New Jersey Neighborhood Achievement Awards
Supporting Community Development In New Jersey 
The 6th Annual LISC New Jersey Neighborhood Achievement Awards luncheon was held Thursday, November 6th from 12noon to 3 pm at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. The 2008 awards recognized eight individuals and organizations within the community development arena that are committed to revitalizing underserved neighborhoods throughout the State.
This year's Awards Program was presented in partnership with Greater Newark and Jersey City LISC by TD Bankworth, New Jersey Community Capital and the Community Preservation Corporation. The event was sponsored in part by Bank of America, HSBC N.A., Living Cities, JPMorgan Chase, Prudential Foundation, PSE&G, TD Bankworth, Victoria Foundation, Washington Mutual, Captial One Bank, and PNC Bank.
Honorees are celebrated for creating industry-leading, innovative programs, which make urban neighborhoods safe and attractive places to live and do business. The LISC New Jersey Neighborhood Achievement Awards (NJNAA) recognize community development leaders who are committed to building healthy and vibrant communities in New Jersey. With an established selection criteria in hand, a panel of judges evaluates nominees on their vision, action and results achieved as a community development practitioner.
Eight awards were granted to individuals and groups in the following categories:
- Deborah Barnes Community Development Champion Award
Recognizes tremendous leadership, action, and dramatic impact on community revitalization efforts, and a long term vision for revitalization.
The 2008 awardee is Ms. Maria Maio, Director, Jersey City Housing Authority. Ms. Maio is a dedicated and award winning urban housing veteran whose 37 years of hard work continues to impact thousands of Jersey City residents everyday. Ms. Maio's numerous award include the "Green Award" from the City of Jersey City for her work on HOPE VI and the HUD Secretary's "Award of Excellence" fro the Jersey City Dwight Street Homes development. Diane Johnson, New Jersey State Director of Housing and Urban Development introduced and presented the award to Ms. Maio. (Ms. Maio (L.) pictured right with Gerard Joab (center) and Diane Johnson (R).)
- Lifetime Achievement Award
Honors a person whose outstanding achievements during his/her lifetime significantly contributes to the urban communities of New Jersey and to the field of community development as a whole.
The 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Dr. Clement Alexander Price, Director of the Rutgers Institute on Ethnicity Culture and Modern Experience. Dr. Price came to Newark in 1968 just after the notorious, transformative disturbances of the previous summer. A scholar and historian, Dr. Price has engaged the Newark community in the difficult work of reconciling the traumas of the past and embracing the opportunities of our collective future. Dr. Price was presented his award by Archie Colander, Vice President of Community Development Banking, PNC Bank. (Dr. Price pictured (center) with Gerard Joab (L) and Archie Colander (R).)
- Exemplary Private Partner Award
Recognizes a bank, foundation, business or private sector partner that has created public-private partners to revitalize communities.
The 2008 Exemplary Private Partner recipient is Newark's Victoria Foundation. The foundation's 80 year impact in the City of Newark is insurmountable. It embraces granting operational dollars to a range of educational, social service and housing initiative organizations that do crucial work in Newark's poorest neighborhoods. Richard Manson, Program Vice President of LISC presented the Foundation's Executive Officer Irene Cooper-Basch the award, who accepted on behalf of the foundation. (Ms. Cooper-Basch pictured right with Richard Manson.)
- Exemplary State/Municipal Partner Award
Recognizes consistent advocacy efforts of a state or local official on behalf of community development.
The Exemplary State/Municipal Partner Award selected for 2008 was New Jersey State Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. for his strategic hand in championing Assembly Bill 500 - "The Comprehensive Housing Reform Act." This law presents the first opportunity since the Fair Housing Act of 1985 for New Jersey to provide safe, quality and affordable housing to all its residents.
- Outstanding CDC Award
Recognizes an exemplary CDC that provides leadership, dedication, and achieves substantial outcomes in its community.
The 2008 Outstanding CDC Awardee is Isles, Inc. of Trenton. Isles has excelled into a nationally recognized nonprofit, community development and environmental organization with a mission to foster more self-reliant families in healthy, sustainable communities. Under the leadership of President Marty Johnson, Isles, Inc. services thousands of central New Jersey residents each year. Mr. Johnson accepted the award on behalf of Isles, Inc. following an introduction by Robert Zdenek, President of New Jersey Community Capital. (Pictured right from left to right, Robert Zdenek, Gerard Joab and Marty Johnson)
- Neighborhood Impact Award
Recognizes a neighborhood group or CDC who has had a significant long term impact on the revitalization of its community.
The 2008 Neighborhood Impact Award was granted to the St. Joseph Carpenter Society for its resilient efforts at fostering successful homeownership in East Camden particularly through its Campbell Soup Homeownership Academy. The Academy has educated over 500 first-time homeowners since 1993. St. Joseph Carpenter Society's Executive Director Pilar Hogan accepted the award on behalf of the CDC, which was presented by Melissa Blount, Managing Director of Housing & Community Development Network of New Jersey. (Melissa Blount and Pilar Hogan pictured right.)
- Local Entrepreneur Award
Recognizes an entrepreneur or small business that has created or advanced a commercial enterprise with significant neighborhood impact.
The 2008 Local Entrepreneur Awardee is the Trenton real estate and entertainment entrepreneur Ronald Pott, Managing Member of Urban World, LLC. Through innovative economic redevelopment strategies such as revitalizing dilapidated structures into mixed use, cultural centers, Mr. Pott's work contributes to the future sustainability of downtown Trenton as a cultural destination and viable economic corridor. Mr. Pott was presented his award by Robert Riggs, Vice President & NJ Regional Director of The Community Presservation Corporation. (Ronald Pott (L) pictured with Robert Riggs (R))
- Inspirational Community Advocate Award
Recognizes the work and dedication of a group or individual who has made a significant contribution to community revitalization efforts through advocacy, the passage of legislation, or raising awareness around an important community development issue.
The Inspirational Community Advocate for 2008 is the Mayor of Irvington Township Wayne Smith. Mayor Smith assumed office in 2002 and his tenure has been characterized by bold, innovative leadership that has yielded significant progress for Irvington. This includes Irvington's Strategic Redevelopment Plan with a concentration on the East Ward. The plan presents the first clear and concise approach to revitalization in Irvington that has bolstered community buy-in and participation as well as the attention of a robust roster of developers. Mayor Smith was introduced and presented his award by Phyllis Salowe-Kaye, Executive Director, New Jersey Citizen Action. (Mayor Wayne Smith pictured above with Phyllis Salowe-Kaye.)
Download the 2008 NJNAA Award Journal here.
Previous Honorees (2003-2007):
"Each of these award winners have identified and created new and unique approaches to tackling the issues plaguing our inner cities. We commend them for their excellence and we support them in their efforts to create thriving urban neighborhoods." --Gerard Joab -- Senior Program Director, LISC, 2003
Download a snapshot of past honorees (2003 - 2007) here.
2007 Awards Event
2007 Award Winners' Biographies
The 5th Annual LISC New Jersey Neighborhood Achievement Awards was held Thursday, November 1, 2007 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Presented in partnership with PNC Bank, The Community Preservation Corporation (CDC) and New Jersey Community Capital, Greater Newark-Jersey City LISC welcomed over 200 guests to honor eight exemplary groups and individuals working across the State of New Jersey.
2006 Awards Event
2006 Award Winners' Biographies
The 4th Annual LISC New Jersey Neighborhood Achievement Awards, held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey on November 2nd was presented in partnership with New Jersey Community Capital, Initiative for Regional and Community Transformation, Wachovia as the lead sponsor and sustaining support from Living Cities, Anheuser Busch, JP Morgan Chase, Prudential Foundation, Victoria Foundation, PNC Bank, Bank of America, TD Waterhouse, HSBC, Victoria Foundation and Washingtron Mutual. Please click here for a complete listing of this year's award recipients.
Positive Community, November Issue: Gerard Joab speaks on Award's purpose and LISC role in community development.
2005 Awards Event
2005 Award Winners' Biographies
The 3rd Annual LISC New Jersey Neighborhood Achievement Awards event was held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey on November 3rd. The Awards event was presented by LISC, New Jersey Community Capital, New Jersey Public Policy Research Institute with PNC Bank.
2004 Awards Event
2004 Award Winners' Biographies
The 2nd Annual LISC New Jersey Neighborhood Achievement Awards were presented by LISC, in partnership with New Jersey Community Capital and the New Jersey Public Policy Research Institute and sponsored by Bank of America. The recipients were honored during a luncheon at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, Tuesday - October 12th, 2004. For photos, please click here.
2003 Awards Event
List of 2003 Award Winners
The first Annual LISC New Jersey Neighborhood Achievement Awards luncheon was held at the official residence of the governor, Drumthwacket, in Princeton, New Jersey in conjunction with New Jersey Multi-City LISC (which is no longer in existence). (Pictured right: Gerard Joab, LISC Senior Program Director presents Mary Puryear, Program Officer at Prudential with the Exemplary Private Partner Award for Prudential's extraordinary work in supporting community development).