DenverINC held its annual awards dinner on January 23 at the Holiday Inn Cherry Creek.  The dinner, honoring outstanding Denver citizens who have improved our community and neighborhoods, drew over 200 neighborhood leaders from across the city.

INC’s Person of the Year – Christine O’Connor, Lowry United Neighborhoods, for over a decade of citywide activism.

Outstanding Delegate of the Year – Drew Dutcher, Elyria/Swansea Neighborhood for his outstanding representation from his neighborhood and representation on behalf of INC to Citizen Advisory Boards connected to city endeavors.

Public Safety – Combined Effort of Chaffee Neighborhood, Elyria/Swansea Neighborhood, Colorado Latino Forum, Colorado Sierra Club for their legal win for a public health study related to environment health connected to the I-70 expansion.

Sustainability – Ronnie Crawford, Overland Park Neighborhood, for his efforts to work with the city to sustain the environment connected to our waterways, specifically the Platte River.

Neighborhood Star awards were presented to the following for exemplary work on specific neighborhood projects that impacted their entire areas.  

• Anne Callison, Winston Downs Neighborhood – for her balanced leadership regarding information/education for a liquor and cabaret dance license at a nearby cemetery
• Glenn Harper, Sun Valley Neighborhood – for opening his restaurant to support a food bank and education to future chefs in his neighborhood
• John Robinson, Harvey Park Neighborhood – for work on Loretto Heights redesign and neighborhood festival, fundraiser
• Denise Sanderson, Cranmer Park/Hilltop – for fundraising for the Cranmer Park Sundial and leading the effort to save the sundial.
• Blair Taylor, Greater Park Hill – for her activism in representing all neighborhood voices in projects that impact her neighborhood
• Diane Travis, Uptown on the Hill (Swallow Hill) – for her education to residents and city about how to efficiently save historic flagstone sidewalks and for getting her suggestions adopted into sidewalk planning with the city
• Michelle Valeri, Colfax Business Improvement District – for her success with the Colfax Works program which employs homeless in an effort to let them get out of homeless situations
• Phyllis Ward, University Park Community – for her dedication to ensuring the neighborhood newsletter was distributed, managing a volunteer crew of 50+
• Brooke Webb, Virginia Village/Ellis – for her tireless efforts to improve the public image of the Ellis Elementary school and PTA leadership
• Ann White, Montbello 20/20 – for her dynamic leadership in health awareness, getting fresh food to a retail desert, representing Montbello on the WorkNow program and numerous other endeavors to lift up Montbello.