— Payten Carroll, Communications Assistant, NASCSP —

Every year at the Mid-Winter Conference, NASCSP takes time to recognize select members that go above and beyond the call of duty to make outstanding contributions to the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) networks and the low-income people they serve.

The Ann Kagie Service Award was established to recognize outstanding and significant contributions to the CSBG Network, dedication, and commitment to the constituencies we serve, and leadership and advocacy for the Network. Longtime Utah CSBG State Director and former NASCSP Board Chair, Ann Kagie, embodied all of these things. She served the people of her State with distinction and markedly improved lives there.

This year’s Ann Kagie Award for outstanding contributions to CSBG went to Linda Snead, Assistant Director of the Division of Community Services at the Department of State. For 36 years, Linda has devoted her time and talents to supporting the most vulnerable citizens of New York State. From her supervision of WAP to her oversight of the New York City Office of the Division of Community Services, she has shown what it means to lead on behalf of the powerless. Linda embodies the best of CSBG with her single-minded focus on service to eliminate the causes and effects of poverty and to help people reach their full potential. Linda understands the value of the CSBG in fulfilling this life mission, and she has advocated tirelessly for it and for the CAA programs it supports.

The James “Jim” Gardner Service Award was established to recognize achievement at the national, State, or local level that makes a positive impact on the WAP community through either policy, technological, or programmatic contributions. Recipients of the award have each played a key role in the planning and design of new initiatives, and have demonstrated dedication and commitment to their constituency as leaders and advocates for WAP. Jim Gardner was a great friend of Weatherization, a tireless advocate of the program and of the States. During his years at the Department of Energy (DOE), Jim Gardner’s openness and approachability, honesty and integrity, quiet strength, vast knowledge, and grace under pressure embodied the best that government can be.

This year’s James Gardner Service Award for outstanding contributions to Weatherization went to Carrie Smith, Chief of In-Home Services at the Foundation for Senior Living in Phoenix, Arizona and board member of Energy OutWest. Carrie has had a significant impact on reducing energy costs for low-income Arizona residents through more than 10 years of leadership at Energy OutWest, a non-profit offering technical resources for seven western states’ low-income energy services network. Her enthusiasm and determination were critical to establishing that organization’s training center for technical and administrative certification. Carrie brings not only great energy, but administrative sophistication as well to every organization and program she leads. More recently, Carrie has become a national leader through the development of a five-year strategic plan for the DOE through the Weatherization Plus Committee.

Please join NASCSP in honoring these amazing public servants for their significant contributions to CSBG and WAP – leave them a comment here letting them know that their work matters!