A native Denverite, Allegra “Happy” Haynes attended Denver Public Schools and went on to receive a BA degree with honors from Barnard College at Columbia University in New York City. Her nickname, Happy, is derived from the Spanish translation of her first name, Allegra.
Happy has dedicated her career to public service, and to the belief that every child deserves the same opportunity to succeed. That commitment led her to serve City Council, as well as jobs with then-Mayor John Hickenlooper, as well as a senior staff position at DPS. In October of 2005, Happy retired from the City & County of Denver after 26 years to join Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, Michael Bennet, as his Assistant for Community Partnerships. She left DPS as the Chief Community Engagement Officer in May 2011 to seek election to the DPS Board of Education. In her role at DPS, she was been responsible for leading the district’s parent and community engagement efforts, creating collaborative partnerships and managing legislative and governmental affairs.
Prior to DPS, she worked for two years on the staff of Mayor, John
Hickenlooper as his City Council Liaison. She spent 13 years as a member of the Denver City Council being first elected in 1990 and serving three terms including two years as President of the Council from 1998 - 2000. In addition to the key role she played in the development of Denver International Airport, she has also been instrumental in transforming the former Stapleton Airport into the largest and one of the most innovative in-fill redevelopment projects in the country. Happy has been a leader in guiding City policies that support children and families, environment and open space, sustainable development and economic opportunity. She was actively involved in welfare to work, educational reform and workforce development issues and traveled extensively to promote Denver’s international trade efforts.
Happy’s previous experience in local government includes 13 years in the executive as well as the legislative branch. She worked as an administrative aide for two Denver mayors, Peña and Hickenlooper and a former councilman, Bill Roberts beginning in 1979. She began her career in public service immediately after college working as an aide to former Lt. Governor, George Brown and helped to establish the statewide Citizens Advocate Office. Happy worked for a number of years as a professional facilitator with the National Civic League assisting communities with strategic planning and collaboration, leadership development and diversity training both in Colorado and in cities throughout the United States.
Her civic involvement includes serving on the boards of the Colorado Children’s Campaign, the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, City Park Jazz and the Stapleton Development Corporation. She was a founding board member of the Mile High Youth Corps and the Foundation for Educational Excellence and has served on numerous other non-profit boards. Happy completed two years of law school at the University of Denver and received a master’s degree in Public Affairs from the University of Colorado at Denver in August 2002. She is also a graduate of Leadership Denver, the Denver Community Leadership Forum, the Rocky Mountain Program and the State and Local Program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
Happy is single, an avid jazz enthusiast, and enjoys science fiction, gardening and participating in numerous sports and outdoor activities.