Denver Institute welcomed Adrienne Tafilowski as a board member in 2024. We spoke with Adrienne about her professional background and what makes her most excited about Denver Institute. The conversation below has been lightly edited for length and clarity.
Denver Institute (DI): Can you give us a brief overview of your work & professional experience?
Adrienne Tafilowski (AT): I often describe my career as a charm bracelet—eclectic, but connected. I began in education, working with special ed and English language learners, which opened my eyes to the broader societal and family challenges students face. That led to roles in social work and youth mental health, and later, while living in Edinburgh, I worked for Prince Charles’s foundation on vocational training for disengaged young people—deepening my passion for workforce development. Back in Denver, I became the care and culture director at a pallet manufacturing company, where I first encountered Denver Institute and joined the 5280 Fellowship—a pivotal season that helped me explore how ministry and redemptive imagination could shape the workplace. Now, at Mile High Workshop, all the threads converge—education, workforce development, ministry, and faith and work—and it’s an honor to now serve on the board.
DI: What has been your interaction and involvement with Denver Institute? How has Denver Institute helped you personally in your vocation?
AT: Since going through the 5280 Fellowship, Denver Institute has given me language to name and engage the tensions I feel in my work. Before, I mostly just felt those tensions without knowing how to process them. Now, I can think through them, talk about them, and connect with others who are navigating the same space—which has been huge, especially since work is something we all share. The broader biblical narrative—from creation to brokenness to redemption—has also shaped how I view my vocation, particularly in workforce development and second-chance employment. The garden-to-city framework has helped me stay grounded and hopeful in the work I do each day.
DI: Why do you care so much about the Denver Institute mission?
AT: I’ve been part of the Denver Institute community since 2017, and over the years, I’ve seen the organization grow and shift from simply thinking theologically about our work to offering real opportunities to integrate those ideas practically. I care about the mission because it’s not just about learning—it’s about making that learning come alive in our daily work. Denver Institute is creating spaces for people to move from head knowledge to heart engagement, and then into practical action. I’m passionate about the work because it helps people live out their faith in their vocations and see the impact that can have in their lives and communities.
DI: What are you most excited about in Denver Institute’s future?
AT: What excites me most is the shift from thinking and learning to seeing more and more practitioners actually living out what they’ve learned. I love the movement from head to heart to hands—and now, with the FOR Campaign and the focus on learning, connecting, and practicing, we’re seeing more and more people living this out in real ways in their work. I’m excited to see even more practitioners in the future, people who are making a tangible impact in their industries and communities. It’s incredible to watch the ripple effect of this work, and I’m looking forward to seeing it grow even more.
Adrienne has been on the board now for many months, so I’m excited to announce her involvement more publicly because she is the first 5280 Fellowship alum to join our Board of Directors. She has taken faith and work ideas and put them into practice in the private sector, and now she continues to do that in the nonprofit sector. Her practical wisdom, theological foundation, and determination are already moving our vision and mission forward.
