In 2017, we recognized 30 local change-makers with a Community Builder Award. These are people who volunteer their time and skills to tackle issues like mental health and addictions, empower children in poverty, strengthen the growing social enterprise sector and create safe spaces for our LGBTQ+ community.
While they each make unique contributions to the community, these individuals share a common goal: to make our city great for everyone.
Here are five of the people who embody what it means to be a community leader.
Amanda Krocko empowers and mentors youth through community work with Proud to be Me and the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre. Amanda brings enthusiasm and a non-judgmental attitude to everything she does. She has organized and led teams in fundraising events, highlighting important community issues and how we can come together for a common goal. As a skilled athlete, Amanda has extensive experience coaching youth in soccer and mentoring at camps across the city.
David Spring has been an active member of United Way’s Community Impact Cabinet since 2012, always contributing and rarely missing a meeting. He’s known as the curious and valuable participant always asking ‘Why?’. David has been a volunteer with Jewish Family Services and a member of the Board of the Social Planning Council. In 2015, through his work as a volunteer with Temple Israel, David also helped to find and set up suitable accommodation for a Syrian refugee family.
Osman Naqvi is a natural leader, social entrepreneur and youth empowerment advocate. He founded the Kiwanis Club of Barrhaven, and helped create the YOUth Heroes initiative — a city-wide campaign that empowers local youth to create positive social change in their communities. Osman has been an active leader with the Caring and Sharing Exchange, Carleton University’s Young Liberals Association, the Canadian Hearing Society and the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa.
Dr. Tessa Hebb has been instrumental in Ottawa’s social finance field by generously contributing her renowned global expertise to many local organizations. She is a longtime board member with the Centre for Social Enterprise Development (CSED) and the Ottawa Community Foundation. By helping organizations with responsible investing around social and environmental issues, Tessa enables people who care about our communities and our planet to discover new pathways to make positive change.
Dillon Black founded Queering613, which brings safer spaces for queers in the Ottawa community and advocates for marginalized voices. Dillon has a talent for making people feel valued and welcome. They know how to be compassionate while challenging people’s views and encouraging them to see different perspectives. They show their dedication to the community and volunteer work through the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW) and they are also a member of the Graduate Students’ Association, Carleton University.
All recipients will be honoured at the Wall of Inspiration Ceremony in the spring where their names will be added permanently to the Community Builder Wall at City Hall.
