directed strategic planning, and led messaging on health reform and the Affordable Care Act. Earlier in his career, Jeff worked as a reporter for Modern Healthcare magazine, where he spent two years in Chicago and two as Washington Bureau Chief.
Jeff received his master’s degree from George Washington University’s School of Political Management in 2014. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Colorado College in 1996.
When: Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The Zoom waiting room will open at 11:45 a.m., and the seminar will begin at noon. This webinar will be recorded and placed on the CCC YouTube channel for those who can’t attend the seminar.

Cost: FREE.

Webinar Link: Registrants will receive the Zoom link the morning of February 24th.

REGISTER HERE.
