Mayor's Inspiration Award

Overview

We recognize their inspiring work and commitment with the Mayor’s Inspiration Award! 

The award acknowledges those who have made a significant impact in our community by recognizing contributions in community engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness, diversity and innovation. 

Nomination Instructions & Form

Questions: Dan Stoutamire, 303-987-7050, dstoutamire@lakewood.org

Award Evaluation Criteria
A panel of evaluators, Lakewood staff, volunteers and Mayor Strom will evaluate the nominations based on how well the nominees meet the following criteria:

• Civic Engagement and Collaboration - Explain the nominee’s level of civic engagement and use of collaboration that crosses sectors (business, local, government, nonprofits, etc.) and regions that contribute to the success of Lakewood.

• Inclusiveness and Diversity - How has the nominee recognized and involved diverse segments and perspectives as an inspiration to Lakewood?

• Innovation - Explain the nominee’s use of creativity, initiative and how they leverage community resources that exemplifies success and has directly impacted the Lakewood community.

• Impact and Value to the Community - What demonstrable, significant and measurable achievements has the nominee made to the Lakewood community? 

• Share a Story - Please share a story with the selection committee including specific examples of why the nominee should be recognized. Include displays of leadership, problem solving and acting as a role model.

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2024 Inspirations

Thinh Tran – A Reflection of Energy
Thinh, a student at Alameda International High School, was instrumental in ensuring that some lesser-known activities at his school, such as tennis, stayed vibrant. With his efforts, the team went from two to 13 players. According to staff, Thinh brought a diverse group into that sport and led to the new players excelling on and off the court. He does things like this daily around the school.

The Lakewood High School Theater Company – A Reflection of Inclusiveness
The company’s ‘Unified’ program brings together neurotypical and neurodivergent students in a cooperative and encouraging environment, culminating in an annual sold-out show in the nearly 500-seat theater. This program has been featured on local news because of its unique success.

Mary Hatlestad – A Reflection of Enthusiasm
Mary truly represents what it means to be an inspirational resident. She has been a stalwart of her neighborhood for years and encouraged others to get involved. An avid gardener, reader and ice cream consumer, Mary has also served as a volunteer at Heritage Lakewood Belmar Park for more than 27 years, logging well over 2,000 hours of service. There are few days in the year where Mary won’t be found lending a hand to someone who needs it, and Lakewood is a better place because of her.

Niki Worthan – A Reflection of Recovery
Niki has been dedicating her professional life and personal time to helping those struggling with addiction, domestic violence and related problems for 20 years. Based in Lakewood, she helps with getting people who hit their rock bottom back on their feet. Outside of that day job, she volunteers at the Food Bank of the Rockies and even gives free haircuts at treatment centers to those who need them. Niki has dedicated her life to helping others and fighting to provide integrated care and worked hard to build a recovery community.

Maddie Nichols – A Reflection of Neighborhood
Maddie is a Lakewood and Ward 2 legend. When you need something done around Two Creeks, Maddie is the one to call. She is a decadeslong resident of Lakewood and was a 2017 West Colfax Legend Award winner. We can only mention some of her many accomplishments due to time constraints, but in recent years she has been instrumental in community outreach for the Two Creeks Neighborhood Plan, West Colfax 2040 Plan, 40 West ArtLine Plan and more. Maddie are a true fixture of the community and represents what it means to be an inspiration in Lakewood.

Ronald and Trisha Cooper – A Reflection of Selflessness
Affectionately known as Ron and Trish by their Lakewood neighbors, this couple is a pillar of the community. From shopping for elderly neighbors, to using their handy know-how to fix things around those neighbors’ homes and always being ready to lend a hand with a snow shovel, the Coopers help unite their community. They also serve as surrogate grandparents to younger families and sew quilts for a local battered womens’ shelter.

Firefly Autism – A Reflection of Service
Located near 20^th and Hoyt in north Lakewood, Firefly Autism has been working to improve the quality of life for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families since 2003. Before then, parents had to navigate a frustrating patchwork of providers and are now able to get their needs met in a single place. Firefly currently serves 245 individuals and their families in Lakewood and Colorado Springs. Additionally, partnerships with other local actors like ARC, The Action Center and libraries and grocery stores have helped with transition to work and raising awareness of autism in the workplace. We’re proud that Lakewood can host this amazing organization!

Jefferson Center for Mental Health’s Solid Ground Apartments - A Reflection of Stability
Opened earlier this year to provide a safe space for people transitioning from housing insecurity, these apartments reflect an investment in some of the area’s most vulnerable people. So far, more than 40 people have been welcomed into Solid Ground, which was designed with the unique needs of this population in mind – things like large windows and open views in laundry rooms and stairwells, abundant natural light and more. Residents are supported 24/7 by on-site staff and given job training.

NationScapes – A Reflection of Generosity
A local small business owned by Nate Farley, NationScapes is a believer in service to the larger community. After an initial foray into food drives following the Marshall Fire, the company reached out to customers and organized a ‘Blowout Hunger’ food drive in 2023. More than 4,000 food items were collected and donated; an additional 4,000 items were collected as a match by NationScapes employees. Lakewood thanks NationScapes for their generosity!

Vrtrum – A Reflection of Opportunity
Vrtrum is another Lakewood small business. This company has gone above and beyond to highlight local retail vendors, particularly minority-owned businesses, at its specialty ‘pop-up’ markets. Already in 2024, they have hosted dedicated markets for the Asian and LGBTQ communities, and more events are planned for coming months and years. We are certainly fortunate that this vibrant business has chosen Lakewood as its home.  

2023 Inspirations 

Kate McBride – A Reflection of Representation
Kate has served for years on the Lakewood Advisory Commission and now leads it as chair. Her work on the LAC has supplied this Council with research and recommendations, including the Neighborhood Links project. This project identified missing pedestrian, bicycle and public transport links, and Kate’s work was instrumental. To show how well-respected she is by her fellow commissioners, Kate was elected chair unanimously. She guided the LAC in adopting its first policies and procedures document and streamlined LAC operations. She is also a joy to work with and fostered a culture of collaboration and generosity. Thank you for your service to the community, Kate!

Doug Wells – A Reflection of Involvement
Doug is informally known as the “Mayor of Belmar.” He has served on many boards and committees in the community since 2007 – including Alameda Connects, Belmar Sustainable Neighborhood, the Lakewood Bicycle Advisory Team and more. Doug’s involvement in the neighborhood is all about engaging with his neighbors. Countless cups of coffee, walks through Belmar Park and bike rides with Doug have pulled in old and new Belmar-area residents into community service. Some examples of his accomplishments are improvements to Belmarsh Pond, food drives for the Action Center and coordinating volunteers for Earth Day celebrations. Lakewood is a better place for Doug’s efforts.

Kathi Hasfjord – A Reflection of Community
Kathi has been a stalwart of the Two Creeks Neighborhood Organization for many years – if the group ever needs something done, Kathi is the first person they call. She was among the founding members of the organization over 25 years ago. Kathi is described as the heart and soul of Two Creeks, a community connector extraordinaire and a trainer of new generations of neighborhood advocates. As if that wasn’t enough, Kathi has also been a volunteer for Lakewood for more than 15 years and has logged over 5,000 hours served with the City Clerk’s Office, taking phone calls and helping residents connect with city services. People like Kathi help make Two Creeks and Lakewood such special places to live, and we are lucky to have her here. Thank you, Kathi!

Jean Jackson, in memoriam – A Reflection of Commitment
Jean started with Heritage Lakewood in 1991 at the age of 65 working out of the Calving Barn. During her three decades with the city, Jean averaged approximately 800 volunteer hours a year. She volunteered as a tour guide, facilitated programs in schools, volunteered for all community events, supported the historical demonstrators during Cider Days, and assisted the Volunteer Coordinator with scheduling volunteers. She loved finding ways to engage with different audiences, imparting her knowledge but also sharing her excitement and love of the city’s historic structures. One HCA volunteer described Jean as the “den mother of the HCA volunteer program” and that description couldn’t be more accurate. Jean played a huge role in shaping the HCA volunteer program into what it is today. Through her dedication, commitment, and focus on community, she leaves behind a lasting impact on the city and all who had the pleasure of working with her. Jean was a special woman, and the city will miss her.

GiGi’s Playhouse – A Reflection of Growth
GiGi’s Playhouse, located near 6th and Garrison in Lakewood, provides educational and therapeutic programming focused on fitness, literacy, motor skill development and speech for individuals of all ages with Down syndrome. GiGi’s opened its doors in October 2021 as the first and only Down syndrome achievement center in the state of Colorado. Currently, the center serves 118 individuals with Down syndrome and offers nine different programs, such as 1:1 math and literacy and Destination Discovery, which helps develop motor and social skills. It has provided over 3,000 program hours to date and surveys have shown that the vast majority of parents see improvements by their children in various skills and that GiGi’s has helped them to build a community. We’re proud that Lakewood can host this amazing organization – thank you, GiGi’s!

Lakewood United Methodist Church – A Reflection of Open Doors
Lakewood United Methodist Church has been community-oriented for decades. It is an active participant in many community organizations, including the West Colfax Community Association, Lakewood Connects, Sustainable Eiber and many more. It donated land for the original Jeffco Action Center and has served as the flagship Safe Parking Initiative location and partners with and houses Jeffco Eats, a 2018 Inspiration Award winner which provides food for children in Title I elementary schools and low-income housing. The breadth of their community involvement is staggering, but a few special mentions: a new community garden; working with Meals of Hope to provide more than 50,000 meals to the community; collaborating with CDPHE to bring Covid-19 vaccines to underserved communities; working with Benefits in Action and others to bring a greenhouse to the Eiber neighborhood. LUMC has shown the community by its consistent actions to improve things that even small steps or single individuals can make an important difference.