‘1 in 5’ Episode 13: Meet Lesley Del Rio

Lesley Del Rio | May 10, 2021 | Aspen Postsecondary Success for Parents, Press Releases

Hailing from Denver, Colorado, Lesley Del Rio and her son Leo enjoy all the great activities that the state offers. She graduated from Florence Crittenton High School in 2013 and is working toward her B.A. degree in business administration through an online platform called AdvanceEDU and Southern New Hampshire University.

Professionally, Lesley worked as a youth sexual health advocate at the Colorado Public Health Department, implementing positive youth development strategies. She also served as a family advocate for Florence Crittenton Services, where she assisted families in gaining access to public assistance, and as a program manager at Boys and Girls Club of Metro Denver.

Lesley is now a Career Pathways Trainer at Mi Casa Resource Center, where she helps job-seekers prepare for careers in high-growth industries. Lesley’s background in community engagement comes from a strong sense of belonging to her Denver community and a foundation of advocacy and organizing. Her passion is improving health equity and social justice in the communities that need it the most.

In her free time, Lesley and her son enjoy being outdoors, hiking, camping, and have recently found a love for skiing.

Listen

You can read the episode transcript here.

Resources

AdvanceEDU is a Denver-based hybrid college that combines high-quality online college degrees from accredited and non-profit universities with in-person supports aimed at helping students succeed.

Florence Crittenton Services is a Denver non-profit that uses a trauma-responsive two-generation program model to help teen families break the cycle of poverty through education, health and wellness, and economic and social asset building.

Mi Casa Resource Center educates, trains, and supports youth and adults on their path to success in education, employment, and business ownership.

Student Parent Stories

Related Posts

Ascend at the Aspen Institute released the landmark Building Evidence Together For A Better Tomorrow report today as researchers, state and local admi...
Press ReleasesSeptember 12, 2024
Selection of Ascend Fellows Headshots
Today, the Aspen Institute announced its 2024 Aspen Institute Ascend Fellows, 22 leaders from across the United States who are transforming systems so...
Ascend FellowshipSeptember 4, 2024
The 2Gen Accelerator Community is a new effort bringing together 15 local and national organizations with best practices for two-generation (2Gen) or ...
Press ReleasesJuly 23, 2024
Ascend at the Aspen Institute released the landmark Building Evidence Together For A Better Tomorrow report today as researchers, state and local admi...
Press ReleasesMay 29, 2024
Ascend at the Aspen Institute today launched a report, A 2Gen Approach in Wisconsin: A State Case Study for Systems Leaders & Policymakers, which deta...
Press ReleasesMay 16, 2024
Graphic showing Yoslin Amaya Hernandez against the blue arc of Ascend's brand. Left of her is a photo of her with her daughter, and to her right is a photo of her at a policy meeting.
As a former student parent and Ascend PSP Parent Advisor, I have been provided a myriad of platforms to elevate the student parent experience, and I a...
BlogApril 8, 2024
Graphic with text that says "Announcing the 2023-24 Parent-Powered Solutions Fund Partners" and features Ascend's 2023 Parent Advisors against a blue backdrop.
Today, Ascend is excited to announce our 2023-24 Parent-Powered Solutions Fund Partners, six organizations and institutions from across the country wh...
Press ReleasesJanuary 23, 2024
Ascend at the Aspen Institute today launched a report, A 2Gen Approach in Minnesota: A State Case Study for Systems Leaders & Policymakers, which deta...
Press ReleasesJanuary 9, 2024
The 2Gen Accelerator Community is a new effort bringing together 15 local and national organizations with best practices for two-generation (2Gen) or ...
Press ReleasesDecember 6, 2023
Graphic featuring a photo of Michaela Martin, Yolanda Johnson-Peterkin, Ariel Ventura-Lazo, and Dr. Daria Willis.
An episode of firsts! Our first live episode recorded at the inaugural Ascend Parent Advisor Convening in Aspen, CO in front of an audience of student...
Aspen Postsecondary Success for ParentsOctober 27, 2023
Headshots of 4 Fellows
Today, the Aspen Institute announced its 2023 Aspen Institute Ascend Fellows, 20 leaders from across the United States who are transforming systems so...
Ascend FellowshipOctober 10, 2023
Graphic showing a student's hand holding a graduation cap against a blue background.
Today, Ascend at the Aspen Institute announced that four community colleges from across the United States have been selected as partners to its Postse...
Press ReleasesOctober 3, 2023
Group photo of Ascend Parent Advisors standing outside in Aspen, Colorado with their arms outstretched upward.
Snapshots from the 2023 Ascend Parent Advisor Convening in Aspen, Colorado.
Aspen Postsecondary Success for ParentsOctober 2, 2023
Graphic featuring headshot photos of Dr. Deana Around Him, Julian Thompson, and David Croom.
What does college success look like for Black and Native student parents? This podcast episode sheds light on student parents’ and administrators’...
Aspen Postsecondary Success for ParentsSeptember 12, 2023
100 Ascend Fellows will join the Aspen community for two afternoons of conversations aimed at Building Well-Being for Children and Families and Priori...
Press ReleasesJuly 25, 2023