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Henry Johnson Award for Distinguished Community Service Potential questions about award submission and selection Can children be nominated for/win the award? Yes. We welcome nominations from all age groups. Nominations of children are possible and projects/service will be considered regardless of age. Must nominators and co-nominators be residents of Albany? No. Only the award nominee must be an Albany resident with a permanent mailing address in Albany. Does the nominee’s length of time as a resident of Albany matter? No. The nominee could be an Albany resident for a month or a lifetime. Consideration of their nomination will be based on the impact of their work in the community. What are you looking for in a nominee? The Henry Johnson Award will be given to an Albany resident, nominated by their peers, who has made meaningful contributions to their community. The City is looking to recognize an individual who has displayed commendable community leadership and has bettered their community or the City in any of the following areas: arts and history, social justice, education, or volunteerism. This year, consider those who have risked their lives or even their health in the fight against COVID-19. What kinds of community service count? ---PAGE BREAK--- Any kind that you think merits acknowledgment and thanks. Nominees can be artists, social justice warriors, educators, artists, soup kitchen volunteers, or a neighbor who regularly picks up trash in the neighborhood. Any kind of helper can be nominated. They needn’t have made a big splash; they can be helpful to their community in 101 small ways that add up to greatness. Can I nominate myself? No. But your spouse, parent, sibling, child, best friend, neighbor, teacher, student, colleague, or employer can nominate you. Can I nominate someone online? Yes, you can. Clicking here will take you to an online page where you can fill out the form and email it to us. If I’m going to nominate someone, do I need co-nominators? No. Co-nominators are not necessary, but they can help strengthen a submission. How many winners can there be? There will be one winner each year, as well as possible “honorable mentions” the Award Committee identifies, based on strength of nomination. Who is on the Henry Johnson Award Committee? The Henry Johnson Award Committee is made up of the members of the City’s Cultural Heritage & Tourism (CHAT) Partnership Board, members of the Henry Johnson Day Advisory Group, and members of the 369th Veterans Association (representing Henry Johnson’s World War I Regiment.) The CHAT Partnership Board is an all-volunteer body and include public and private partners, including hospitality, education, arts & culture, travel & tourism, and historic preservation. How will the winner be selected? The Award Committee, drawn from members of the community and the Mayor’s appointed Cultural Heritage & Tourism Partnership, will collect and review nominations. A group of finalists will be selected by Committee members. How will I know if my nominee has won? ---PAGE BREAK--- A member of the Award Committee will contact both you and the winner by phone and/or e-mail. This is why it is important that you include contact information in your nomination form. Will I be contacted if my nominee has not won this year’s award? No, you will not be contacted if your nominee was not selected for this year’s award, but we encourage you to apply again next year for reconsideration. When will the 2020 Henry Johnson Award be given? The Award will be given in the fall this year to allow for more time for nominations and with the hope we’ll be able to have a larger public gathering. Details about the event are forthcoming. The winner must be available to receive the award in person, barring any extenuating circumstances that should be brought to the attention of the Committee in advance.