The Greater Littleton Youth Initiative (GLYI) and the Littleton Immigrant Integration Initiative (LI3) will both be honored with first place awards from the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) at the agency’s annual dinner April 13.

The GLYI will be recognized in the Innovation Awards competition category of Cooperative Service Delivery. Created following the tragedy at Columbine High School in 1999, the GLYI is comprised of representatives from many civic and community organizations who came together to create a strategic approach to enhance the development of young people and try to prevent youth violence. Chris Gibbons, Director of the Department of Business/Industry Affairs, will accept the award for the City of Littleton. Other award recipients include: South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce President John Brackney; Littleton Public Schools Board of Education Member Diana Holland; South Suburban Parks and Recreation Executive Director Dave Lorenz; and Arapahoe County Sheriff Grayson Robinson.

Following extensive research and discussion with experts throughout the country, the GLYI adopted five “Blueprint Programs.” These programs have been scientifically evaluated by Dr. Delbert Elliot, director of the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence at the University of Colorado. Of the more than 600 programs evaluated, only 10 have been identified as Blueprint Programs. The five Littleton programs in use at this time are more than any other community in the country.