April is Child Abuse Prevention Month—a time to come together to build awareness, strengthen families, and support the communities that help kids thrive. The first week of the month was packed with powerful moments that brought people together around a shared commitment to prevention.
From Pinwheels in the Chambers & the Illuminating Leadership Awards to Wear Blue Day, we saw just how strong our statewide network of advocates, professionals, and families really is. And what better way to tell the story than through photos?
Celebrating Leaders in Prevention
We kicked off the month in Denver for Pinwheels in the Chambers on April 1. Community members, advocates, and leaders in the family strengthening field started out the morning by recognizing and celebrating the recipients of this year’s Illuminating Leadership Awards.
Each year, Illuminate honors the contributions of exceptional individuals and organizations who have furthered our collective mission to strengthen families, organizations and communities to prevent child maltreatment. The 2025 award recipients were:
- Community Leadership Award: Domenica Steele
- Dynamic Leadership Award: Kerri Beattie
- Courageous Leadership Award: Senator Jeff Bridges
- Catalytic Leadership Award: Denver Children’s Foundation, accepted by Adam Cohen, Executive Director and Nick Pirnack, President
- Innovative Leadership Award: Judge William Alexander and Judge Bonnie McLean
- Lori Moriarty Leadership Award: Dr. Skip Barber
Left to right: Dr. Skip Barber, Domenica Steele, Nick Pirnack, Adam Cohen, Kerri Beattie
Left to right: Senator Jeff Bridges and Lex Loutzenhiser, Illuminate Colorado Policy Manager
Left to right: Jade Woodard, Illuminate Colorado Executive Director; Judge Bonnie McLean; Erin Baker-Ojeda, Illuminate Colorado Safe Babies Community Coordinator
Judge William Alexander joined us virtually from Pueblo!
Honoring Child Abuse Prevention Month at the Colorado State Capitol
After recognizing these exceptional leaders for the contributions they have made to building brighter childhoods for all kids in Colorado, we went over to the Colorado State Capitol for the reading of the Child Abuse Prevention Month tributes in the House and Senate.
The view from the House gallery while the tribute was read.
Award recipients and state leaders were honored to be on the floor of the House during the tribute reading.
A strong showing of support for Child Abuse Prevention Month in the Senate!
Thank you to Representative Joseph and Minority Leader Pugliese for presenting the tribute in the House, and to Senators Amabile, Bridges, Jodeh, Kipp, Kirkmeyer, Michaelson Jenet, and Simpson for presenting the tribute in the Senate! And a very special thank you to everyone who came to kick off Child Abuse Prevention Month with us!
Showing Up in Blue: Wear Blue Day
Every year, communities across the country wear blue to show support for child abuse prevention, and this year was no exception. On Wear Blue Day, our social media feeds were filled with a sea of blue as partners across Colorado – and the entire country – joined in to raise awareness and show their commitment to building brighter childhoods.
From matching outfits to blue nail polish, your creativity and enthusiasm lit up our feeds—and we’re so grateful. Here are just a few snapshots from the day that made us smile.
The Illuminate staff wearing blue!
The energy and connection from the first week of CAP Month remind us that prevention is possible—and it’s happening every day in communities across Colorado. Thank you to everyone who showed up, spoke out, and wore blue to help build a better future for kids and families!
Want to learn more about the Child Abuse Prevention Month campaign?
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