Neighborhood heroes

Eighth Ward presents Community leader award

Left to right: Heather Doyle, Ora Hoakes (accepting for Rev. Billy Russell), Councilmember Elizabeth Glidden, Alice Anderson, Polly Kavenaugh.

The 8th Ward Community Leader Awards were presented on Jan. 26 at the “Early Mornings with Elizabeth” that occurs on the last Friday of each month with Council Member Elizabeth Glidden.
The 8th Ward is proud of these winners and all of the wonderful nominations we received from people who are simply trying to make their communities stronger. We would like to say thank you to our winners and thank you to all of you who nominated so many deserving candidates. We look forward to continuing to recognize leaders in our great community next year. The award winners are:

REVEREND BILLY RUSSELL, GREATER FRIENDSHIP MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH
As the pastor of Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Billy Russell has committed himself to working on neighborhood issues and modeling a life of healthy choices and volunteerism.

ALICE ANDERSON, KIRK’S MOBIL STATION
When asking about Alice Anderson and her contributions to community, I was told over and over “if you want something done, call Alice.”
As the decades-long owner of Kirk’s Mobil at 46th Street and 4th Avenue, Alice Anderson has been a fixture in Field-Regina-Northrop for many years.
Her contributions are many and still ongoing, even though she and her family are selling the station.

POLLY KAVENAUGH, BLOCK CLUB LEADER
Polly Kavenaugh is a resident of the Bancroft neighborhood who lives near the corner of 38th and Chicago. She was nominated by a neighbor to recognize the incredible work she does to connect her neighborhoods and improve her community.

She’s a stay-at-home wife and mother.  She has led her surrounding neighbors in many efforts to improve our quality of life.  Polly began and leads our National Night Out events: She organized residents to shut down not one but two crack houses that also had prostitution and child protection issues. She is known as the watchdog of our area: collecting license plates, regularly calling 911 as crime occurs and engaging with all neighbors, law-abiding or not, to let them know that eyes are present.

THE SPEAK PROJECT
In early spring of 2006 a Central neighborhood resident named Heather Doyle contacted our office to discuss an idea she had for a public art project. A metal artist and instructor at MCTC, Heather wanted to work with young people ages 12-18 to give them an incredible experience with art and to make something beautiful for the neighborhood. Specifically, she wanted to install public art in the area of 38th & Chicago.

The SPEAK! Project, as described by Heather, is “collaborative, youth-produced, metal sculpture installation representing an important dialogue between the community and our youth. SPEAK, the introductory piece to this installation, depicts the word ‘speak’ in the four languages most commonly spoken in the four neighborhoods that come together at 38th and Chicago. It serves the community’s plea, inviting our youth to make their voices heard.” These sculptures are on display at 37th and Chicago Ave next to the Baha’i Center.