Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer on Saturday, joined more than 250 Orlando residents for the 6th Annual Neighborhood & Community Summit: Informed ? Connected ? Involved.
At this year’s summit, Mayor Dyer also presented for the first time the Neighborhood Champion Award and Community Builder Award to formally recognize one neighborhood leader and one community leader for their contributions to the Orlando community.
“I appreciate every City resident who has donated their time, talent and resources to improving our quality of life,” said Mayor Dyer. “I was honored to recognize two of those citizens at the Neighborhood & Community Summit for the positive impact they have made in our community.”
The Neighborhood Champion recognition was awarded to Tom Golay. Golay was recognized for his constant involvement in coordinating neighborhood clean ups and beautification projects, his instrumental involvement in the formation of several street Neighborhood Watch programs and his active membership and support of his neighborhood association and business community.
The Community Builder award recipient was Julie Coleman. Coleman established a local non-profit, Orlando School of Cultural Dance, that has benefited both children and young adults in the community for more than 20 years, has regularly raised funds that support student learning opportunities and provides free after-school enrichment classes every school year.
The Summit brought together neighborhood, arts & cultural, civic, community and faith-based leaders and volunteers to share information on community building and civic engagement. A variety of neighborhood engagement workshops, best practices and networking opportunities were provided for attendees.
“My annual Neighborhood & Community Summit gives neighborhood and community leaders firsthand knowledge of City programs and provides a variety of tools and resources to help them make their neighborhoods and community organizations thrive,” said Mayor Dyer. “I feel it’s our obligation as a City to provide our community leaders and volunteers with the tools and information they need to help make Orlando the absolute best place to live, work and raise a family.”
For more information on the Neighborhood & Community Summit, the Neighborhood Champion Award and Community Builder Award, contact the Office of Communications and Neighborhood Relations at 407-246.2169.
