Camila Lara

Priority areas I work in:

Affordable Housing | Child and Youth Physical Well-Being | Food Access and Security

A born connector and natural optimist, Camila believes in the power of interpersonal relationships to show the interconnectedness between individuals, community and the issues that affect our daily lives. This commitment and innate empathy has shown up throughout her career, which led her to join the Foundation as a program officer, focused on the Food Access and Security and Child and Youth Physical Health & Well-being priorities, in January 2022.

Camila joined the Foundation after 12-plus years in philanthropy, most recently at the Daniels Fund where she worked closely with students and university staff as a senior scholarship relations officer. A born and raised Denverite, she felt compelled to move into philanthropy after a career in the corporate sector, including working at the Chipotle corporate office, to reconnect with community, particularly the north and west Denver communities where she grew up.

Identifying as mestiza (of mixed indigenous and European ancestry), Camila accredits her understanding of the relationships between all things and people to her ancestors and the strong women in her immediate family. Her identity is a driver of her career and inspiration for her accomplishments, including being a founding member of LatinasGive!, Colorado’s first Latina philanthropic giving circle and grassroots network. Ties to her alma mater, Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU), remain strong and she serves on the MSU Denver President’s Community Cabinet.

With familial connections in southwestern Colorado and New Mexico, Camila loves to camp and visit places where she can ponder the peoples and histories of the southwest. A naturally reflective person, she values the fall season for the clarity that comes with transition, and seeks out activities like concerts, dancing and decorating baked goods to help her celebrate life and process change. She also loves reading and learning about other’s cultures and experiences, preferably while cuddling with her dachshund, River.

Education

Metropolitan State University of Denver – BA Business Administration and Management