I am a proud girl mom of two young daughters.

My oldest daughter plays ice hockey. A nontraditional “girl” sport. It is more dangerous, requires more equipment, more training, and not what you expect from a 6-year-old girl. But I watch her on the ice and she is fearless. She skates across the ice with her blonde ponytail hanging out of her helmet as if she is the only one in the arena. She is not intimidated by the sport, or by the boys; she is just playing her hardest.

I watch her, and I burst with pride. Not only because she is my daughter doing an amazing job at a sport she loves, but because of the confidence she displays.

I’ve always had no doubt my daughters will grow into confident, ambitious young women someday. I also know that every stage of their development deserves a different type of nurturing. Because while the girl journey is filled with opportunity and excitement, it also poses many challenges.

Even as our state makes progress in addressing mental health concerns among children and teens, girls continue to face unique pressures — from body image and self-esteem struggles to perfectionism, social comparison, and global education gaps. These issues are shaping how girls see themselves and what they believe they’re capable of becoming.

As parents, educators, and leaders, we have a collective responsibility to create environments where girls can explore, fail, question, and dream — without feeling like we aren’t doing enough.

That’s one reason serving as Board Chair at Girls Inc. of Metro Denver isn’t just a professional endeavor for me — it’s deeply personal.

I’ve had a passion for this organization long before I knew I would be a girl mom. I knew the power and importance of encouraging girls that their potential was limitless. I’ve served on the board for five years before becoming the board chair. Now, I get to help lead this organization alongside my friend, Kayla Garcia, whom I’ve known since we were young women in college — ready to unleash our full potential in the Denver community.

When I think about the thousands of families who enroll their children in Girls Inc. of Metro Denver programs, I see a shared hope: that their girls will be surrounded by people who not only believe in them but are also committed to helping them unearth their potential. They want mentors and role models who look like them, encourage them, and guide them toward futures filled with purpose and possibility.

Girls Inc. of Metro Denver reinforces lessons and experiences that girls don’t always receive in traditional classroom settings. Whether it’s an activity introducing them to new career pathways, a college visit, or a Teen Saturday that builds leadership and community — every experience is designed to spark curiosity and confidence.

That exposure matters. Because when girls are given access to opportunities that challenge and empower them, it doesn’t just change their trajectory — it transforms our community.

Now, my youngest daughter has followed the direction of her older sister and taken on ice hockey. A testament to having role models who lead the way so we can have the same opportunity. Watching my daughters grow up reminds me that every girl’s potential is limitless — when we choose to see it, support it, and celebrate it.

That’s my hope as a parent, my responsibility as a leader, and my purpose as a woman in leadership who wants nothing more than a world where all girls can lead stronger, smarter, and bolder lives.

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Jackie Devine is the Board Chair for Girls Inc. of Metro Denver’s Board of Directors and the AVP of Community and Business Development at Alpine Bank, where she has served in numerous positions for nearly a decade. Jackie also serves on the Board of Directors for Special Olympics Colorado, Scouting Colorado, and BCIVIC.