• Member Awards
• Public & Private Sector Awards

2018 Award Winners

THE RICANNE HADRIAN AWARD:

Spencer Buchholz, Lawrence CommunityWorks - 

Spencer Buchholz literally rose up from the grassroots. His first interaction with Lawrence CommunityWorks (LCW) was as a NeighborCircle participant in 2006, gathering with other neighbors to network and discuss local concerns and priorities. He then became a volunteer, advanced to a “Reviviendo Fellow,” and was hired as an Organizer in 2007.

In 2011, Spencer left LCW to help run a local business, the first community-oriented café in the city, and remained connected to LCW as a volunteer. In 2012, Spencer returned to LCW to tackle the Director of Network Organizing role, a position he excelled at for six years. As Director of Network Organizing, Spencer was a mentor to new organizers, a strong, consistent, and effective voice for the importance and practice of the Network Organizing approach across the organization, and a champion of resident voice and input at every level.

One of Spencer’s key achievements is his leadership of partnership work with Lawrence Public Schools. Under Spencer’s guidance, the collaboration has grown, laying the foundation for a paradigm shift in school-parent engagement.

Just this fall, Spencer transitioned into the Real Estate Department as a Project Manager, as part of his dedication to learning all aspects of the field and to building deep synergies between different aspects of community development work.

Spencer is loved and respected by everyone in the LCW Network: staff, board, and community residents. Spencer is bi-lingual in English and Spanish and loves to spend time at his Lawrence home with his wife, two sons, one daughter, and dog.

MEMBER AWARDS

The Ricanne Hadrian Award:

This award is for a CDC project manager or organizer who meaningfully engages local residents in building economically and racially just communities.

Ricanne Hadrian was MACDC's Deputy Director for housing and community reinvestment until her death in October 1996. She also designed the community organizing initiative, RHICO, name in her honor.

The Richard Smith Award:

MACDC presents this award to a CDC staff person or board member who exemplifies outstanding commitment, leadership and achievement on behalf of the statewide movement.

Richard Smith was the Executive Director of the Fitchburg CDC. He worked tirelessly on behalf of his organization and his community. MACDC has presented this award in his memory since 1992.

The Rising Star Award:

This award is presented to Executive Directors, staff or board members that are 40 years old or younger who have demonstrated their potential, outstanding innovation, leadership and achievement in community development.

PUBLIC & PRIVATE SECTOR AWARDS

Excellence in Community Development:

MACDC presents the Excellence in Community Development Award to an individual or agency from the public sector that has provided exceptional support and leadership for the community development movement in Massachusetts.

The Jeffrey Graham Award:

This award is presented to a person or organization from the private sector that has provided exceptional support and leadership for the community development movement in Massachusetts.

Jeffrey Graham was a community reinvestment officer who demonstrated a genuine commitment to supporting CDCs and their communities. In 2002, MACDC named this award in Jeffrey's memory.