A groundbreaking initiative led by the University of Colorado Boulder has been credited with a significant reduction in youth violence in some of Denver’s most affected neighborhoods. Recent research indicates a 75% decline in arrests for serious crimes such as murder, assault, and robbery among young people in these areas.
“We now have concrete data to show that when communities come together and mobilize, we can prevent youth violence, even in urban settings with a very high burden,” said Beverly Kingston, senior author of the study and director of CU’s Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV).
Building a Community-Based Solution
The study, published in the American Journal of Criminal Justice, evaluates the impact of the Youth Violence Prevention Center – Denver (YVPC-Denver). This initiative is one of five university-community partnerships established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) following the 1999 Columbine High School shooting. These centers are among the few long-term federally funded efforts aimed at addressing what the CDC calls a “serious public health issue” of youth violence.
Homicide remains the third leading cause of death for youth aged 10 to 24 and is the leading cause of death among Black youth, according to the CDC.
A ‘Violence Prevention Infrastructure’
In 2011, YVPC-Denver began collaborating with community organizations in Denver’s Montbello and Park Hill neighborhoods to tackle the root causes of youth violence. Utilizing the Communities That Care framework, the initiative focused on science-backed interventions and community involvement.
“It’s all about building a violence prevention infrastructure,” Kingston explained. “Just like we have roads and bridges that we put money toward, we need to build an infrastructure that supports violence prevention throughout the life-course.”
The program partnered with local schools, after-school programs, and faith and sports organizations to provide over 3,000 youth, aged 6 to 18, with training on managing anger and resolving conflicts peacefully. Additionally, the initiative collaborated with pediatricians to develop screenings for high-risk youth and provided mini grants to local groups pairing teens with positive adult role models.
The Power of One Campaign
One of the most visible outcomes of the program has been the Power of One Campaign, a youth-led initiative where participants, known as Game Changers, use social media, podcasts, and community events to advocate against violence. A group of Game Changers produced a documentary titled “Breaking the Cycle: Stories of Strength and Survival of Gun Violence,” while others launched an app to help youth connect with peers for support on issues like food insecurity, mental health, and gang violence.
“Sometimes the people who are causing the violence are just youth having trouble at home and having a hard time getting the help they need,” said Game Changer Annecya Lawson. “When these kids see somebody their age, who looks like them, doing stuff for the community, it can have a big impact. They’re more likely to think before they act.”
Analyzing the Impact
CU Boulder researchers analyzed arrest data from the Denver Police Department, comparing the five years before (2012–2016) and after (2017–2021) the implementation of Communities That Care in Park Hill. They found a dramatic decrease in youth arrests, from 1,086 per 100,000 people in 2016 to 276 per 100,000 in 2021.
Arrests fell 75%—from 1,086 per 100,000 people in 2016 to 276 per 100,000 in 2021.
Further statistical analyses revealed that similar communities across Denver did not experience such sharp declines during the same period. Across 74 Denver neighborhoods, youth arrests decreased by an average of 18%.
Montbello, which implemented Communities That Care several years earlier than Park Hill, maintained stable, lower arrest rates throughout the study period, even as rates increased elsewhere amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This suggests the program’s infrastructure had lasting impacts, according to Kingston.
Future at Risk
Despite these successes, Kingston recently received news that the final year of funding for their current five-year grant cycle is at significant risk of being revoked. The potential loss of $1.2 million could jeopardize the existence of the Game Changers and hinder the YVPC-Denver’s ability to continue its work.
“Losing this funding would be devastating,” Kingston stated. “Not just for Denver but for communities nationwide looking to replicate this success.”
The announcement comes as communities across the United States seek effective strategies to combat youth violence. The YVPC-Denver model offers a promising framework, but its future depends on continued financial support and community engagement.
