Each year, NASCSP’s membership recognizes extraordinary contributions made to NASCSP and to the programs NASCSP represents. During the 2018 NASCSP Annual Winter Conference in Arlington, Virginia, three distinguished individuals were recognized on Thursday, March 1, 2017 during the NASCSP Awards Luncheon: Kathleen Skogland, Reba Bolden, and Paul Jackson.
Kathleen Skogland, a dedicated NASCSP member working for the State of South Dakota since 2001, is the 2018 recipient of the Marjorie J. Witherspoon NASCSP Award. This award is presented to a current or former NASCSP member for their significant service or support of NASCSP and/or their length of service. In 2008, she became Program Specialist, overseeing the CSBG Program in South Dakota. Since then, she has joined the NASCSP board, volunteered for numerous ad hoc committees, and continued to be a face of motivation and optimism throughout the network. Kathleen is a prime example of leading with a quiet confidence and sharing the importance of our work to the families we serve.
The Ann Kagie CSBG Award is presented to an individual involved in CSBG activities at the national, state, or local level who has made significant or outstanding contributions to the network. For 2018 the recipient is Reba Bolden. Reba was the Executive Director of the Williamsburg-James City County Community Action Agency (WJCC) in Virginia for 16 years. NASCSP honors her unyielding commitment to the mission of the movement after her unfortunate passing on December 11, 2017. Anthony Conyers, a board member at WJCC, accepted the award on Reba’s behalf. Reba’s passion for Community Action and commitment to its mission is incapsulated best when she once said, “It matters to us what kind of job we do. These families have trusted us with their children (Head Start), their teens (Project Discover), their homes (Weatherization), their pain (Legal Outreach Program), and so much more…Yes, the Community Action way works! No agency knows how to turn lemons into lemonade like Community Action.”
Paul Jackson, a highly committed individual serving in Massachusetts as the Director of Energy Services at South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) and Lead Trainer for Green Jobs Academy (GJA), is the recipient of the James Gardner Weatherization Award. This award is presented to an individual working in the Weatherization Assistance Program at the national, state, or local level for significant program contributions and/or tenure. Paul has over 25 years of residential weatherization related experience and is recognized for his flexibility, capability in the field, and for consistently being the number one in-state resource for training needs. His lasting commitment to the work of weatherization and expertise in the field makes him an excellent recipient for this award.
Know someone deserving of one of these awards? You will have an opportunity to nominate them ahead of the 2019 Winter Conference!
