Salt Lake City, UT

Colors of Success (COS) and its Executive Director, Dewayne Bordeaux, strive to provide school-based prevention and intervention services for at-risk youth. COS is the state’s primary gang prevention program and currently serves 13 schools in the Salt Lake City School District and eight schools in the Ogden City School District. The intervention model consists of numerous programs, including safe school planning programs; professional staff development to intervene with high-risk youth; an innovative program directed at preventing females from joining gangs called “Girls With A Voice”; a year-round sports program for at-risk youth known as “Risin’ Up”; and a program directed at youth currently involved with the juvenile justice system known as “Dream Team.”

This organization was established more than 20 years ago to address these pervasive problems and has experienced great success since it was first established. Not only does the organization draw together different public resources, including law enforcement, education, and services organizations, but it emphasizes working with families and individuals within the service areas. The organization has established a policy of providing programs to improve school attendance, academics, and citizenship. Its emphasis on character development and self-esteem through mentoring programs and training in life skills and potential careers has resulted in a number of at-risk youth achieving success and becoming community leaders.