2006 Convention Award Winners

Each year, MACDC presents awards to organizations or individuals who further the goals of the CDC movement in an exemplary manner. All of the awards will be presented at the MACDC Convention on October 14, 2006. We are very pleased to announce the winners of these awards.

The Ricanne Hadriane Award which is presented to a CDC project manager or organizer who meaningfully engages local residents in building economically vibrant and racially just communities will be awarded to Lindolfo Carballo, Director of Organizing at Coalition for a Better Acre in Lowell.

The Richard Smith Award, which is presented to a CDC staff person or board member who exemplifies outstanding commitment, leadership and achievement on behalf of the statewide movement, will be given to two awardees: Richard Thal, Executive Director of the Jamaica Plain NDC in Boston and Fran Volkmann, former Board Member of Valley CDC in Northampton.

The Rising Star Award is a new award being presented for the first time this year. This award recognizes CDC Directors, staff or Board members, less than 40 years old, who have demonstrated outstanding innovation, leadership and achievement on behalf of the statewide movement. 

The first winners of this award are: Ana Luna, Executive Director of Arlington Community Trabajando, Inc. in Lawrence; Moira Noonan, Economic Development Program Manager, Lower Cape Cod CDC in North Eastham;  Heather Knopsnyder, Open Space Community Organizer at Allston Brighton CDC in Boston; Tamar Kotelchuck, Project Director at Lawrence CommunityWorks and Franklin Miller, Youth Organizer at Dorchester Bay EDC in Boston.

The Jeffery Graham Award recognizes a person or organization from the private sector that has provided exceptional support and leadership for the community development movement in Massachusetts. This year MACDC is presenting the award to Joe Flatley, President and CEO of Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation.

The Excellence in Community Development Award recognizing a person or agency from the public sector that has provided exceptional support and leadership for the community development movement in Massachusetts will be presented to State Representative David Torrisi who represents Lawrence and North Andover.