Timeline
Oct 28, 1976 - A Bicentennial Baby was born with the seeds of Lead with Love already in her heart.
1994 - From Southern California to Colorado to follow the call of the mountains, snow…and College. Fort Lewis College Alum here!
1998 - 2004 - KOTO News Reporter in magical Telluride Colorado.
2005 - Carbondale Valley Journal News Reporter - Telling stories and learning from others has always been a passion.
Feb. 2007 - CRASH! The Aspen, CO Car Crash that changed her life. Gina left her job as a reporter to pursue YOGA, the only thing that helped her feel like herself after TBI. Bikram Yoga Certification was the “gateway” to a lifelong passion for teaching and practicing yoga and meditation.
2008 - What?? Bonedalian moves to Aspen for LOVE leaving behind community and career.
FINDING ASPEN, FINDING PURPOSE
2009 - Aspen Yoga Society
Gina moves to Aspen and, feeling isolated in a competitive yoga community, creates Aspen Yoga Society with the tagline "Unite Community Through Yoga." She organizes Yoga in Action Day to support causes including Aspen Hope Center and Cambodian Children's Fund, where she sponsors several children.
Behind the Scenes: Gina begins a deeply personal 10-year fertility journey, channeling her longing to nurture her own kids into service for vulnerable children.
2010-2014: SEEDS ARE PLANTED
January 2014 - The Deepak Chopra Moment
While touring Aspen as a guest of Gina, Dr. Deepak Chopra looks out over the town and declares: "Aspen could and should be a city of wellbeing."
This simple observation becomes the catalyst.
The Action: Gina felt the call to make this happen and partners with City of Aspen, Pitkin County, Aspen School District, Aspen Valley Hospital, and local organizations to create Aspen City of Wellbeing, a movement to create measurable improvement in the wellbeing of citizens from Aspen to Parachute, focusing on the working class in a valley where suicide rates are 3x the national average.
Key Partnership: Pitkin County Road and Bridge workers' wellness program becomes one of the most successful initiatives.
“Aspen could and should be a city of wellbeing.”
2010 - Gina discovers The Aspen Institute and learns about The Aspen Idea, a reference from the visionary founders of modern day Aspen Walter and Elizabeth Paepcke who wrote “Aspen is a place where mind, body and spirit flourish.” It is that intention and the mind, body, spirit connection that inspired Aspen City of Wellbeing and subsequently Lead with Love.
2014 - Aspen City of Wellbeing Initiaive
Gina becomes founding member of Dr. Deepak Chopra's Self Directed Biological Transformation Initiative, joins The Chopra Foundation board + earns her certification as a Chopra Yoga and Meditation teacher all while leading an amazing group of volunteers City and County Wide to measurably improve wellbeing.
ACW provided 100’s of hours of free programing to City of Aspen, Pitkin County, Aspen Fire Department, Schools, etc to measurably improve wellbeing with a mission / vision that the wellbeing of one is connected to the wellbeing of all.
ADD ACW TESTIMONIAL HERE
Gina was always inspired by The Aspen Idea and began a never-ending quest to incorporate more spirituality and mindfulness into Aspen Institute programming. Lead with Love has been offering yoga and meditation at Aspen Institute events since 2010 to honor the legacy of the Paepcke’s.
2013-2016 - The School of Love! Gina enrolls in University of Santa Monica for a Master’s Degree in Spiritual Psychology. This education deeply inspires the shift from Aspen City of Wellbeing Initiative to the broader mission of Lead with Love in 2016.
2015-2019: BUILDING THE MOVEMENT
2015 - Educational Foundation
Gina pursues her Master's Degree in Spiritual Psychology at University of Santa Monica (emphasis: Consciousness, Health, and Healing) and teaches yoga to luminaries including Sir Richard Branson, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Goldie Hawn, and Michael Franti.
October 2016 - The First Lead With Love Experience
For her 40th birthday, Gina creates the inaugural Lead With Love summit - merging yoga, meditation, and spiritual psychology for the first time. Featured teachers include Drs. Ron & Mary Hulnick (University of Santa Monica founders), Goldie Hawn, Seane Corn and Suzanne Sterling from Off the Mat Into the World, Ashley Turner, Rod Stryker and others.
The 4-day event is so successful they decide to make it an annual event and eventually rebrand Aspen City of Wellbeing to Lead with Love a 501(c)3 non profit org.
Visual: First summit, intimate gatherings
2017 - International Expansion + Annual Signature Event at Aspen Institute
October 2017 - Lead With Love Summit (2nd Annual)
500 attendees (double the first year)
Historic "Three Lineages Meditation Experience" with Dr. Deepak Chopra, HH Sakyong Mipham, and Rod Stryker
Featured presenters: Marianne Williamson, Seane Corn, Drs. Ron & Mary Hulnick, Goldie Hawn.
Murdock Mind, Body, Spirit Series launches at The Aspen Institute with Dr. Deepak Chopra in January and Scott Neeson (Cambodian Children's Fund) and Seane Corn in Oct.
First International Retreats: Bali retreat with Michael Franti marks beginning of global reach followed by Lead with Love France, Italy, Greece, Mexico, India and many more.
Visual: Summit scale, three meditation master
CHOOSE LOVE
2018 - Conscious Capitalism Emerges
January 2018: Bali Retreat with Michael Franti - themed "JOY + full self-expression"
October 2018 - Lead With Love Summit (3rd Annual) Summit pivots to include Conscious Capitalism with 60 presenters:
John Mackey (Whole Foods CEO)
Raj Sisodia (Conscious Capitalism co-founder)
Bob Chapman (Barry-Wehmiller CEO)
Olympic snowboarder Gretchen Bleiler
Dr. Rudolph Tanzi (Harvard Medical School)
Visual: Business leaders, conscious capitalism imagery
2019 - "The Best of Aspen" & European Expansion
May 2019: Burgundy, France Retreat (First European retreat) - 60 people from multiple countries, featuring Rod Stryker at historic Hospices de Beaune, with an epic Renaissance costume party finale
September 2019: "The Aspen Retreat" featuring Byron Katie (full-day workshop on "The Work"), Rod Stryker, and partnerships with ACES and Aspen Chapel
Visual: Byron Katie teaching, fall colors, European elegance
2020-2021: PANDEMIC, TRANSFORMATION & MOTHERHOOD
Spring 2020 - CASA Training & Love in Action
CASA Training: During COVID lockdown (while still trying to conceive), Gina completes 30-hour training to become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer and joins the board of CASA of the Ninth.
Love in Action Program Launches: Weekly Zoom sessions focused on social justice, addressing:
Elijah McClain case and police reform
Systemic racism
Climate change and wildfires
Voting rights
Environmental justice
Format: Bi-weekly action-oriented sessions providing tangible ways to create change
Final Session: April 2021 - program pauses as world begins returning to in-person gatherings
Visual: Online gatherings, social justice imagery
Pull Quote:"We believe it is not only important to acknowledge systemic racism in our country but also critical to take actions in support of equal rights and justice for everyone."
April 6, 2021 - THE MIRACLE: Motherhood
After 10 years of fertility treatments, Gina gives birth to identical twin girls: Allegra Delphine and Bijoux Celine during the depths of COVID-19 pandemic.
The Full Circle: Years of sponsoring children in Cambodia + CASA training + longing for her own children culminates in this moment.
Visual: Mother/daughters (if comfortable), joy, miracle
Pull Quote:"After 35 weeks and three days of being in relationship with 'Baby A' and 'Baby B' inside my body, I felt these two little beings on my chest... the greatest love of all."
2022-2025: RETURN & EVOLUTION
May 2023 - Care for Caregivers Program is Born
Gina receives a request to support CASA advocates experiencing burnout. Her personal journey creates the perfect foundation:
10 years longing to nurture children
Sponsoring children through Cambodian Children's Fund + Jacmel Children’s Fund and Foster Love
CASA board membership
Finally becoming a mother
Understanding caregiver stress
The Statistics:
60%+ of caregivers experience high stress and burnout
42 million Americans provide unpaid care
40-70% report symptoms of depression
The Program: Care for Caregivers (C4C) - scholarship-funded retreats and programs for CASA advocates and child welfare professionals
Visual: Caregivers at retreat, healing circles
Pull Quote:"I think it is paramount that we as a community figure out how to care for the caregivers.
September 2023 - Le Marche, Italy Retreat
"La Dolce Vita" themed retreat in unspoilt Italian villa with Elisa Bava (sound healer), Dr. Miles Reid (shaman trained by Carlos Castaneda), and Los Criminales (Italian musicians). Focus: yoga, meditation, sound healing, spiritual psychology, shamanism.
Visual: Italian villa, Le Marche countryside
May 2024 - Greece (Crete) Retreat
Waterfront luxury retreat with C4C scholarship recipients integrated - deepening the caregivers program.
Visual: Crete coastline, healing moments
May 2025 - Tuscany Yoga & Cycling Retreat
Co-hosted with Cicloposse (10+ year partnership) combining yoga, cycling, and Italian culture with Elisa Bava and Los Criminales. Three C4C scholarships offered.
Visual: Cycling through Tuscany, yoga in villa
August 2025 - Beyul Retreat (Near Aspen)
Full Circle: First Aspen-area multi-day retreat since 2019 (post-COVID, post-twins)
Special Connection: Beyul founded by former Lead With Love Executive Director Abby Stern - who attended LWL 2016, met Drs. Ron & Mary Hulnick, attended University of Santa Monica, then created Beyul Retreat Center.
Partnership: Up to 50% C4C scholarship participants through CASA of the Ninth
The Reunion: Calling back alumni from past summits
Visual: Wilderness retreat, reunion energy
THE IMPACT: A MOVEMENT OF LOVE IN ACTION
The Evolution:
2009: Aspen Yoga Society
2014: Aspen City of Wellbeing (inspired by Deepak Chopra)
2016: Lead With Love (official rebrand)
2020: Love in Action (social justice initiative)
2023: Care for Caregivers (C4C program)
What Started as One Question...
"How Can I Lead with Love?"
...became:
100’s of hours of wellbeing programing for City of Aspen, Pitkin County, and other essential front line workers
Annual Leadership Summits featuring 60+ world-class teachers
Global Retreats in 7+ countries
Care for Caregivers program supporting child welfare workers
Love in Action social justice initiative
Partnerships with ACES, The Aspen Institute, CASA of the Ninth, Connection is the Medicine Foundation