Lori Casillas joined Metro Caring as our new chief operating officer this month, bringing decades of experience in advancing food access, health equity, and reproductive justice for Coloradans.
As Metro Caring’s COO, Lori will lead strategic initiatives across the organization, focusing on organizational development, employee engagement, and financial oversight.
Lori has dedicated her career to advancing equity and opportunity for people at all stages of life. Most recently, she worked as a consultant to support leaders in organizational development and strategy at foundations and nonprofits, including GrowHaus, the Colorado Trust, and the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR).
“Denver is my home, and it matters to me that Coloradans can live healthy lives full of equitable opportunities.” — Lori Casillas, Chief Operating Officer
With a strong commitment to racial equity and inclusivity, Lori served as a statewide director for a health access initiative, ensuring coverage for uninsured families. She was also the executive director of a statewide nonprofit that supported the sexual health of Colorado’s youth and the chief operating officer of Hunger Free Colorado, leading operational changes through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’m eager for Lori to join the Metro Caring community, as she has a vast amount of experience in the nonprofit and philanthropy sectors,” says CEO-Integrator Erik Hicks. “Lori has a proven track record of change management, internal communication, and overall organizational and financial strategy. I’m confident her expertise and leadership will greatly benefit our staff and our community.”
Having nearly doubled the size of our staff and budget in the last decade, Metro Caring is in a significant growth phase with opportunities to lead the movement to end hunger in the city, state, and nation.
As we look back on our 50-year history, we know hunger won’t be solved by more food pantries. Instead, we are addressing the root causes of hunger by introducing innovative ideas like Universal Basic Food to reimagine our food system and organizing community leaders to advance local and state anti-hunger policies.
“I’m excited about Metro Caring’s new growth as it looks to play an even bigger role in the Denver community,” Lori says. “Denver is my home, and it matters to me that Coloradans can live healthy lives full of equitable opportunities.”
Lori says she was drawn to Metro Caring because of the chance to build support for the organization’s mission and grow opportunities for our people.
“Your mission is only as strong as the people who are doing the work within the walls of the organization,” Lori says. “For me, helping build that architecture of an organization is exciting because then staff can do their best work possible and have a great impact on the community.”
Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Lori remains deeply connected to her borderland roots. She has called Colorado home for 30 years now and lives with her family in a bilingual and bicultural home, where they share a love for travel, art, and exploring global cuisines.
Lori earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and psychology from Amherst College. She is a former board member of The GrowHaus in Denver and Healthy Teen Network in Baltimore and is a founding member of the philanthropy giving circle, LatinasGive!.
Her favorite cuisine is Mexican—and Japanese, Indian, Korean, Middle Eastern, Vietnamese, and Chinese!
