City o f Tempe - MPWNA 2009 Neighbor of the Year

http://www.tempe.gov/neighborhoods/NOTY.htm

 History
Chuck Malpede was an educator who taught high school history classes.  He lived in the Maple Ash neighborhood, one of Tempe's oldest historic neighborhoods which is adjacent to both downtown and Arizona State University.  Chuck believed in positive problem solving and proactive planning and neighborhood organizing. 

While he did not support negative, reactive responses to specific issues, neither was he concerned by the inevitable conflicts that emerge in community building because he understood the dynamics of change and conflict resolution.  Chuck was gentle, methodical, and persistent.  He was a staunch advocate for participatory governance and when he saw that neighborhoods in Tempe had little say in development decisions, he sought to rectify that situation. 

Working with then-Mayor Harry Mitchell, a fellow teacher and friend, Chuck helped the City of Tempe establish the Neighborhood Services program in 1987.  He envisioned a process whereby citizens and their government would work together in a respectful and egalitarian manner to both solve problems and pursue opportunities to build a better community.  Chuck Malpede stood for empowered neighborhoods, especially in the face of tremendous growth and change.  For this reason, his name gives honor to the grass roots mobilizers that continue to make our neighborhoods great.

In 1995, the Tempe City Council approved the dedication of the City's Neighbor of the Year Awards to the memory of Chuck Malpede. The individuals receiving these awards reflect the same commitment to and passion for improving and maintaining the highest quality of life in Tempe's neighborhoods and they daily demonstrate their belief by giving of themselves to improve their neighborhoods.

Awards
Each neighborhood group may submit its own Neighbor of the Year nominee.  Individual or group nominees will be accepted.  Please note that Neighborhood and Homeowners' Associations may nominate only one individual or group. Neighborhood and Homeowners' Associations also should provide evidence of its process for the solicitation and assessment of nominations as well as evidence of the association's level of support for the nominee.

The Neighborhood Advisory Commission will review the applications and the winners will be recognized at the  Neighborhood Workshop and Awards to be held Saturday, April 18, 2009 at the Pyle Adult Recreation Center, 655 E. Southern Avenue (northwest corner of Rural and Southern).  The Awards portion of the Neighborhood Workshop will be from 8:00-9:00 a.m., workshop breakout sessions will be from 9:00-noon.  All nominees will be recognized with an award for their commitment and contributions to their neighborhood.  One nominee who best demonstrates and embodies the qualities noted in the selection guidelines below will receive a special Chuck Malpede Neighbor of the Year Award.

Nominee
Your Neighbor of the Year selection may be any individual who has been exceptionally neighborly, including residents, property owners, business owners, nonprofit organization staff, school staff or City staff.  Nominations for exemplary youth are welcome and encouraged as well!  (Note:  One nominee please per Neighborhood or Homeowners' Association.)

On the application, please thoughtfully describe how your neighborhood's Neighbor of the Year nominee embodies Chuck Malpede's ideals.  Keep in mind that the written nomination will be read at the Neighborhood Workshop and Awards.

Chuck Malpede Neighbor of the Year Award Program Selection Criteria
In reviewing the nominees for the Chuck Malpede Neighbor of the Year Award, the guidelines provided below will be used for selection purposes.

The nominee exhibits, practices, or otherwise embodies one or more of the following characteristics or approaches to community building:

□       Cultivates positive problem solving

□       Encourages proactive planning

□       Promotes conflict resolution

□       Advocates for participatory governance

□       Behaves in a respectful and egalitarian manner

□       Seeks neighborhood empowerment

□       Mobilizes and encourages others to action

 MPWNA Neighbors of the Year

2007  Margaret McGinn  (entire application text below)

            Before the Neighborhood Services Program even began, there were pioneers like Chuck Malpede and the nomination of Mitchell Park West Neighborhood Association for Neighbor of the Year, MARGARET MCGINN.  This nomination, is, unfortunately, being made posthumously as Margaret died August 23, 2006.  However, her legacy to the neighborhood began in1988, when Margaret went door to door to organize neighbors and form the Mitchell Park Neighborhood Association.  The Mitchell Park Neighborhood at that time encompassed approximately 400 households. It has since been split into East and West. Mitchell Park West includes 275 households. Through her extraordinary energy, skill, persuasive arguments and genuine personal warmth, Margaret spearheaded neighborhood cohesiveness and a significant outcome - what is now Mitchell Park. 

            Margaret saw an opportunity.  Mitchell School had closed and the Tempe Elementary School District wanted to sell the property.  The potential buyer wanted to build condominiums in the middle of our single family neighborhood!  Margaret saw the continuation of a green oasis in an urban environment and, most importantly, she convinced others of her vision.  After getting support from neighbors and buy-in from City officials, the condominium project was dropped and the City of Tempe purchased the property from the school district and Mitchell Park was born!

            Through Margaret McGinn's efforts, as first President of the Mitchell Park Neighborhood Association, and the neighbors she mobilized, Mitchell Park is a huge success, and the Mitchell Park West (and East) Neighborhood Association continues to this day.  Margaret clearly demonstrated the criteria for nomination as the Mitchell Park West Neighborhood Association "Neighbor of the Year."  Margaret recognized an opportunity to enhance the neighborhood, conceived a strategy for success by forming a Neighborhood Association, worked tirelessly to include all opinions, and brought about a lasting legacy of community spirit and involvement. Clearly she captured the character and humanity that Chuck Malpede exhibited and although far too late in coming, Margaret deserves this recognition by her neighbors and the City of Tempe. And she did all this with a great sense of humor, warm fellowship and a wide smile. Her accomplishments did not go entirely unnoticed at the time. Margaret was nominated by Mayor Harry Mitchell to continue to serve her community and the City as a member of the Tempe Parks and Recreation Board, where she served for several years.

            It is with pleasure that the Mitchell Park West Neighborhood Board nominates Margaret McGinn as our "Neighbor of the Year."

2000 -Carol Campbell

"Carol is one of the founding members of the Mitchell Park Neighborhood Association since its formation in 1988. She also is its longest continuous board member and leader of the local neighborhood Block Watch. A member of Holdeman School's PTA, she has organized grants to fund new playground equipment. She is an active member of Holdeman Elementary and Tempe High Site Councils.

1999 -Stephanie Machen

"Stephanie has been the vice-chair for our neighborhood association for the past four years. She has hosted our board of directors meetings at her home, and also has been instrumental in gaining grants and projects that benefit our association. She has edited and formatted our neighborhood newsletter for the same four years."

1998 -Caroline and Dick McQueen

"Caroline and Dick McQueen are the ‘unsung heroes' of the Mitchell Park NA both east and west. They have become a local institution, not by their in local politics or civil affairs, but through longevity at the address and by consistently being visible in the neighborhood with an open, creative mind, a constant smile, and warm, positive words on any topic. They are consulted by neighbors because they know everything about the daily and historic rhythms of the neighborhood, and will reflect only the most positive aspects of their lives and those around them. Caroline and Dick can be seen every day on their regular walks through Mitchell Park."