6 New Outstanding Community Cornerstones Announced!

Community Cornerstone Awards

Anita Bonds

Councilmember At-Large

Chairperson,
Committee on Housing and Community Development

Member,
Committee on Judiciary Committee on Education

1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 110
Washington, DC 20004

(202) 724-8064

www.anitabonds.com


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What are the Community Cornerstones Awards?

 

Throughout the year, Councilmember Anita Bonds highlights cornerstones of our community who make an extraordinary impact to the quality of life and general well-being of the residents of the District of Columbia.

SAVE THE DATE- An awards ceremony to celebrate the 2016 Community Cornerstone Awardees will be held on Thursday, December 15 at the John Wilson District Building from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.


This month's recipients

Mac

Commissioner Nancy MacWood

Nancy MacWood is a lawyer, community leader, and hardworking ANC Commissioner for ANC3C. In this role she chairs the ANC’s Historic Preservation Committee and the Planning and Zoning Committee. Nancy is often seen testifying at DC Council and Zoning Commission hearings with thoughtful and well-researched policy positions representing the views of her commission and community.

Nancy also serves as Chair of the Committee of 100 for the Federal City, as a member of the board of both the Rosedale Conservancy and the Tregaron Conservancy, and is a member of several other civic, community, and citizen's organizations. The DC Council has appointed her to serve as a member of the DC Comprehensive Plan Task Force and the DC Zoning Regulation Rewrite Task Force. Nancy currently serves as an original appointed member of the Chief Financial Officer's Advisory Committee on Residential Property Taxes.

Nancy MacWood represents the best of civic engagement and we thank her for her continued advocacy.


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Jasmin Benab

Jasmin Benab has dedicated her life to strengthening families and communities across the District of Columbia. She continues to do what she loves by efficiently and proactively helping residents across the city. Jasmin makes DC a better place through collaborative partnerships with DC government, elected officials, community organizations and a relentless commitment to the betterment of all of the District’s communities.

Jasmin has spearheaded public safety initiatives to address the needs of culturally diverse residents and has designed and implemented programs and strategies to reduce youth violence in the Hispanic community. One of the highlights of her efforts was empowering young people to be leaders in their own communities by organizing and implementing gang intervention/prevention events that successfully reduced violence and crime. She is also recognized for her efforts to create safe spaces throughout the city and for working with youth to change their negative behaviors into positive actions to  benefit their own communities.

Jasmin was one of the founders of the Gang Intervention Partnership Pilot Program, which led to reduced crime and zero homicides for a 4-year period in the Columbia Heights and Petworth Neighborhoods. 

Thank you Jasmin Benab for making such a positive impact upon our youth.


ile

Institute for Life Enrichment

Institute for Life Enrichment (ILE) has provided psychotherapy, psychological and mental health services to thousands of individuals and their families in the Washington, DC area since 1979. 

Under the direction of Dr. James E. Savage, ILE offers an individual, holistic approach to enrich people’s lives. The institute provides therapy, support and treatment for those with family and marital issues, alcoholism and drug dependency, depression, parenting, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.

Thanks to Dr. Savage and The Institute for Life Enrichment, mental illness and treatment is no longer viewed with the shame and stigma as in past decades.


Ransom
Ransom and Hardisha Miller

Ransom Miller III

Ransom Miller III is the Founder of Project Give Back, a nonprofit organization that helps facilitate professionals and corporations to give back to the communities where they work and live by coordinating programs that benefit less fortunate individuals and families.

Under Ransom’s vision, Project Give Back supports the community through their computer sponsors program that provides youth with lap tops and computer education and support. Project Give Back also offers a Youth Exposure Program that exposes the students to a wide range of experiences which provoke career aspirations, social ingenuity, and creativity.

During the holidays, Project Give Back provides a Children’s Easter Celebration, Holiday Toy Drive, and preparations are currently underway for their 22nd Annual Thanksgiving Food Basket Distribution.  

Over the years, Project Give Back has been able to directly assist over 3,400 families and has grown from one volunteer to 600 annually in 6 cities across the United States.

Thank you Ransom Miller for your decades of commitment to those in need and for giving back so much!


DM

Denieka Wicker

Denieka Wicker is a Community Cornerstone in NE, Washington. She is the Branch Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington Richard England Clubhouse (BGC). Denieka works with local schools and organizations in the neighborhood to highlight the diverse programs and activities offered. 

Denieka is responsible for implementing the Boys & Girls Club's broad range of programs, activities and services for those aged 6 to 18 years old with a focus on academic success, character, and healthy living.

Under her leadership, the Boys & Girls Club has an open door policy for participation in their after-school programs and those when school is not in session. She has never turned a child away. The programs Ms. Wicker and her staff provide to District children has opened many doors for scholarship opportunities, internships, community/corporate partnerships, and community service.

Kind, compassionate and hardworking, Denieka Wicker deserves our gratitude for serving as an outstanding role model for our girls and boys.


russell

Jeff Russell

Jeff Russell is a long-standing resident of Washington, DC living in the Palisades Neighborhood. Jeff recently completed a year of leadership as Grand Master of the Mason’s Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia. In this capacity, he led individual Mason lodges in volunteering with DC Public Schools and helping to raise over $25,000.00 for Safe Shores, a children’s advocacy center. Sincere gratitude to Jeff who organizes the cooking of thousands of hot dogs following the Palisades' 4th of July Parades.

Because of his leadership in community that positively impacts the lives of many DC residents and visitors, Jeff is recognized as a Cornerstone Awardee.


Make a nomination

We need your help to identify new Community Cornerstones Awards recipients.

Click here or on the image above to make a nomination today.