(Washington, DC) — Partners for Livable Communities honored nine individuals, organizations, and communities from across the country for their stewardship and innovation in the improvement of communities and government. Partners presented the awards at its annual Celebration of Vision and Community Spirit dinner and awards program on Thursday evening, December 11, at The Fairfax at Embassy Row in Washington, D.C.
For nearly 40 years, Partners has celebrated the leadership of people, institutions, and partnerships that have discovered unique assets that communities can build upon to become a more livable place. Formed by a diverse coalition around a principle that quality of life is a key resource to be capitalized upon, Partners believes the powers and skills of individual citizens are prime resources to build a better future, both business and the civic community have a common interest in ensuring equity and livability, beauty and heritage is a unique asset for long term value, and important institutions can become fulcrums of change to reflect the needs of their communities.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Jaquelin T. Robertson, FAIA is the cofounder of the renowned architecture firm, Cooper, Robertson & Partners, and is the former dean of the University of Virginia School of Architecture.
Founders Award for Civic Leadership
Sam A. Williams, the recently retired President of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. has played an integral role in progressing the Atlanta metropolitan region throughout his 17-year presidency.
Entrepreneurial American Leadership Award
Bob Kendrick is the President of the Negro League Baseball Musuem, located at 18th and Vine in Kansas City, and has led a major turnaround in the museum's popularity and fiscal strength since assuming his position in 2010.
Bridge Builders Award
Harris Ranch Development Corporation, led by Doug Fowler of LeNir Ltd, is developing Harris Ranch, a 1,300 acre site on a former ranch in east Boise, as a sustainable community that aims to preserve Idaho's country culture in the face of unprecedented growth.
Twenty-Five Years of Excellence Award
SPUR (formerly known as the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research) has evolved from its roots in helping San Francisco recover from the ruinous 1906 earthquake into a regional organization that works on issues as diverse as economic development, good government, transportation, and disaster planning.
Entrepreneurial American Community Award
St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, located on the banks of Lake Pontchartrain about 30 miles north of New Orleans, has been a model of resilience in the face of disaster as exemplified by its remarkable recovery from the havoc wreaked by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
Celebrate America Media Award
Neal Peirce is an American writer and journalist who explores the dynamics of state and local government with an emphasis on emerging metropolitan regions at the intersection of their political and economic functions.
William H. Whyte Award
M.J. "Jay" Brodie has been a leader in the real estate development field for more than 40 years, leaving his greatest impact throughout Washington, DC and Baltimore, where Jay headed the Baltimore Development Corporation for 16 years.
Ron Littlefield, former Mayor of Chattanooga and Chairman of Partners for Livable Communities' Board of Trustees, was the host of evening's program. Parris Glendening, former Governor of Maryland and current President of Smart Growth America's Leadership Institute, presided as the Master of Ceremonies. Glendening is a former member of the Partners' Board of Trustees.
The Honorable Joseph Riley, Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, presented the Lifetime Achievement Award. Richard C. D. Fleming, past CEO of the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association, presented the Founders Award for Civic Leadership. Peter Harkness, Founder and Publish Emeritus of Governing magazine and member of Partners' Board of Trustees, presented the Celebrate America Media award. Jay Williams, the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development also joined Partners to recognize the distinguished honorees.
Click here to see photos from the event.