Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper on Tuesday unveiled an agenda that calls for better health, education and safety outcomes for the city’s children.
The initiative does not come with new funding but will create “synergy” among city agencies and nonprofits, Hickenlooper said later in an interview.
At least one nonprofit provider wished the initiative also came with more money.
“We can raise millions for art projects and for improving the Platte River and other things, but I don’t know why it has to be so hard to raise money for prevention programs and keeping kids in summer programs,” said the Rev. Leon Kelly, head of Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives.
He said he’s tired of seeing the bulk of public money going toward incarceration instead of toward prevention programs.
“This is my third administration I’ve dealt with,” Kelly said. “And we always hear a lot of promises during the campaigns, but then after those campaigns are done, we start looking at cutbacks and cutbacks. And children programs should not be one of the cutbacks.”
The agenda was devised by a group of public officials, educators, and community and mental-health providers the mayor convened in December 2008.
During a rally Tuesday, Hickenlooper detailed what supporters call a “Bill of Rights” for youths.
Among the recommendations:
• An increased percentage of youths will participate in physical activity at least 60 minutes a day.
• Youths will have increased access to comprehensive health education.
• By the end of ninth grade, all youths will be at or above grade level and have the support they need to graduate.
• Youths will have increased access to out-of- school activities and supports to assist them.
• An increased percentage of youths will avoid criminal activity.
• An increased percentage of youths will not experience juvenile victimization.
Work will continue this year to create a governing body to move the recommendations forward. Also, officials will develop a way to track improvements.
Councilman Doug Linkhart said the push is creating new collaboration.
“For example, we now have the library at the table, and they have never been at the table before even though they do youth programming,” he said.
He said only 30 percent of the children in the city eligible for free recreation center passes actually have them. Creating partners across agencies may help drive up that percentage, he said.
