Board of Directors Spotlight - Adriana
Adriana Lara has served on the ECM Board of Directors for three years. Keep reading to learn more about Adriana, what inspired her to join the board, and how her background in community development helps support ECM’s mission.
What is your professional background/experience and how do you bring that to the ECM board?
My professional background is in government affairs and community engagement. I bring a mix of government relations expertise and corporate experience to the board, helping ECM navigate partnerships, public policy considerations, and opportunities to expand its impact.
How did you initially get connected to Extreme Community Makeover?
I was first connected to ECM while working as a Council Aide for Councilman Paul López, who represented several of the neighborhoods ECM serves. Through that role, I saw firsthand the organization’s impact in the community.
What about ECM’s mission drew you to join the board?
What continues to resonate with me is ECM’s belief that neighborhood improvements should be done with residents and volunteers, not for them. There’s something powerful about bringing people together to care for their own neighborhoods and reminding residents that their community is seen, valued, and cared for.
How has being on the board enhanced/changed your view of ECM?
Serving on the board has given me an even deeper appreciation for the lasting impact ECM has. I’ve seen how much thought, coordination, and heart goes into each workday and the relationships built along the way. It’s about so much more than improving a yard or fixing up a home. It’s about creating connections, building neighborhood pride, and helping people feel a greater sense of stability and belonging.
How do you see ECM’s impact on Denver neighborhoods?
ECM brings people together in a way that creates both immediate and lasting change. Thousands of volunteers and neighbors have come together across Denver neighborhoods to make physical improvements while also strengthening relationships and creating a greater sense of pride and connection.
I think one of ECM’s greatest strengths is that it doesn’t simply come into a neighborhood and do work for people. It invites residents, volunteers, churches, businesses, and community partners to work alongside one another. That creates ownership and builds stronger neighborhoods from the inside out.
“I love ECM workdays. There’s something powerful about coming together with people from all walks of life—different ages, backgrounds, and abilities—to serve side by side. It builds camaraderie and reminds me how much more we have in common than we sometimes think. Every time, I leave feeling fulfilled—not just because of the work accomplished, but because it’s a reminder that people genuinely care and that real change happens when we show up together.”