On Monday night, Barb Paradiso, SPAN’s Executive Director from 1986 to 1997, unexpectedly passed away. As we mourn the loss of such a remarkable woman, we remember the amazing work that Barb accomplished on behalf of survivors and her devotion to ending violence in our community.

During her time as Executive Director of SPAN, Barb had a fierce vision for the future of domestic violence services beyond emergency shelter. In 1989, Barb worked with Boulder Housing Partners to launch SPAN’s first transitional housing program. Her vision only grew with time, and in 1993, Barb mobilized the Boulder community to support the creation of our Outreach Center, one of the first public centers for domestic violence survivors in the state. Barb’s vision for domestic violence services was substantial, and her legacy lives on at SPAN.

After leaving SPAN in 1997, Barb helped to found and served as the Director of the Center on Domestic Violence at CU Denver. She established a graduate-level academic program to train the next generation of leaders in the anti-domestic violence movement. Barb’s vision emphasized that our response to domestic violence must be rooted in holistic care, as well as strengthening violence prevention throughout the entire community.