The Community Impact Network (the Network) celebrated the exceptional contributions of direct service providers in North St. Louis County during its second annual "A Night With the Stars" event on Dec. 8. Hosted by Emmy-winning personality Jade Harrell and featuring guest speakers Winston Calvert, President and CEO of the Network, and Julius B. Anthony, Founder of St. Louis Black Authors of Children's Literature, the ceremony recognized the pivotal role of these individuals who provide direct, face-to-face services within the 24:1 community, which makes up the Normandy Schools Collaborative in North St. Louis County.
“We are here to make sure there’s one night when the spotlight shines right on you,” Calvert said in his remarks at the event. “Because we know that most of you aren’t usually in the spotlight. You get up and do what needs to be done. You don’t do it for the money or the worldly success. And you don’t do it for the attention. In fact, you don’t usually even have time for the spotlight, because there is work to be done.”
Nine individuals received awards out of 24 nominees. Awardees ranged from a 14-year-old activist to retired educators who are still making a difference in classrooms. The 14-year-old awardee, Legacy Jackson, inspired the Network to create a new award called the Emerging Changemaker Award, which honors young people in the 24:1 who are making a positive impact.
Watch video of the full event here.
Awardees include:
Teamwork Award: The Teamwork Award is awarded to individuals who demonstrate the ability to seek out and engage in innovative collaborations with other service providers, no matter how "small" the collaboration may be.
Listening Award: Individuals who demonstrate an extraordinary dedication to engaging with the community and actively listening to those they serve.
Solutions Award: The Solutions Award pays tribute to an individual who has crafted unique, creative or unorthodox solutions to challenges that they, their organization or those they serve were facing.
Emerging Changemaker Award: Recognizing the impactful contributions of young community members making an impact in 24:1.
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Pictured: Photos by Phillp Hamer Photography
Teamwork Award (L to R): Mary Saunders, program manager for street outreach at Epworth Children and Family Services; Amanda Mitchell, program manager at the Core Collective at Saint Vincent; and Jacqueline Buck-Horton, Beyond Housing Board of Directors.
Listening Award (L to R): Relda Owens-Mathews, education support counselor for BJC Behavioral Health; Jenn Deaton, lead outreach worker at the Epworth Children and Family Services Drop-In Center in Normandy; and Jessica Burton, occupancy specialist at Beyond Housing.
Solutions Award (L to R): Mia Turner, community health worker at Nurses for Newborns; Marcia Hayes-Harris, Family Engagement Liaison at Beyond Housing; and Legacy Jackson (Emerging Changemaker awardee), founder of Little Legacies Community Service Organization.