May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and we’re shining a light on a staff member who embodies strength and compassion in everything she does.

Adonia Arteaga is the Manager of Training, Evaluation, and Curriculum at Girls Inc. of Metro Denver (GIMD). Her journey to Girls Inc. was shaped by over a decade in education — from teaching third grade to serving as an assistant principal. But after years working in a school, she felt a desire for a different kind of impact.

“I was ready for a change,” Adonia says. “I wanted to focus on something that aligned more with my values when it came to working with youth.”

She found that alignment at GIMD and has been part of the team for nearly four years. Today, Adonia leads with strategy and soul in a position that blends her love for education with a big-picture vision of organizational growth.

“I’m constantly thinking about how we make our programming sustainable and effective,” she explains. “It’s about balancing long-term planning with details of how we implement change on the ground.”

Mental Health Matters

This spring, Adonia earned her Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer Certification. The training was transformative — both professionally and personally.

“I’ve taken the course multiple times and each year, it has helped me understand how to recognize and respond to youth mental health challenges,” she says. But the decision to become a certified trainer was about more than professional development. “Mental health is personal for me. I’ve lost friends and witnessed people I love struggle. I wonder what might’ve been different if I had the right tools then.”

Now, Adonia is committed to making sure adults have those tools, so no young person has to feel alone. “Mental health first aid is about meeting kids where they are and creating a culture where it’s okay to ask for help. It’s something I wish I had earlier in life.”

Adonia has also received her Social Emotional Learning Program Quality Assessment Certification (SELPQA) through the Denver After School Alliance, where she’s qualified to observe programs and offer feedback to organizations on their social-emotional learning best practices. This, coupled with her Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainer Certification, continues to reflect her commitment to the betterment of youth and their well-being.

Empowering Girls and Embracing Authenticity

Adonia’s philosophy on girl empowerment has evolved since her first day at Girls Inc. “I’ve learned to really listen to the girls,” she says. “It’s about trusting their voices and giving them the space and language to lead.”

One moment that still sticks with her happened during a summer program. “There was a girl I didn’t work with directly, but we chatted on the playground every day. At the end of the program, her mom told me how much I meant to her daughter. I was shocked — I didn’t realize how big of an impact I had just by showing up and being kind.”

That trust and connection is what fuels her every day. “It reminds me that what we do matters — in small moments and big ones – and it reiterates my life motto: ‘Be the adult you needed when you were young.’

Outside of work, Adonia does dances with Kalpulli Mikakuika, a traditional Indigenous dance practice that honors her Mexican heritage. “I’ve always said I’m a terrible dancer,” she jokes, “but this is about reclaiming something that was nearly lost through colonization. When I dance, I feel strong, smart, and bold. I’m defying the odds and keeping my culture alive.”

She’s also a proud cat mom, thrift-store treasure hunter, and pop culture aficionado. In fact, if she could sit down with any woman in history, it would be Astrid Lindgren, the author of Pippi Longstocking. “I’d love to know where her inspiration came from. I’ve been getting the writing bug again lately — it’s something I want to revisit.”

A Vision for Growth

As she looks ahead with clarity and purpose, Adonia is excited to continue building a stronger, more responsive training infrastructure that empowers educators and supports whole-girl development. But she also has big dreams— inspired by the bold visions of the girls she serves.

“Our girls have told me, ‘We want a space with a pool, a game room, and a podcast studio,’” she shares. “And I thought — why not? Their voices matter. They deserve spaces where their creativity, leadership, and brilliance can thrive.”

Adonia’s dedication, insight, and heart are felt in every corner of our work — and her belief in what’s possible is part of what makes Girls Inc. of Metro Denver so powerful. We’re proud to have her as a leader, a learner, and an inspiration on our team.