Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) has stepped into the spotlight once again, this time to acknowledge the changemakers of 2025 with its Healthy Community Awards. Like a yearly tradition going strong since 2006, the organization has picked out the stalwarts and stewards of health and equity, and this year's ceremony, having taken place on October 17 at the Boulder County Southeast Hub in Lafayette, was a mosaic of innovation and tireless commitment to the public good.
Notable figures like BCPH Executive Director Lexi Nolen, Board of Health member Landrey Fagan, and Boulder County Commissioner Marta Loachamin graced the event, which, according to Boulder County, celebrated “individuals and organizations that go above and beyond to build a healthier, more equitable and resilient Boulder County.” The sentiment was echoed in Lexi Nolen's words as she emphasized the interconnected fabric of public health, partnerships, and community strength that the awards represent.
Lisa Allen from Boulder Community Health pioneered the Family Connects program’s integration into postpartum care, serving nearly 900 families, reducing the perils of maternal anxiety and depression, and fueling racial equity forward. Meanwhile, a local mainstay since the disco era, Gapter Septic Systems & Excavation, has been ensuring Boulder County's water stays pristine, their free septic lid replacement post-Marshall Fire being just one testament to their community-centric ethos.
Pharmacy manager Melissa Bonomo at Albertsons turned into a vaccine virtuoso, laying down the groundwork to train 10 pharmacy technicians and organizing mobile clinics that brought over 10,000 shots in arms in a year. She's also credited with providing vaccines to vulnerable populations, including 46 at the Boulder Homeless Shelter. Not to be overlooked, UpRoot Colorado figures as a harbinger of nutrition and climate action, having salvaged and doled out over 520 pounds of local farm produce to families, while also feeding the roots of child nutrition and community partnership.
