April 13, 2009

Charlotte, N.C.--- The City of Charlotte is accepting nominations for the 2009 Neighborhood Awards, which will be presented at the 14th Annual Neighborhood Symposium, scheduled for Saturday, May 16, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Charlotte Convention Center, located at 501 South College Street in Charlotte. Nominations for the 2009 Neighborhood Awards are due April 15.

The Neighborhood Awards recognize the hard work and accomplishments of neighborhood organizations and residents who strive to improve their neighborhood and the lives of the people who live within them. The awards are divided into eight categories, including Neighborhood Diversity, Neighborhood Safety, Neighborhood Improvement, Neighborhood of the Year, Neighborhood Youth, Neighborhood Leader, Good Neighbor and Best Participation.

To be eligible for 2009 Neighborhood Awards, nominated neighborhoods and individuals must live within the Charlotte city limits, and neighborhoods must be organized for at least six months. Neighborhood projects, programs, activities and events must have been completed during the calendar year of January 1 through December 31, 2008. A completed packet must be received by the Neighborhood Development Department by April 15. Application packets can be found at: http://neighborhoods.charmeck.org.  Below is an example of one of last year's award recipients.

The Winterfield Neighborhood Association received the Neighborhood Improvement Award in 2008. Criteria for this award included:

• Completing neighborhood projects to revitalize or beautify the neighborhood's appearance
• Fostering partnerships with public and private entities, neighborhoods, and other community-based groups
• Engaging in neighborhood problem-solving, project management, and wide-scale participation

Some of Winterfield's projects in 2007 included:

• Extending beautification projects to other nearby neighborhoods to help promote a safe and beautiful community
• Participating in the "Safeguard the Neighborhood" event sponsored by CMPD and reinstituted a neighborhood crime watch
• Working with Solid Waste Services to start a recycling program
• Encouraging widespread involvement by using bilingual information to celebrate its third annual National Night Out
• Continuing Winterfield Elementary Adoption program including a staff/faculty appreciation day and volunteering weekly in the reading program

The 14th Annual Neighborhood Symposium features workshops, speakers, exhibits and other activities that provide participants opportunities to learn about services and resources, as well as share ideas for improving and maintaining their neighborhoods.

This year's focus is the City of Charlotte Neighborhood Policy, which covers nine key objectives for improving and sustaining neighborhoods, including safety, accessible transportation, economic development and nuisance-free environment.

Attendance is free; however, pre-registration is required. To register, call 704.336.2061 or visit http://neighborhoods.charmeck.org 
Registration deadline is May 8. Don't delay - register TODAY!