At a banquet dinner in his honor May 25, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock was given the moniker – “the heart and soul of Denver.” And, it’s no wonder.

As the mile high city’s principal executive, Hancock has navigated Denver through a period of rapid growth during his nearly five years at the helm.

The city is thriving and burgeoning – Denver’s economy is booming and dynamic, attracting droves of new residents and undergoing a cosmetic facelift of sorts in historic neighborhoods, to the dismay of some residents. The city has been on showcase nationally for its recreational marijuana commerce, job creation and overall growth.

“We are a desired city to work and start a new business,” Hancock said. “The city is moving forward and becoming competitive globally.”

The award Hancock accepted in an emotional ceremony, the Community Enrichment Award presented by the Mizel Institute, was in recognition of his of devotion to his community said Melanie Pearlman, president and CEO of the institute, which comprises Denver’s Jewish art museum and a Counterterrorism Education Learning Lab (The CELL).

“The Mayor’s youth initiatives, educational and cultural advancements, and commitment to civic engagement are very much in line with the Mizel Institute’s mission,” said Pearlman. “He works for the people of Denver – all ages and backgrounds – to create opportunity and eliminate inequity.”

Nearly Denver’s native son

Born in Texas, Hancock is just months short of being a native of Denver. He grew up in the city, in a low income household, the youngest of 10 siblings, and often speaks of his brother’s death from AIDS, emboldening him to fight for fairness and the voiceless.

His first foray into politics was in middle school when his school peers elected him student body president. He went on to serve as class president while attending Denver’s Manual High School, and later left Denver for Nebraska to attend undergraduate school, returning for summers and an internship in Mayor Federico Pena’s office.

Following stints with the Denver Housing Authority and National Civic League, Hancock joined the Denver City Council where he served eight years. On the board, Hancock served two terms as council president and oversaw the formation of the Denver Pre-School Initiative, which offers tuition credit to preschool education, helped the city fight foreclosures and guided the city through its largest ever infrastructure improvement.

An avid football fan, Hancock parlayed time playing wide receiver and safety on his high school football team into a Super Bowl appearance with the 1987 Denver Broncos – as the team mascot, Thunder.

Moving Denver forward

After a hard-fought, expensive race and win in 2011, Hancock cleaned up in 2015 in a second-term bid, garnering 80 percent in a general election. He faced three largely unknown opponents in an otherwise quiet contest.

Shortly after starting his first term, Hancock said he was honest with Denverites about the need to boost the city and become fiscally healthy and asked voters to lift a property tax spending freeze through Measure 2A. The measure allowed the city to bridge a budget gap, restore services and also give thousands of children free access to city recreation centers and libraries.

When asked about the projects he is most proud of, Hancock cited a renovated Union Station and vibrant, bustling downtown. Hancock has recently seen the A-line, the commuter rail line from the city to Denver International Airport, come to fruition and is negotiating with neighboring cities on an “airport city” – a large-scale commercial development around DIA, according to the Denver Post.

However, the city is not without its challenges, Hancock said.

“We will never shy away from the problems, but instead make sure we are having that conversation,” he said.

As the city has grown and prospered, so has the cost of living. Looking ahead, Hancock said he seeks to create and retain affordable housing and bridge the opportunity gap for children with a strong public school system.

City officials have fielded concerns over the changing landscape of the city, where development has increased density and crowded previously quiet neighborhoods, the Denver Post Reports.

“There’s legitimacy to the concerns,” Hancock said. “The last 12 years, the city has been changing.”

Drawing some ire

Though Hancock has piloted a thriving city, his tenure in the Mayor’s office hasn’t been without controversy.

Denver’s urban-camping policy, banning sleeping in public spaces, has fielded ire including from the American Civil Liberties Union, which labeled police sweeps of homeless camps as draconian and said the city is criminalizing homelessness.

Hancock said the city has tried to address homelessness with compassion. While Hancock noted city laws prohibit a person from obstructing public sidewalks, he said the city doesn’t simply push the homeless to another street, but rather find safe places for the homeless to sleep. The city has budgeted $47 million to address homelessness, Hancock said.

Hancock takes the controversy in stride, recognizing that serving in elected office will always be met with opposition – often passionate and with a point. But Hancock also has plenty of fans. Winning such a prestigious Denver award as the Mizel Institute’s Community Enrichment Award, Hancock now has a high bar set for the remaining 3 years of his second term. With Denver’s limit of three consecutive terms (12 years), leaving him with the possibility of running for another 4-year term, a man with Hancock’s exuberant energy undoubtedly has ambitious goals to accomplish for his ever-changing, rapidly expanding home-turf, continuing his beat as the “heart and soul” of Denver.