Search is on for community’s Top 5ive Changemakers

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By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — The contributions of local individuals, businesses and non-profit organizations that make our community thrive are countless, from those helping to feed their neighbors to businesses that drive our economy.

For the third year in a row, Capital Region Independent Media is looking to shine a light on those changemakers who make the community a better place to live, work and play by presenting the annual Top 5ive Awards.

Capital Region Independent Media, which publishes the Ravena News-Herald, is looking for nominations to honor the people and businesses that work every day to improve the lives of those around them.

“There are so many who do so much, and they should be recognized for their accomplishments and contributions,” said Mark Vinciguerra, president of Capital Region Independent Media. “We want to do our part to highlight the vital work that is being done all around our communities.”

The inaugural awards ceremony was held in March of 2023 honoring the contributions of changemakers in southern Albany, Greene and Columbia counties, and a second round of awards went out last year. This will be the third year of the award.

Nominations can be submitted by anyone for local people, businesses or non-profit organizations.

In the first two years of the awards program, there were four categories of nominees – ­ the top 5 women, youth (ages 15-23), BIPOC (Black/Indigenous/People of Color) and business/non-profit, but this year, a fifth category is being added to honor the top 5 men in our communities.

“We are looking to shine a light on the many people and groups that make their neighborhood a better place,” said Warren Dews Jr., vice president and publisher of Capital Region Independent Media. “We are looking for nominations for the movers and shakers who light up our communities.”

Nominations for community changemakers can be made from now through March 28 by visiting https://nyvtmedia.secondstreetapp.com/the-top-5ive-2025. Nominees must be people who live, work or were raised in southern Albany, Greene or Columbia counties.

Communities where individuals and businesses can be nominated in Albany County include Ravena, Coeymans, Coeymans Hollow, Selkirk, Medusa, Rensselaerville, Westerlo, Bethlehem, Delmar and Glenmont.

In Greene County, nominees can come from Greenville, Durham, New Baltimore, Coxsackie and Athens.

Nominees can come from any city, town or village in Columbia County.

Winners will be selected by a panel of business leaders in the communities in Capital Region Independent Media’s North Division.

With so many great nominees to choose from, it’s always difficult to select the winners, but in 2024, awards went to:

WOMEN: Caitlin Appleby of Ravena, Lisa DeGroff of Westerlo, Pat Larsen of Greenville, Rosemary Luppino McHugh of Coeymans, and Dawn Steward of Ghent.

YOUTH: Shea Landversicht of Greenville, Lucas Long of Ravena, Evan Schieren of Valatie, Michael Sorrell of Coeymans and Courtney Taibi of Greenville.

BIPOC: The Rev. Antonio Booth of Albany County, the Rev. Dr. Roxanne Jones Booth of Albany County, Shanatia Bygrave of Columbia County, Ruben Lindo of Greene County, and Dewayne A. Powell of Columbia County.

BUSINESS/NON-PROFIT: Carver Companies of Coeymans, Helping Harvest Hope Full Life Center in Ravena, High and Mighty Riding and Driving Center of Ghent, Innovation Station of Ravena, and Mueller’s Automotive of Ravena.

In 2025, for the first time, Top 5ive Changemakers will include a men’s category.

The deadline to submit nominations will be March 28.

Awards will be handed out at a dinner celebration on May 2, from 6-8 p.m., at The Wire Event Center on South River Street in Coxsackie.

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