OCCD 2022 Member Awards

Ohio Conference of Community Development (OCCD), a statewide association of community and economic development practitioners, announced the winners of the 10th Annual OCCD Member Awards, the President’s Award for Innovative Practices, and this year’s Public Service Scholarships at the 2022 Summer Annual Meeting.

The 2022 honorees for the annual OCCD Member Awards include:

            Legacy Awards – In recognition of individuals who have advanced community development programs with particular ardor and creativity throughout their careers, and where long-term benefits are demonstrable and noteworthy.

                                                                             
                                              2022 Recipient - Bill Faith                                                 2022 Recipient - Rollin Seward
                            Award presented by Past President Paul Herdeg         Award presented by Past President Kathy Werkmeister

            The George Voinovich Distinguished Public Service Award - In recognition of individuals who have devoted much of their lives to the benefit of society through careers in community development in the public and/or private sectors.

2022 Recipient - Rev. John Edgar
Award presented by Michelle Castrogiovanni

            Community Development Partner of the Year Award - In recognition of a non-profit or faith-based organization, individual, business, financial institution, foundation, intermediary, government agency, or other entity that has provided exceptional support to the community development industry.

2022 Recipient - Ohio Association of Food Banks
Represented by Lisa Hamler-Fugitt and Joree Novotny
Award presented by Past President Doug Harsany

            Community Development Professional of the Year - In recognition of community development professionals whose work on a project had a major impact on their community.

                                                                                
                                          2022 Recipient - Paul Tecpanecatl                                         2022 Recipient - Tawana Jones
                           Award presented by Past President Ken Lengieza            Award presented by Past President Ken Lengieza

            Young Community Development Professional of the Year - In recognition of community development professionals whose work on a project had a major impact on their community.  This award recognizes community development professionals under the age of 35.

2022 Recipient - Christian Bennett-Mosley
Award presented by Vice President Terri Fetherolf

            Community Development Department of the Year - In recognition of a department whose programs collectively or one program singly has made a significant impact in their community.

2022 Recipient - City of Kettering
Award presented by Past President Ken Kengieza

In addition to the Member Awards, OCCD created the Public Service Scholarship Fund in 2012 to support students who are passionate about the field of community development. The scholarship fund was established in honor of William Graves and Gary Locke, and in 2017 was expanded to include Karen Kerns Dresser, who committed their careers to community development and public service in Ohio. Recipients of $2,000 scholarships included:  Taylor Jones, a graduate student majoring in Public Policy at Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government; and Madison DeMay, an undergraduate student majoring in Urban Planning at the University of Cincinnati.

The winner of the 2022 OCCD President’s Award for Innovative Practices is the New Leaf – Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program.

New Leaf is helping communities in Southeast Ohio thrive and break the cycles of trauma, poverty, and community decline – working toward prevention of violence, substance misuse and a safer community for all.  Each New Leaf Community has the facilities and staffing to provide all services at no cost – community components include housing, living wage employment / workplace development, transportation, counseling/recovery, childcare and advocacy / case management.

New Leaf is receiving this award for addressing the needs of those who have been traumatized and encountered substance misuse, by creating pathways to empowerment, education and economic justice in Southeast Ohio through their Survivor Advocacy Outreach Program.

This program reflects outstanding performance in addressing significant and immediate needs in the region.

2022 President's Award Recipient - New Leaf
Represented by Jennifer Seifert, Charlie Chadwick, and Rene Redd
Award presented by Vice President Terri Fetherolf