We’re getting an award!
David Alpert, GGW founder. Photo by Aimee Custis.
On May 20, Greater Greater Washington founder David Alpert is receiving the 2015 Sanders-Henn Community Hero Award from the Coalition for Smarter Growth for building Greater Greater Washington into the community we have today.
According to the Coalition for Smarter Growth,
He has earned our annual award for the region’s most outstanding volunteer advocate for engaging a new generation of residents, providing thoughtful and educational analysis, and persuasively supporting smart growth outcomes.
Greater Greater Washington has been a force-multiplier for smart growth, showing thousands of area residents how to get involved in local planning issues and make a difference for land use, transportation, affordable housing, and education reform.
Under David’s leadership, Greater Greater Washington has built a talented cadre of writers and editors, generated a loyal readership, and greatly expanded the smart growth community.
Accomplishing all of this as a volunteer, David epitomizes the volunteer advocate dedicated to the future of our community, marrying the modern era of social media with traditional, roll-up-the-sleeves civic activism.
It’s fun look look back and see all we’ve accomplished since David’s first post in 2008. From our Metro fantasy map contest, to our in-depth coverage of the DC zoning update, to building what we think of as one of the best comment sections on the internet (just to name a few!), we’re proud of what Greater Greater Washington has become, and we couldn’t have gotten there without you!
Prince Livable Communities Leadership Award
The Coalition for Smarter Growth is also recognizing Montgomery County Councilmember Roger Berliner with the 2015 Prince Livable Communities Leadership Award for his a stellar record spearheading major initiatives and critical policy reforms that support smart growth.
Berliner has championed the White Flint redevelopment, and as chair of the Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee played a central role in winning passage of Montgomery County’s 81-mile Rapid Transit Network. He also led reform of Montgomery’s “road code” to support walkable communities, and helped to fight climate change through smart growth initiatives at the regional Council of Governments.
Come to the party!
It feels a little awkward to be tooting our own horn, but we hope you’ll come to the party and celebrate with us! David will accept the award at the Prince Livable Communities Leadership Award reception on May 20 in Bethesda. Tickets are $100 and proceeds support the Coalition for Smarter Growth, so we hope to see many of you there!