By MELANIE LEKOCEVIC
Capital Region Independent Media
GHENT–There are scores of individuals, businesses and community groups that are making our communities a better place, and Capital Region Independent Media wants to shine a light on their accomplishments.
Capital Region Independent Media, which publishes The Columbia Paper, is looking for nominations for the second annual Top 5ive Changemakers Awards to honor the people and businesses that work every day to improve the lives of those around them.
“Our region has so many that are doing so much,” said Mark Vinciguerra, president of Capital Region Independent Media. “They should be recognized for the hard work they do to make this area a great place to live.”
The inaugural awards ceremony was held in March of last year and honored community changemakers in southern Albany, Greene and Columbia counties.
Nominations can be submitted by anyone for local people or businesses that seek to improve their communities.
There are four categories: BIPOC (Black/Indigenous/People of Color), Business/Nonprofit Organization, Women and Youth.
The business category was expanded this year to include nonprofit organizations such as youth groups, food pantries, animal rescues, senior assistance programs, etc.
“We hope to get many nominations from across the three counties,” said Warren Dews Jr., publisher and vice president of Capital Region Independent Media. “The Top 5ive Awards will put a spotlight on the movers and shakers who are bringing positivity and growth to our communities.”
Nominations for community changemakers can be made from now through February 28, by visiting theupstater.com/top_5ive/. Nominees must be people who live, work or were raised in Columbia, Greene or southern Albany 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, Cairo, Durham, New Baltimore, Coxsackie and Athens.
Nominees can come from any city, town or village in Columbia County.
Winners will be selected from a panel of business leaders in the communities in Capital Region Independent Media’s North division.
The awards will be handed out at a dinner ceremony on Friday, April 26, at The Wire event center in Coxsackie for the second year.
The BIPOC category saw awards go to Columbia and Albany County women and men who are involved in a variety of ways, from fighting for tenants’ rights and racial justice by Hudson-based Claire Cousin, to Mayor Kamal Johnson who made history as the first African-American and youngest mayor of Hudson, to Ravena-based Pastor Victor Harris, who works with adults and young people recovering from addiction.
The Women category drew many nominations, with awards going to Greenville’s Dr. Elizabeth Boomhower, who opened Catskill Valley Chiropractic to bring her special brand of care and wellness to the community; Hudson’s Tina Dipper, who runs an out-of-school program aimed at girls in the city; to Rebecca Flach, who works in leadership positions at three not-for-profit organizations in the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk area and volunteers with the local community business association.
Winners in the Business category included Columbia County Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for low-income families; Shop ‘N’ Save in Ravena, which has been a hometown supermarket and community contributor for years; and Unbridled Thoroughbred Foundation, now renamed Unbridled Sanctuary, a horse rescue group based in Westerlo on the border of Greenville.
Last year’s full list of winners is as follows:
YOUTH: Fathima Chowdhury, Alivia Ortiz, Olivia Ruso, Hunter Smigel and Lanija Williams.
BIPOC: Claire Cousin, Vern Cross, Mayor Kamal Johnson, Elena Mosley and Pastor Victor Harris.
WOMEN: Dr. Elizabeth Boomhower, Tina Dipper, Rebecca Flach, Marilyn Peters Houghtaling and Jennifer Moore-Warren.
BUSINESS: Columbia County Habitat for Humanity, Plaza Diner, Shop ‘N’ Save, TCI of New York and Unbridled Thoroughbred Foundation.
