Mayor’s Inspiration Award

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The Lakewood Mayor’s Inspiration Award recognizes individuals and organizations who have made a significant impact in our community by recognizing contributions in community engagement, collaboration, inclusiveness, diversity and innovation. We attended the award ceremony last night and are proud to announce that Doug and Judy Whitten were among the winners of the 2025 Mayor’s Inspiration Award for their work in making a better community. 

As charter members and founders of the Southern Gables Neighborhood Association, Doug and Judy Whitten have worked tirelessly together as a team in dedication to creating a positive, welcoming neighborhood. Their efforts are characterized by Doug’s personal motto, 

If you always give, you will always have.

Doug and Judy Whitten receiving Mayor’s Inspiration Award from Mayor Wendi Strom

The Whittens’ contributions to the City of Lakewood, and to Southern Gables in particular, have largely stemmed from their contributions to the Neighborhood Association. Doug was president of the Association for a record-setting eight years, from 2014 to 2022, with Judy always helping and guiding with her insights and people skills. Under their leadership Southern Gables residents have enjoyed Neighborhood Night Out each August, with music and picnic food, businesses and community organizations providing games and prizes, a free raffle, activities for the kids and social time for everyone. With attendance having grown to around 700 people each year, it has proven to be a success in bringing neighbors together. Doug spearheaded a drive to have a walking path constructed at Green Gables Elementary, making the school grounds more suitable to serve the community which otherwise has no parks within its boundaries.

Judy has been the lead in organizing young volunteers each November to rake the fall leaves for the neighborhood’s elderly and disabled residents, coordinating with Doug and volunteers from the Association to have them sent to be composted instead of going into landfill. In a separate project involving keeping leaves from going to waste, prior to the City opening up its own leaf drop and composting service in 2023, they instituted the idea of having neighbors bring their raked leaves to a collection spot in the neighborhood to be taken to a commercial composting facility. (Now that Lakewood picked up the idea, residents can take their leaves to the City Greenhouse, this year November 15 through 24, details here.)  Judy also organizes monthly neighborhood luncheons, gathering neighbors together and supporting local restaurants with lively social gatherings. 

Under their leadership the Association supports local community organizations and nonprofits with direct donations and volunteer support, and provides a positive and cohesive force for increased community spirit, making Lakewood a better place to live.

You can check this City of Lakewood web page to see all the recipients of the award after they get updated for this year: Lakewood Colorado Mayor’s Inspiration Award 2025.

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