Roanoke, VA – On Friday, Nov. 10, the city hosted the Annual City Neighborhoods ‘”Harvesting the Fruits” Potluck Supper and Neighborhood Partnership Awards Celebration in Jefferson Center’s Fitzpatrick Hall. This annual event, now in its fourth year, recognizes outstanding contributions and accomplishments achieved by neighborhood organizations and individuals. Roanoke City Council members presented trophies to the following recipients nominated in the following categories:
- The Neighborhood-City Partnership Award was presented to the Roanoke Police Department acknowledging the wide range of programs and activities they provide to engages with our community and enhance our city’s quality of life.
- The Neighborhood-Community Partnership Award was presented to R.E.A.C.H. a nonprofit who engages young people in a variety of volunteer opportunities including the rehabilitation of older homes in the SE neighborhood as well as encouraging residents to connect and engage with one another through the hosting of a variety of community gatherings.
- The Neighborhood Improvement Award was presented to the Southeast Action Forum, Inc. for their ongoing variety of projects to build community pride, engage neighborhood residents, improve the neighborhood’s quality of life, and strengthen the social infrastructure of the Southeast neighborhood.
- The Neighborhood Outstanding Volunteer Leadership Award was presented to Hal Irvin of Old Southwest, Inc. for his ongoing efforts in keeping the residents of Old Southwest safe and informed of neighborhood-related crime activities and calls for service.
- The Neighborhood Youth Volunteer Award was presented to the STAR Council, comprised of students from Fleming High School and Patrick Henry High School who regularly undertake a variety of projects to raise money to benefit their fellow homeless peers and friends.
- The Neighborhood Communications Award was presented to Old Southwest, Inc. for their use of a variety of methods and platforms to get the word out to make certain members, neighbors, and guests know what is going on in the Old SW neighborhood.
- The Neighborhood Unsung Hero Award was presented to Nicole Harris for her volunteerism activities in service to her neighborhood organization, local nonprofits, her city, and her neighbors.
- The Neighborhood All-Star Award was presented to Old Southwest, Inc. for their ongoing Block Pride Event at which neighborhood residents of all ages meet twice per year at designated locations to spread out and scour the entire neighborhood collecting several tons of trash, brush and junk left by others.
At the end of the award presentations, Roanoke City Council announced the selection of Nicole Harris as the City of Roanoke’s 2017 Citizen of the Year.
For more information, contact Bob Clement, Neighborhood Services Coordinator, 853-1286 or [email protected].