Lydia Prado

Lydia M. Prado (b. 1960) is an American mental health leader in Denver, Colorado, advocating for community-led health and supporting underserved members of the community. She is the Executive Director of Lifespan Local. In 2022, she was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame.

She earned her doctorate at the University of Denver in 1994. The campus includes preschool, a dental clinic for children, an urban farm and greenhouse, therapy spaces, a teaching kitchen, and mental health services.

She founded Lifespan Local.

In 2018, Prado joined the University of Denver Barton Institute for Philanthropy and Social Enterprise as Director of Community Partnerships.

Prado is on the board of HealthOne, Denver Preschool Program,

Published works Prado, Lydia Marie. (1995). Explaining why remarriages are at risk for divorce: exploring the role of communication in remarital relationships. Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Denver, 1995. Prado, L. M., & Markman, H. J. (1999). Unearthing the seeds of marital distress: What we have learned from married and remarried couples. Conflict and cohesion in families: Causes and consequences, 51-85. Stanley, Markman, H. J., Prado, L. M., Olmos-Gallo, P. A., Tonelli, L., St. Peters, M., Leber, B. D., Bobulinski, M., Cordova, A., & Whitton, S. W. (2001). Community-Based Premarital Prevention: Clergy and Lay Leaders on the Front Lines. Family Relations, 50(1), 67–76. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2001.00067.x Kline, Stanley, S. M., Markman, H. J., Antonio Olmos-Gallo, P., St. Peters, M., Whitton, S. W., & Prado, L. M. (2004). Timing Is Everything: Pre-Engagement Cohabitation and Increased Risk for Poor Marital Outcomes. Journal of Family Psychology, 18(2), 311–318. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.18.2.311 Whitton, Olmos-Gallo, P. A., Stanley, S. M., Prado, L. M., Kline, G. H., Peters, M. S., & Markman, H. J. (2007). Depressive Symptoms in Early Marriage: Predictions from Relationship Confidence and Negative Marital Interaction. Journal of Family Psychology, 21(2), 297–306. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.21.2.297

Recognition 2022, Colorado Women's Hall of Fame 2014, The César Chávez Latino Leadership Hall of Fame Award