The William H. Whyte Award recognizes those individuals who have exemplified and maintained the mission and ardor of Whyte, whose work provides a factual basis for achieving livability through empirical observations of the relationship of human beings to place.
M.J. “Jay” Brodie has been a leader in the real estate and development field for more than 40 years, beginning in 1969 with the Baltimore City Department of Housing and Community Development where he molded much of the character and image of the Inner Harbor and many neighborhoods.
As Executive Director (1984-1993) of the Pennsylvania Avenue Development Corporation, a federal corporation established by Congress to revitalize a 21-block, 110-acre area between the White House and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jay oversaw the near completion of the nation’s most prestigious urban redevelopment project using $150 million public funds to attract $1.5 billion in private investment.
From 1996 until his retirement in 2012, Jay served as President of the Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC), a non-profit organization working with the City of Baltimore to provide economic development services. Under his leadership, BDC’s efforts retained or attracted an estimated 62,672 jobs in 1,087 businesses and/or projects, resulting in a capital investment in rehabilitation or new construction exceeding $3.4 billion.
The Celebrate America Media Award acknowledges journalists and publications that successfully convey critical information on urban strategies to the American public. These honorees strive to make America a better place through the creative communication of innovation and successful advancements in American communities.
Neal Peirce is the lead writer among American journalists on the dynamics of state and local government, with a special focus in recent years on metropolitan regions — their political and economic dynamics, and their emerging national and global roles. Earlier in his career, Neal was the political editor of Congressional Quarterly and then one of the founders of National Journal. He wrote a 10-book series on America’s states and regions culminating in The Book of America: Inside 50 States Today (W.W. Norton, 1983).
In 1975, Neal began — and continues today — the first national column focused on state and local government themes, syndicated by the Washington Post Writers Group. With Curtis Johnson, he has co-authored the Citistates Reports on compelling issues of metropolitan futures for leading newspapers in 25 regions across the nation, among them the Seattle Times, Dallas Morning News, Philadelphia Inquirer and St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Neal was lead author of the 1993 book, Citistates. Beginning in 1995, Neal was chairman of the Citistates Group, a network of journalists, speakers, and consultants who believe that successful metropolitan regions are today’s key to economic competitiveness and sustainable communities.
In 2014, Neal expanded his leadership to global urban strategies with the launch of Citiscope, founded with a mission to spur innovation and to help cities work better for all their people through the power of independent journalism.
The Entrepreneurial American Community Award acknowledges the civic capacity building, commitment, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit of a community. Those communities honored with this award are true innovators and have found success in providing unique solutions to local problems.
St. Tammany Parish, located on the banks of Lake Pontchartrain about 30 miles north of New Orleans, is a celebrated Louisiana community and one of the fastest growing parishes in the state.
The eastern part of the parish was the epicenter of the landfall of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, an event that devastated the community and caused over $400 million in damage to commercial and residential buildings. Though Hurricane Katrina destroyed over 48,000 homes and razed a number of important community institutions, the disaster has illustrated the resiliency of the residents of St. Tammany Parish and the community is quickly becoming a source of pride for New Orleans residents once again.
According to the publication Louisiana Moving Forward, St. Tammany Parish is the “economic engine driving regional recovery” for the New Orleans metropolitan region. At the heart of this redevelopment is the rich history of the community, which attracts visitors looking to experience the romance of the resort towns that populate the parish. Smart policies have also allowed the community to foster a business-friendly environment, and the parish is currently home to a number of the country’s most notable corporations, including Chevron, Stirling Properties and Smoothie King. This has created a quickly expanding job market, which when combined with the top-tier public school system and proximity to one of the most culturally rich urban areas in the U.S., make St. Tammany Parish one of the most livable communities in the nation today.
Parish President Pat Brister will accept the award. President Brister is a businesswoman and a leader in Louisiana state politics, having previously served as the Louisiana Republican Party State Chairman. President Brister was appointed by President Bush as an ambassador to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
This award honors organizations that have exemplified strong and enduring leadership, creative solutions to community challenges, and long-term relevance, thereby paving the way for other community- building entities.
SPUR was formed as the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Commission shortly after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake to help improve the quality of housing in San Francisco. As the organization evolved over the years, its focus expanded.
SPUR was one of the first organizations to advocate for “transit first” policies, as well as fight for affordable housing in a city that has seen its cost of living grow at a rapid pace. The organization promoted the central city as the key point of development while limiting suburban sprawl. SPUR also advocated for the development of the BART transit system and played a large role in the founding of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. These successful endeavors among others helped to create the modern and eminently livable San Francisco we know today.
With over 4,000 active members, a new office in San Jose, and plans for another office in Oakland, SPUR is looking to expand their balanced approach to planning. No doubt, SPUR will help those communities flourish by contributing to their design and planning as they have in San Francisco for decades.
Gabriel Metcalf is the executive director of SPUR. Under his leadership, SPUR has grown dramatically in influence and membership. Before becoming executive director in 2005, Gabriel headed up SPUR’s policy and advocacy work for five years. Prior to SPUR, he worked for the Bay Institute, an environmental organization focused on California water policy. He was also a co-founder of City CarShare and for many years served as its board chairman.
The Entrepreneurial American Leadership Award acknowledges the civic capacity building, commitment, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit of an individual. Those honored with this award are real “doers” that accomplish change for the betterment of our communities.
Bob Kendrick began his involvement with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM) as a volunteer in 1993. He teamed with the immensely popular former Negro League player and longtime NLBM chairman, Buck O’Neil, to help grow the not-for-profit organization from a one-room office in 1990 into its current 10,000 sq. ft. home in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District in Kansas City, Missouri.
O’Neil’s death in 2006 coupled with an economic downturn had the museum’s survival in jeopardy. Kendrick, who served as Vice President of Marketing, left the NLBM in 2010 to pursue another career opportunity. He returned in 2011 after the museum’s board elected him President. Under Bob’s direction, the NLBM has returned to profitability and is playing host to nearly 60,000 visitors a year.
The NLBM is the world’s only museum solely dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of the Negro Leagues and its impact on the social advancement of America. Bob Kendrick’s entrepreneurial spirit and leadership has allowed this important cultural institution to flourish while educating people worldwide about a significant, but once forgotten, chapter of Americana.
