PALTOWN’s Empowered Patient Leaders (EPL) Workshops train patients and caregivers to be community leaders and social influencers for their networks in and beyond COLONTOWN.
Since 2018, our EPL Workshops have welcomed more than 250 participants. PALTOWN’s program and management staff is drawn almost entirely from the ranks of EPL graduates, as are our COLONTOWN neighborhood admins.
Participants learn best practices in community management, share experiences, and work together to develop solutions for the many issues that arise in the conversations in COLONTOWN’s 100+ neighborhoods.
In 2024, our EPL program included both virtual and in-person Workshops.
Combining these modalities allows us to reach participants from around the world while continuing to foster the deep relationships that an in-person event creates.
New for 2025! We have launched an on-demand, e-course EPL curriculum to make the course more accessible by removing barriers related to travel and scheduling.
EPL Workshop Team
The EPL team – all graduates of the program and members of the COLONTOWN community – plan and deliver several live and virtual workshops per year. Working with our digital education staff, the team launched an e-course version in 2025.
Keith Hollingsworth
I was diagnosed with Stage IV Colon Cancer on 5/5/21, have completed multiple surgeries, SBRT, and quite a bit of Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy.
When I heard those words “You have cancer” as you can imagine, my world flipped upside down. I immediately thought…”How long do I have.” I am a husband to my wife Casey of 16 years, as well as a father to my 2 sons Logan and Parker.
You can find yourself digging into a dark hole as a stage IV patient, while researching survival rates, treatment options etc. My nurse navigator recommended that I investigate the group “COLONTOWN.” This community has been a tremendous part of my treatment plan. They have helped me answer questions, seek advice, helped empower me to get a 2nd opinion, and helped me to become a better advocate for myself.
The Empowered Patient Leadership program offered me a way to give back to others that have helped me along my journey. I proudly serve as admin for my local regional group The INDY CREW. I am also part of the COLONTOWN Cabinet, which manages the overall community.
Jenn Bass
In May 2019, at age 36, I was diagnosed with stage IIIB colon cancer. With no family history and no known genetic predisposition, the diagnosis was both shocking and isolating. While still in the hospital, I began searching for information and connection. That search led me to COLONTOWN.
From the moment I joined, I found a community of patients and survivors who understood exactly what I was going through. I connected with others facing young onset colorectal cancer, as well as local “townies” who quickly became some of my closest friends. For the first time, I didn’t feel alone. The support I received throughout treatment was invaluable.
After completing chemotherapy, I knew I wanted to give back to the community that had supported me so deeply. I became an admin for several of COLONTOWN’s major neighborhoods and later stepped into a Community Leader role. Shortly after, I joined the Empowered Patient Leader (EPL) team, helping train and mentor others to help in our community. In 2022, I joined the COLONTOWN Cabinet.
In addition to leadership and training, I support distribution efforts to expand awareness and ensure that more patients and caregivers can find the trusted information and connection that COLONTOWN provides.
Serving this community has been incredibly meaningful and healing. What began as a search for support during one of the most difficult seasons of my life has become a deep commitment to helping others feel informed, empowered, and never alone.
Tracey McQuillan Dedering
I was diagnosed with stage iv colon cancer with extensive mets to my liver in July 2014. I was 40 and a mom of a 6 year old. I had no family history and nothing genetic to explain why this happened to me. After my diagnosis I was looking for help, answers, support, anything because I had no one to turn to who could understand what was happening to our family. I googled colon cancer, bad idea. I searched Facebook and found COLONTOWN.
I completed 3 rounds of xelox and had a failed liver resection. My surgeon decided PVE was our best bet. After that recovery, we had a successful 70% resection of liver and 2 months later colon resection. Then I restarted chemo. I officially finished chemo in November, 2015 and have been considered NED ever since.
I volunteered with COLONTOWN to start a Wisconsin neighborhood; I have been the admin in Badgerburgh ever since. I am now also a trainer with the Empowered Patient Leader program. I love my COLONTOWN family for everything they have been able to provide me through our journey, so now I am able to give some of that back to others.
Lindsay Sichta
Lindsay comes to PALTOWN as a proven organization executive in educational leadership where she focused much of her time on system building and strategic development of grant-funded programs and services to support children and families navigating the early childhood system throughout the State of Michigan. She holds her Master’s Degree in Education and multiple certificates and endorsements focused on Educational Leadership. She has also chaired the Early Childhood Administrator’s Network (ECAN) for Intermediate School District leaders across the State.Lindsay joined COLONTOWN as a caregiver after her husband’s colon cancer diagnosis in 2021. Like so many members, she found comfort and support connecting with others in the many COLONTOWN neighborhoods that have encompassed her husband’s journey. In the spring of 2024 she began volunttering as a neighborhood host, and then became a faculty member for our Empowered Patient Leader (EPL) program.
PALTOWN welcomed Lindsay as its Executive Director in November 2024. When she’s not focused on cancer land, Lindsay, her husband, and her son enjoy spending time on Michigan’s beautiful lakeshore.
Sample Virtual EPL Agenda
2025 Program Sponsors
