Mara Mintzer champions youth voices in decision-making, ensuring children help shape the communities, policies, and programs that affect them. As co-founder and Executive Director of Growing Up Boulder, she has engaged over 10,000 young people in 100+ projects, fostering a more equitable and sustainable Boulder.
Mara has helped shift Boulder’s culture, integrating child-friendly principles into city planning. When Growing Up Boulder launched in 2009, few city departments engaged with youth; now, 15+ departments routinely do. Under her leadership, Boulder became Colorado’s first city to join UNICEF’s Child Friendly Cities Initiative. Youth perspectives now shape transportation, parks, climate action, affordable housing, and mental health, including efforts to heal from the King Soopers tragedy. By prioritizing historically underserved youth—BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and differently-abled young people—she and her team ensure Boulder’s future is shaped by all its residents.
Mara’s advocacy spans sectors and extends globally. Before Growing Up Boulder, she co-founded and directed a community school program in California and created the first Universal Pre-K programs in New York. Mara’s TED Talk, “How Kids Can Help Design Cities,” has nearly 2.4 million views and is translated into 21 languages. She co-authored Placemaking with Children and Youth, a widely used guide for educators and urban planners. Through keynotes, workshops, and media, she educates city leaders, educators, and communities on the power of youth-driven change.
She draws inspiration from the strong women in her family who defied societal limits. Mara shared, “I come from a long line of women who fought for the rights of women, children, and those facing oppression. Their resilience and advocacy inspire me to continue their legacy.”
Mara is not just shaping Boulder—she is inspiring a global movement for youth-centered civic engagement. You can learn more about Mara’s work on the Growing Up Boulder website.
