People on the Move: Adriana Hidalgo

Healthier Colorado recently announced Adriana Hidalgo as their new executive vice president. Hidalgo joins Healthier Colorado after serving as special assistant to then Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. As Executive Vice President, Hidalgo will be responsible for Healthier Colorado’s politics and policy portfolio.

“Joining the team at Healthier Colorado was an easy decision,” said Hidalgo. “I’m thrilled at the opportunity to join this organization that aligns with my values and isn’t afraid to champion hard-fought issues, holding the needs of real people at its core. There’s no greater work than empowering individuals and communities by creating and supporting policies that level the playing field for all, so that every individual has an equal opportunity to thrive. Transitioning from the Speaker’s office to Colorado, I knew I wanted to find an organization rooted in Colorado and with a mission of making a positive difference in this place my family and I now call home.” 

Throughout her career, Adriana has always prioritized forming strong relationships with her peers on both sides of the aisle to better understand insights of diverse communities across the country. She worked to ensure Speaker Pelosi heard the experiences and points of view of many and strived to move forward bipartisan solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time. She is most proud of being a part of the united front that both Democratic and Republican lawmakers formed throughout the pandemic, fulfilling their responsibility to seek common ground where they could and deliver for the American people. This bipartisan partnership provided billions of dollars in funding and programs to protect communities, families, and workers in the fight against COVID-19.

“We’ve been searching for someone who has the drive and passion to help us take Healthier Colorado to new limits,” said Healthier Colorado CEO Jake Williams. “Given the special nature of our organization, it’s vital that they have a hunger for politics, an urgency to work on both sides of the aisle, and commitment to positive change-making. We’re fortunate to have found all of this in Adriana, and I am eager for everyone to meet her.” 

Hidalgo helped to strategically guide change management during the pandemic, amplifying the voices of struggling community members and driving the implementation of Town Halls in response to COVID-19, which garnered a 10,000+ audience. While supporting Speaker Pelosi, she ensured that both San Franciscans and Americans in all states were aware of the benefits of the bipartisan CARES Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. She also traveled alongside Speaker Pelosi throughout the 2018 election cycle, which led to the most racially diverse and female group of freshman representatives ever elected to the U.S. House.

Hidalgo’s hire comes after Healthier Colorado’s longtime Deputy Director, Hillary Jorgensen, stepped down in 2022 to become the co-executive director at Colorado Cross Disability Coalition. Visit here to learn more about Hidalgo and the Healthier Colorado team.