The 18th Annual Frederick & Diana Prince Livable Communities Leadership Award

The Coalition for Smarter Growth is honored to announce that this year’s Livable Communities Awardee is Mayor Muriel E. Bowser! The Mayor will also be our keynote speaker. Mayor Bowser stands out as a regional leader in sustainable and equitable development. Among just a few of her achievements, she established ambitious housing goals for the Council of Governments, and was first to commit to a significant share: 36,000 new homes in the city by 2025, with 12,000 for low-income residents.

She committed to every DC neighborhood including at least 15% of homes as affordable, and providing $100 million per year in annual housing funds. Under her leadership the city expanded its bus priority program with more dedicated bus lanes, and continued progress on bike investments. With even more to do, CSG looks forward to hearing from the Mayor!

CSG is also honoring local Community Heroes! Each Community Hero will lead a breakout session sharing the story of their advocacy, along with discussion and socializing.

• Mary Paden, Chair of the South County Task Force for Human Services, is a leader in advocating equity, inclusion and social justice in Fairfax County’s Richmond Highway Corridor. She has elevated the voices of underrepresented communities in support of more affordable housing, equitable community development, and reducing displacement.

• Kristy Daphnis, Peter Gray, and Alison Gillespie formed the Open Streets Coalition in Montgomery County, and their advocacy made the county a regional leader with a robust shared streets program, which includes several “streeteries,” pop-up neighborhood greenways, a new shared streets block permit, and closing Sligo Creek Parkway, Beach Drive, and Little Falls Parkway, prompting a boom in family biking and walking.

• Kishan Putta, an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner and bus rider in DC, took up the challenge of fixing the delays and overcrowding plaguing bus riders along 16th Street. He led a tireless, multiyear education and advocacy campaign for dedicated bus lanes, mobilizing volunteers and allies, winning ANC resolutions, and engaging councilmembers. Thanks to his persistence and energy the new bus lanes will finally open next year.

Find out more and register! http://www.smartergrowth.net/livablecommunities/