Karen Simms

Karen Simms is an experienced consultant, trainer, and counselor. She has spent over 30 years advocating for individuals and families who have been marginalized because of their ethnicity, gender, health, or social economic status. She has expertise in trauma informed care, culturally responsive practices, positive youth development, collaborative processes and implementing evidence based practices.

Locally and most recently she was the Wraparound, Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator for a federally funded project, The ACCESS Initiative. The ACCESS Initiative provided comprehensive coordinated services and support for youth with significant social, emotional, and/or behavioral challenges. Prior to that, she created and directed a nationally recognized youth peer to peer leadership program, the Peer Ambassadors targeting youth involved or at risk for involvement with the juvenile justice system. She has also created a woman’s peer to peer women’s HIV prevention/education program and the Second Chances a mental health support program for people of color with HIV and/or Substance Abuse treatment needs. In each of her positions she has been involved in helping people make healthier life choices and promoting healing, recovery, empowerment and resilience.

Currently, Karen coordinates the CU Neighborhood Champion’s trauma training efforts, assists with planning, training and development of TRUCE a harm reduction model based on the Ceasefire/Cure Violence model, and also coordinates the Promise Church Initiative.

She is the founder of Meridian K Consulting & Counseling Services which helps individuals, reach their highest potential through the provision of results oriented, culturally responsive, evidence informed, system oriented, trauma informed services and supports to individuals, families, organizations and groups.