
2022 GALS Honoree:
Honorable Barbara O’Brien
School Board Member, Denver Public Schools
Former Lieutenant Governor, State of Colorado
Barbara O’Brien was on the DPS Board of Education from 2013-2021. She is Senior Fellow for the Campaign for Grade Level Reading, a national initiative to increase the number of third-graders who are reading at grade level. Prior to this, she was Lieutenant Governor of Colorado from 2007-2011, and president of the Colorado Children’s Campaign for sixteen years.
As a member of the school board, O’Brien helped develop the Early Literacy Plan 2020, co-chaired the committee that created the Early Literacy Roadmap that will link city and school district services for literacy and language development, co-sponsored a new district policy to reduce suspensions and expulsions in early education through third grade, and has worked to expand funding for social and emotional supports for students.

2022 Power Award Recipient:
Michelle Lucero
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Michelle M. Lucero serves as the chief legal counsel for Children’s Colorado. Prior to this position, she was the vice president and assistant general counsel – employee relations for Centura Health in Denver.
Michelle began her legal career as an associate for Davis Graham and Stubbs in Denver. She served as legal counsel for several public and private entities, including the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, Denver Health and Hospital Authority, Graphic Packaging, US West and the City and County of Denver.
Michelle received her undergraduate degree from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri, and her Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the University of Colorado Boulder.
SPONSORSHIP
For sponsorship opportunities, tickets, or questions, contact Jordan Fouts at jordan.fouts@galsdenver.org
