Community Action Planning Council is seeking nominations from the community for two special awards as part of the agency’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of Community Action. Individuals who have advocated for the low-income population and supported services that move people out of poverty will be honored at a celebration dinner and awards ceremony on October 22, 2014. Nominations are sought for awards named after two former executive directors of Community Action: Carmen A. Bocciolatt Leadership Award and the Patricia A. Barber Community Spirit Award.
The Carmen A. Bocciolatt Leadership Award was created to recognize an individual who exemplifies the compassion, resolve and innovative leadership of the agency’s former executive director. Mr. Bocciolatt served as the executive director of Community Action Planning Council from 1970 through 1992. He passed away in 2011, but his legacy lives on through many Community Action programs, including Weatherization, Tax Preparation Assistance and the Summer Food Service Program. Mr. Bocciolatt is also credited with establishing community programs that later spun off into independent entities, including the Community Center on Alcoholism, Planned Parenthood, and the North Country Children’s Clinic. Nominations in this category should exemplify strong leadership and advocacy for programs in support of the low-income population.
The Patricia A. Barber Community Spirit Award was established to recognize an individual whose vision and commitment have helped build a stronger community. Mrs. Barber served as the executive director for Community Action Planning Council from 1992 until her death in 2002. She was a passionate believer in family development, a case management approach that builds on the unique strengths of the individual household. Mrs. Barber was the driving force behind the creation of the New York State Community Action Association (NYSCAA), a statewide organization that helps build agency capacity through professional development and technical assistance. Nominations for this category should exemplify a collaborative spirit and a vision for building a community where the strengths of every individual – regardless of economic class – are recognized.
To submit a nomination, please compose a statement (maximum 700 words) explaining why the individual should be recognized with the Bocciolatt or Barber awards, including a description of the nominee and any activities they have undertaken to prevent or reduce poverty in the north country. Nominations may be sent to the attention of Dawn Cole at Community Action Planning Council, 518 Davidson Street Watertown, NY 13601 or emailed to dcole@capcjc.org. Deadline to submit nominations is September 8, 2014.
Click here for nomination form.
Carmen Bocciolatt takes center stage during his retirement party, 1992. Pat Barber is pictured behind Carmen, along with many staff well wishers.