Our Vision
A compassionate culture of grief expression where loss is honored and hope nurtures healing.
Our Mission
Our mission is to create supportive spaces to honor the natural process of grief and to educate our community in healthy expressions of grief and mourning.
Our Key Values
‣ Grief is a normal, natural aspect of the human journey.
‣ Grief is not a disease to be treated or a problem to be solved.
‣ No one should have to grieve alone.
‣ We live in a grief-avoidant culture, but we can choose to honor our grief through acceptance, acknowledgement, and validation.
‣ We begin to reconcile our loss through mourning — which is simply the outward expression of our grief.
Voices of Grief Support and Education Center is an inclusive organization that provides services to all members of our society, regardless of race, age, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, socio-economic status or any other factor.
Our Impact in 2023
Our Founding Team
Kathy Sparnins, Executive Director
Kathy holds a B.A in Psychology from Goddard College in Vermont, studied in the MSW Program at the University of South Carolina, and completed course work toward a Masters in Marriage and Family Counseling through Goddard College (in conjunction with the licensing agreements through NAAMFT).
Kathy’s professional life includes 45 years in direct services with families and young people. Over the past 20 years Kathy’s work has specifically centered on grief education and support for families suffering significant loss in both El Paso and Teller Counties.
While facilitating grief education and support groups, Kathy created a bereavement program for a local hospice and produced a film documentary “ Voices of Grief, Honoring the Sacred Journey” which premiered in Colorado Springs in 2016 to an audience of over 700 people. “Voices of Grief” was privileged to be screened at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. in 2017.
Paul Wood,
Board Chair, Emeritus
Paul has more than 45 years working with grieving people as a minister and funeral director. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Randall University in Moore, Oklahoma and Master of Human Relations Degree with emphasis in Grief Counseling from the University of Oklahoma.
Grief education and support have been part of Paul’s mission for his entire career. He has worked with hospices, colleges, churches, and funeral directors providing grief support and education.
Paul and his wife Terri Flores-Brown are co-founders of The Springs Funeral Services. He is a licensed funeral director and embalmer. He is a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner with the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice and a Colorado Certified Mortuary Science Practitioner.
Paul is a past member of the Board of Directors for Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership.
Sarah Lee,
Program Director
Sarah has spent more than 20 years in non-profit administration, and her range of professional experience includes hospice, chaplaincy, fundraising, event planning, and human resources. In addition to grief support training, Sarah holds a BA in psychology and and MA in Theology.
Sarah has partnered with Kathy Sparnins and Voices of Grief since 2020 facilitating support groups and expanding grief support and education programs through the Voices of Grief Support and Education Center.
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