Lakewood community organizer Darlene Espinoza Picón has been named employee of the year by Safe Streets, the non-profit organization that empowers communities to create safe neighborhoods.

Picón has been a community mobilizer for Safe Streets since 2001, and now works as the Community Mobilization Specialist for Lakewood. She is on the front lines of crime prevention efforts, working closely with neighbors, law enforcement and city and county agencies to help improve the safety and livability of Lakewood-area communities.

“Safe Streets is behind the scenes when we get community members to speak up,” says Picón. “Employee of the year gives us a little recognition that maybe we are doing a good job.”