The NRC Neighborhood Awards are designed to formally recognize neighborhood efforts in building their communities.  However the true value of the Neighborhood Awards are to showcase those activities at the Annual Neighborhood Conference so everyone can benefit and get new ideas for their own neighborhoods.

Be thinking about submitting an entry for one of the 2011 NRC Neighborhood Awards to receive recognition for your group. Your neighborhood or group may submit an entry for one or more of the awards described below. Your significant achievements will be sure to fit into one of the awards categories.

o Submissions may include projects from January 1, 2010 through September 30, 2011. The deadline for submission is September 30, 2011.

o Awards will be announced in October of 2011at the Mayor's NRC Awards Luncheon.

MAYOR'S AWARD FOR SA2020 INVOLVEMENT
Mayor Julian Castro urges neighborhood groups to become involved in elements of the SA2020 vision by one or more of the following: 1) increasing participation of neighbors; 2)increasing/improving green spaces; 3) improving walkability and/or fitness scores; 4)cooperating in physical connectivity with other neighborhoods; 5) establishing neighborhood identity and sense-of-place; 6) encouraging neighborhood infill, renovation and remodeling and 7) partnering with others for neighborhood improvement.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD
Meeting of a challenge in your neighborhood and the plan (and/or positive steps already taken) to meet this challenge with a positive vision for the future. Criteria for selection include member involvement, initiative, planning effort, degree of success or what was gained, and the overall project effort. This award is to recognize successful neighborhood activity efforts such as crime prevention, social events, fundraisers, and beautification projects, etc. Examples include: National Night Out, raffles, graffiti clean up activities, community gardens, block parties, neighborhood garage sales, and welcome committees activities.

COMMISSIONER ATKISSON YOUTH ACTIVITY & LEADERSHIP AWARD
This award is to recognize an outstanding neighborhood youth activity and/or neighborhood youth leader with a neighborhood or homeowner association. Examples include neighborhood scholarship programs, youth graffiti activities, or other community service projects involving youth or youth groups and/or youth leadership in partnership with a neighborhood or homeowner association, school or business.

NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNICATION AWARD
This is an overall communications award and submissions may be include: newsletters (print or e-mail), websites, e-blasts, the use of social media such as Facebook or Twitter or any form of communication the neighborhood utilizes to effectively communicate with its residents. Criteria for selection include the overall use of various forms of media, use of space, attractiveness (may include pictures & graphics), correct spelling and grammar, and how well the content reflects the neighborhood and the association's purpose and goals, Criteria for electronic media selection include design (user friendly, functionality, links), content (usefulness, message clarity, grammar), originality (uniqueness, vision) and effective and consistent use of social media..

NEIGHBOR OF THE YEAR
In order to recognize an outstanding neighborhood individual, this award is given to someone who has contributed leadership and/or commitment to the community. The winner will be recognized with a plaque and will be honored at a future NRC event.

P.O. Box 120246 San Antonio, TX 78212-9446
Phone/Fax: 735-0586
Email: nrcsa@swbell.net
Website: www.nrc-sa.org
Sponsored by the Neighborhood Resource Center (NRC)
The Award winners will be announced at the Mayor's NRC Awards Luncheon. All entrants should have at least one representative present to receive your recognition.