Meet Lorez Meinhold, a leader weaving inclusive collaboration into the fabric of health and well-being transformation in Colorado. With over two decades of experience in grantmaking, health policy, and advocacy, Lorez’s commitment to equity is the heartbeat of her personal and professional pursuits.
Dedicating her life to community empowerment, Lorez recognizes the intricate interconnections between critical issues like access to food, homelessness, and healthcare, contributing to mental health and substance misuse challenges. To address these growing needs, she played a pivotal role in developing and championing the ballot initiative that created the Caring for Denver Foundation. In less than 18 months, the foundation became fully operational, distributing over $142 million in funding, guided by community input at every step.
Lorez’s journey encompasses diverse leadership roles, from steering the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative to serving as a senior program officer for the Colorado Health Foundation. Her expansive experience allows her to co-create public health policies and funding strategies that resonate across Colorado communities.
Embodying a steadfast commitment, Lorez’s motto, “raising my hand, showing up, listening, following through, and building inclusive processes to earn trust,” reverberates through her community and volunteer leadership roles. Whether as a Planned Parenthood and HIV counselor, volunteer medical assistant at Inner City Health Center, or board member of Project Angel Heart, Lorez actively engages, raises funds, and volunteers, leaving an lasting mark on the organizations she serves.
For Lorez, the journey is about meeting the community where they are, learning through collaboration, and genuinely caring about the health and well-being of others. Lorez’s dedication extends beyond the present, as she envisions a Denver community with more inclusive access to care tailored to individual journeys. Her actions inspire others to take risks, fostering meaningful change not only in Denver but also serving as a model for cities addressing mental health and substance misuse challenges.
To vote for Lorez Meinhold for 2024 9NEWS Leader of the Year, click here.