Meet Alexiss Benoit Gioielli | Executive Director & Co-founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alexiss Benoit Gioielli and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexiss, how does your business help the community?
Our nonprofit is deeply committed to making a lasting impact on our local community by supporting families of children with developmental delays and disabilities. We believe that no family should have to navigate this journey alone. Through our early intervention playgroups, we provide children with enriching experiences that support their growth in gross motor skills, speech, and feeding—giving them the foundation they need to thrive.

But just as importantly, we offer parents a lifeline of support. We know firsthand that receiving a diagnosis can be overwhelming, and that’s why we create a welcoming, family-centered space where caregivers can connect, learn, and feel heard. Our parent support group, led by a licensed counselor, provides a place for emotional support, shared experiences, and expert guidance—all of which are critical to a family’s well-being.

At our core, we are building a strong, supportive community—one that uplifts children and empowers parents with the tools, resources, and relationships they need. By creating these spaces of mutual learning and connection, we’re not just helping individual families—we’re strengthening our entire community.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My professional journey has been anything but linear, but at its core, it has always centered around justice and helping people find their voice. Whether through my early work or now with Hold You Support Services, my passion has always been about creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and supported.

My professional life has been deeply shaped by my personal experiences. Seven years ago, my spouse and I had our second child, who was born with a disability—an experience that completely reshaped my perspective. His life has been an incredible gift, bringing joy, love, and growth to our family. At the same time, it opened my eyes to the systemic challenges the disability community faces and introduced us to an entirely new world—one filled with therapies, doctor’s appointments, and advocacy.

Through both my personal and professional journey, I’ve learned that raising a child with a disability is not something that should be done in isolation. Days packed with medical appointments, individual therapies, and unexpected hospital stays can be incredibly lonely. I was inspired by a nonprofit in California, ICEC Kids, that offers group therapies for families with children with disabilities, and I knew I wanted something similar to exist in Colorado. Too often, when babies and toddlers have a disability or global delays, they miss out on the communal experiences that are so essential to childhood—like storytime at the library or playgroups. I wanted to create a space where littles could receive therapy while also engaging with peers, and where parents could find connection and support.

The journey from our first conversations to the launch of Hold You Support Services has been filled with both incredible highs and challenging lows. There have been moments of great excitement and days where moving forward felt like a slow and exhausting process. But through it all, I’ve once again learned that there is power and strength in community.

Honestly, as simple as it sounds, I’m incredibly proud that we are providing the care and support we once dreamed of offering. It brings me so much joy when I hear parents say, this is the best part of our week, this is the only time I get a break, or because of your therapists, my child has gained a skill I never thought possible. Those moments remind me why we started this and why we will continue to show up for these families every single day.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend came to visit, we’d spend as much time outside as possible—Colorado’s too beautiful not to. We’d definitely do a day trip to Rocky Mountain National Park for some hiking and incredible views, and we’d also hit up some local favorites, like Shanahan Ridge or the Flatirons.

If it was summer, we would take time to stroll through the Louisville Farmers Market—there’s something so wonderful about the small town charm of Louisville. And of course, we’d drink a lot of coffee—probably start the morning with coffee and a pastry from Moxie.

For dinner, I’d take them to Santo for amazing New Mexican food, or we’d spend an evening at Rosetta Hall, hopping between different food stalls and just hanging out. Honestly, it wouldn’t really matter what we were doing—as long as we were outside, eating good food, and catching up.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are truly countless incredible people in my community who have helped shape my journey, and I am deeply grateful for each of them. However, I want to dedicate this shoutout to my two amazing co-founders, Emily Engle Bailon and Cassy Bohnet. Hold You Support Services is, at its core, a team effort, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without their dedication, passion, and unwavering support.

From the very beginning, we have worked side by side—pushing forward, lifting each other up, and continually returning to our shared vision as the heart of everything we do. Emily and Cassy bring so much to this organization—not just through their expertise and hard work, but through their deep passion for the families we serve. Their behind-the-scenes efforts often go unnoticed, but they are the foundation of what makes Hold You such a special and impactful place.

I am beyond grateful for their constant support, their dedication, and the grace they bring to this work. Hold You Support Services exists because of the strength of our team, and I couldn’t ask for better partners in this journey.

Website: https://www.holdyousupportservices.org

Instagram: @HoldYouSupportServices

Image Credits
Olivia McDaniel