Denver City Council Unanimously Approves Community-Led Safety Grant Program

13–0 vote follows sustained advocacy by Get Real Denver coalition, securing $3.1 million for community-driven safety programs

DENVER, CO — DENVER, CO—The Denver City Council voted 13–0 tonight to fund the first year of a new Community-Led Safety Grant Program with $3.1 million, marking a major milestone for community-driven public safety in the city. The initiative was championed by the Get Real Denver campaign, led by the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition (CCJRC); City Council Members Jamie Torres, Serena Gonzales Gutierrez, Shontel Lewis, and Sarah Parady; and nearly 50 partner organizations.

Statement from Kym Ray, CCJRC Denver Campaign Coordinator & Get Real Denver spokesperson:

“Tonight’s unanimous vote is a powerful recognition that real safety means stopping harm before it starts. The Community-Led Safety Grant Program will give Denver’s neighborhoods the resources to keep families safe through prevention, intervention, and victim support,” Ray said. “This is what partnership looks like—city leaders and community organizations working side by side to build lasting safety for everyone.”

The two-year pilot program will be funded with $3 million each year from the Denver Broncos, earmarked for youth services, and $100,000 from the city’s Office of Neighborhood Safety.