2019 Dayton Mayor’s Award Winners Announced

Mayor Nan Whaley announces six winners of the 2019 Dayton Mayor’s Award, celebrating people and organizations that make Dayton thrive. Award winners were nominated by the community, selected by a committee, and may designate a non-profit organization to receive a $1,000 donation.

The award categories and honorees are:

Community Service (two winners): Families of Addicts and Melissa Rodriguez

This award celebrates individuals or organizations supporting and promoting service to the community. Families of Addicts is a nationally recognized support organization that emerged from the opioid addiction crisis, providing information, referrals, resources, meetings, a community rally and more. Melissa Rodriquez is an activist and volunteer who, in addition to supporting a number of causes and communities, responded with determination and compassion to the tornado, hate group rally and mass shooting event.

Giving Back to Neighborhoods (two winners): Gwen Buchanan and Twin Towers Neighborhood Association

This award recognizes an individual or community group supporting and inspiring their neighborhood. As president of the Carillon Civic Council, Gwen Buchanan facilitated a productive dialogue among residents and OneFifteen, an addiction treatment campus now under construction, and is leading the creation of a long-term redevelopment plan for the Carillon-Edgemont area. The Twin Towers Neighborhood Association, with the leadership of Leslie Sheward, has successfully tackled long-standing problems through plenty of hands-on work and collaboration with the City of Dayton and community groups.

Education Champion: Lisa Babb

This award recognizes an organization or person working to provide a brighter future for Dayton’s children. As Miami Valley strategic director of 4C for Children, Lisa Babb leads a staff that works to help parents choose high-quality early childhood education and to help providers deliver high-quality learning programs.

Daytonian of the Year: You, Me, Us (Citizens of Dayton)

This award honors an individual making the greatest contribution to Dayton in the previous year. For 2019, a year of great challenge, Dayton’s citizens are recognized for their resilience, generosity and demonstrated commitment to helping others.

 The awards were presented at the Feb. 5 City Commission meeting.