DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis to Honor 25 Individuals and Organizations at Community Hero Awards

DECATUR, Ga.—DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer Burrell Ellis will host the CEO’s Community Hero Awards on Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 6:30 p.m., at the DeKalb History Center.

Hosted in partnership with The Champion Newspaper, the CEO’s Community Hero Awards honors outstanding individuals and organizations making a significant impact in DeKalb County.

“It is an opportunity to highlight the contributions of our residents who are committed to improving their neighborhoods,” said CEO Burrell Ellis.

The award ceremony will be emceed by Sally Sears, reporter with WGCL.

The CEO’s Community Hero Awards ceremony is free and open to the public.

COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD

This award acknowledges an individual and non-profit organization whose work has had a positive

impact in strengthening communities and improving the lives of others in DeKalb County.

Individual

Alice White Bussey                                                      County Line Ellenwood Community        

John Evans                                                                   DeKalb NAACP 

Marcia Glenn Hunter                                                    DeKalb for Seniors, Inc.

Ronnie Mayer                                                               President, Ashford Park Civic Association

Gilbert “Gil” Turman                                                     South DeKalb Neighborhoods Coalition                

Verdaillia Turner                                                           Georgia Federation of Teachers

Honey Van De Kreke                                                    Tucker City Council District-1, Post-1

Organization

Be Someone, Inc.                                                          Orrin Hudson

Wesley Chapel Curb Appeal Task Force                     Kevin Chapman, Jr.

Asian American Resource Center                                Connie Jee

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE AWARD

This award honors a community member and/or organization that works to preserve, protect, and raise awareness about our environment.

 

Linda Cotten Taylor                                                        Friends of Chapel Hill Park

John Miller, II, P.E.                                                           Co-Chairman, CIP Citizen Advisory Committee

Tom Smith                                                                       Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve

 

 

YOUTH VOLUNTEER AWARD

This award will recognize two DeKalb County youth and/or an organization who exemplify volunteerism and community service.

Justin LeGrand                                                               Boy Scout Troop 106, Sponsored by

      Greenforest Community Baptist Church 

Marcus Jerome Johnson, Jr                                          Boy Scout Troop 1996 at Fairfield Baptist Church

Gillum Owen                                                                   DeKalb County Youth Commission 
 

NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT AWARD

This award recognizes an individual or organization that fosters civic engagement and promotes

community involvement.

 

Individual

Jan R. Costello                                                               Greater Hidden Hills Community Development Corporation

Joel Edwards                                                                  Restore DeKalb

Vivian Moore                                                                  NAACP Georgia Political Action Chair

Charles Peagler                                                              Community Activist

Opal Ware, Ph. D                                                            Community Activist
 

Organization

Columbia Alliance Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative (CASNI)                                Eunice Wight

 

 

THE VANGUARD AWARD

This award recognizes an individual or organization whose contributions most exemplify the National County Government Month theme as established by National Association of Counties each year. This year’s theme is “Safe and Secure Counties”.

 

Jacqueline Davis                                                               DeKalb County Board of Health, Board Vice Chair

Jacqueline M. Echols, Ph.D                                               South River Watershed Alliance

Charles Maxwell                                                                Lindmoor Woods Neighborhood Watch

                                                         Lindmoor Woods Civic Association

 

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