2013

William H. Whyte Award

The William H. Whyte Award recognizes those individuals who have exemplified and maintained the mission and ardor of Whyte, whose work provides a factual basis for achieving livability through empirical observations of the relationship of human beings to place.

Oehme, van Sweden & Associates, Inc. is being honored for continuing the proud tradition of firm founders Wolfgang Oehme and James van Sweden. Oehme and van Sweden co-founded the landscape architecture firm in 1977 and created the ‘New American Garden’ style of landscape architecture. Their understanding of the strong sculptural relationship between architecture and landscape has helped promote the greening of cities and has resulted in the improvement of public health around the world. Lisa Delplace, principal and CEO, will accept the award.

Accepted by Lisa Delplace, principal and CEO

Wolfgang Oehme and James van Sweden co-founded the landscape architecture firm Oehme, van Sweden & Associates, Inc. in 1977. The firm is credited with creating a ‘New American Garden Style’ of landscape architecture, which celebrates the beauty of the natural environment and seeks to treat the physical structures of a garden as complementary elements that enhance the natural landscape. OvS’s notable projects include the World War II Memorial and the Federal Reserve Board Garden in Washington, D.C., as well as the Native Plant Garden in the New York Botanical Garden and the Gardens of the Great Basin in the Chicago Botanic Garden.

OvS partnered with Marilyn Melkonian of the Telesis Corporation on multiple endeavors to bring the beauty of landscape to low-income affordable housing including the Townhomes on Capitol Hill, Paradise Manor Apartments, and Parkside Townhomes in Washington, DC. This partnership allowed for beauty to be brought from grand settings to humble surroundings.

Lisa Delplace, principal and CEO of the firm, will accept the award on behalf of these two innovators and pioneers of landscape architecture.

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals who have shown a dedication to extraordinary civic service with a commitment to improving livability for all.

Henry R. Richmond is being honored for his leadership as the cofounder of 1,000 Friends of Oregon. Richmond cofounded the organization in 1975, and his leadership and example incited the growth of 1,000 Friends across state-lines, creating a national network of 1,000 Friends organizations advocating for sustainable communities, the protection of farmland and forests, and the conservation of natural resources.

As a 32 year-old attorney, Henry R. Richmond founded 1,000 Friends of Oregon in 1975 with noted environmentalist and then-Governor Tom McCall to protect the state’s new land-use law and advocate for sustainable communities. With the grassroots financial support of 1,000 Oregon residents pledging $100 per year, 1,000 Friends won dozens of court rulings protecting the law and built a diverse coalition of homebuilders, farmers, timber companies, and high tech companies.

Richmond’s incredible foresight in creating this unique organization to protect Oregon’s progressive land-use laws was key to shifting the dialogue and ensuring the protection of the state’s natural beauty, productivity, and overall livability. The broad coalition he helped build was essential for continued legislative support and implementation in 36 counties and 241 cities. Forty years later, the law remains a success — each city has an urban growth boundary (UGB) and 25 million acres of farm and forest land are protected outside of UGBs.

Richmond has created one of the most effective leadership devices for land-use management in the country today. He is seen as a founder of “smart growth” policies across the country, improving the quality of life for countless communities throughout the nation.

Entrepreneurial American Community Award

The Entrepreneurial American Community Award acknowledges the individuals, groups, and communities that have recognized the value of building a broad constituency among the public and private realms to improve the standing of all residents in their community.

City of Houston, Texas is being honored for successfully transforming itself from a city once reliant on the fossil fuel industry into one of the most economically and culturally dynamic American cities. With a strong economy and high level of diversity, Houston today has set an example for what American communities should aspire to become in the future.

Accepted by Gordon Quan on behalf of Mayor Annise Parker

In the 1980s, Houston was a city with an economy largely reliant on the fossil fuel industry. When oil prices started falling, the local economy suffered dramatically. The end of the oil boom slowed the city’s growth and sent Houston into a recession by the end of the decade.

Today, Houston has one of the fastest growing job markets in the country and is widely considered one of the most ethnically and economically diverse cities in the world. It is home to a flourishing arts and culture community and is quickly becoming a premier destination for foodies worldwide. Respected publications, such as Forbes and the Smithsonian Magazine, have called Houston the “Future of the Great American City.”

Smart policies and effective leadership have fueled Houston’s impressive transformation. It is clear that Houston policymakers understand what it takes to make a truly livable city. Investment in areas such as education, health, renewable energy, and technology have spurred this dramatic growth. Houston has set the precedent for America’s future cities, making it one of the most entrepreneurial communities in America today. Gordon Quan, former Mayor Pro-Tem, will accept the award on behalf of Mayor Anise Parker and the City of Houston.

Photo Description: The Port of Houston is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities located just a few hours’ sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico. The port is ranked first in the United States in foreign waterborne commerce and second in total tonnage.

Photo credit: Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau

Bridge Builders Award

The Bridge Builders Award honors civic leaders who have formed partnerships across racial, social, economic, and geographic barriers for the betterment of their communities.

The Inter-American Foundation is being honored for more than 40 years of work helping to fund development projects undertaken by grassroots groups and non-governmental organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on the inclusion of the society’s most marginalized communities. Since 1972, the IAF has awarded over $680 million in grants that have benefited hundreds of thousands of families. Robert N. Kaplan, president and CEO, will accept the award.

The Inter-American Foundation, created in 1972 by the Foreign Assistance Act, supports development projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. The IAF is unique in that it exclusively funds grassroots, nongovernmental organizations, thereby elevating the role of communities and their residents in development and aid initiatives. The IAF remains an integral component of American foreign policy, fostering good relations with our Latin American neighbors.

Robert N. Kaplan is the current president of the organization. Prior to joining the IAF, Kaplan was the head of the Inter-American Development Bank, where he was responsible for aid projects in Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Central America. Kaplan has a distinguished career in international development and has manned the helm of one of the most important organizations bringing goodwill to the Western Hemisphere today, and we are pleased to present him with the Bridge Builders Award.

Entrepreneurial American Leadership Award

The Entrepreneurial American Leadership Award acknowledges the civic capacity building, commitment, vision and entrepreneurial spirit of an individual.

Sheena Wright is being honored for her extensive work towards improving community livability for New York City’s most underserved populations. Wright has spearheaded efforts to revitalize New York’s marginalized communities and helped build the first new high school building in Harlem in 50 years. She was recently appointed the first female president of the United Way of New York City.

Inspired by her mother’s commitment to education, Wright enrolled at Columbia University at 16 years of age and earned both her bachelor’s and law degrees from the esteemed university. After working for various law firms, she changed her focus to community empowerment and became the vice president of the start-up Crave Technologies.

Wright then moved on to become the president and CEO of the Abyssinian Development Corporation, a community development organization founded by the distinguished Reverend Calvin O. Butts, III. There, she led a number of far-reaching community initiatives, including projects that helped create over 1,000 new jobs, build 785 units of affordable housing, and improve the quality of life of New York City’s most vulnerable residents.

In October 2012, Wright became the first woman to be named the president and CEO of the United Way of New York, where she will continue her important work empowering underserved communities and promoting equity in this time of need.

Charles Ansbacher Award

The Charles Ansbacher Award for Culture and Community honors the memory of Maestro Charles Ansbacher, who was named the “unofficial ambassador of America’s music” by President Bill Clinton. This award honors an individual who exemplifies community involvement by addressing the needs of underserved areas of culture and society.

Byron Rushing is being honored for advocating policies that preserve the history and promote the rights of our society’s most disadvantaged populations, including the African-American and LGBT communities.

The Honorable Byron Rushing is the second recipient of the Charles Ansbacher Award for Culture and Community. The award is in recognition of his appreciation for culture and active engagement in the community. Rushing first became interested in community engagement in the 1960s when he was an influential participant in the Civil Rights Movement, working with local Congress on Racial Equality (CORE) chapters on voter education campaigns in Boston and New York.

From 1972 to 1985, Rushing was the President of the Museum of African-American history in Boston, where he helped empower Massachusetts’ African-American population through public education and the preservation of culturally important historical sites.

Since 1982, Rushing has served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from the 9th Suffolk District and is presently the Majority Whip. One of the most senior members of the House, he has fought for expanded rights for minorities, women, and the LGBT community. For his admirable actions as both a politician and community leader, we are proud to present, with endorsement by Swanee Hunt, the Charles Ansbacher Memorial Award to Byron Rushing, a man who embodies the spirit of both culture and equity of the award’s namesake.

Investors in America Award

The Investors in America Award acknowledges groups and individuals who use enterprise, vision, and creative public/private partnerships to bring new civic assets to our nation’s cities.

David M. Schwarz is being honored for constructing some of our country’s most recognizable architectural endeavors with his company, David M. Schwarz Architects, Inc. Schwarz’s projects are always aesthetically-pleasing, suited to the clients’ needs, and above all, sustainable.

David M. Schwarz earned his Master of Architecture from Yale University and his B.A. from St. John’s College. Following work with various firms, he founded David M. Schwarz Architects, Inc. in Washington, D.C. in 1976. His portfolio consists of notable projects from across the U.S. that have been seen as major infrastructure investments in health, education, culture, and sports. His firm has been responsible for some of the country’s most prized architectural accomplishments, including the Ballpark at Arlington, the Cook Children’s Medical Center of Fort Worth, and the Schermerhorn Symphony Center of Nashville.

Schwarz has served on the boards of many prominent organizations and is a founder of the National Building Museum’s Vincent Scully Prize. As one of the country’s leading figures in architecture, he understands the importance of culture and environmental stewardship, and works to include elements of heritage and sustainability in all of his projects. Schwarz is a distinguished architect who understands the value of place-making and has designed projects investing in infrastructure of value to the American community.

Founders Award for Civic Leadership

The Founders Award for Civic Leadership acknowledges groups and individuals of national stature for his or her contributions to the stewardship of communities.

Thomas E. Lovejoy is being honored for bringing climate change and the vulnerability of the world’s tropical rainforests to national attention. Lovejoy, an accomplished conservation biologist, is often credited with coining the term “biological diversity.”

Thomas E. Lovejoy traveled to Brazil in 1965 as a graduate student to conduct one of the first studies of the effects of habitat fragmentation in the Amazon. This led to what is now the largest long-term experiment in the history of landscape ecology, the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, which has produced invaluable data on the severe risks posed by habitat destruction and climate change.

In 1973, Lovejoy was named the director of the conservation program of the World Wildlife Fund. He served until 1987 at which time he became the Assistant Secretary for Environmental Affairs for the Smithsonian Institute and a protégé of Dillon Ripley. Lovejoy has lent his expertise as an environmental advisor to a number of influential organizations including the Inter-American Development Bank.

Lovejoy has played a fundamental role in bringing the vulnerability of the Amazon rainforest and the dangers of climate change to international attention, most notably through his work with David Attenborough on the PBS series Nature. For years he was the lone voice measuring the impact of climate change and habitat destruction on biodiversity. Today, Lovejoy is celebrated for his pioneering work in this emerging field and his noble devotion to the protection of the world’s most vulnerable natural habitats.

Founders Award for Civic Leadership

The Founders Award for Civic Leadership acknowledges groups and individuals of national stature for his or her contributions to the stewardship of communities.

Bonnie Burnham is being honored for dedicating her career to preserving historic architecture and cultural heritage sites around the world. Burnham is President of the World Monuments Fund, which has worked at more than 500 sites in 91 countries.

Bonnie Burnham began her career as a supporter of cultural heritage with the International Foundation for Arts Research in New York. Appointed as the executive director in 1975, Burnham took on the seemingly insurmountable task of manually compiling the Art Theft Archives temporarily housed in the New York Explorer’s Club, her desk down the hall from the life-sized, stuffed Polar Bear.

Burnham was appointed the executive director of the World Monuments Fund in 1985. From that point forward, the World Monuments Fund became an invaluable asset in the fight to protect cultural heritage sites worldwide. With the support of major corporations such as American Express, the WMF produces the World Monuments Watch List every two years, identifying cultural heritage sites in danger of being eroded or destroyed. Today, the World Monuments Fund is the leading international voice defending cultural heritage and historic buildings throughout the world, leading hundreds of communities to embrace their heritage and imparting a greater sense of pride amongst residents.

Partners for Livable Communities has selected nine individuals and organizations as well as one city to honor for civic stewardship and innovation. These prestigious awards will be presented by Washington, D.C.-based Partners for Livable Communities at its Partners Honors annual awards program on February 6, 2014.

For the last 34 years, Partners has honored individuals and organizations in recognition of innovative projects and records of achievement that have advanced the principles of livability. This year's honorees represent lifetimes of leadership in their respective fields spanning the arts, historic preservation, architecture, landscape design, environmentalism, social justice, and neighborhood development. Their innovative leadership has made their communities better places to live.

Partners hosts its annual awards ceremony because the efforts of the country's most inspiring civic leaders deserve to be lauded, and their stories and practices spread far and wide.

Partners Honors 2013 Honorees:

The Founders Award for Civic Leadership

For more than 50 years, Americans for the Arts has worked to advance the arts in schools and communities throughout the United States. Their work has resulted in public policy that recognizes the value of the arts in our society and their successes have promoted and protected access to the arts for the whole population. Robert Lynch is the president and CEO.

For nearly 50 years, the World Monuments Fund has worked for the preservation of historic architecture and cultural heritage sites around the world through fieldwork, advocacy, grantmaking, education, and training. Bonnie Burnham is the president and CEO.

Thomas Lovejoy is an accomplished conservation biologist who is often credited with coining the term “biological diversity.” He is perhaps most famous for bringing the vulnerability of the world’s tropical rainforests to climate change to national attention.

Investors in America Award

David Schwarz and his company, David M. Schwarz Architects, Inc., have constructed some of our country’s most recognizable architectural endeavors in recent years. Mr. Schwarz’ projects are always aesthetically-pleasing, suited to the clients’ needs, and above all, sustainable.

Charles Ansbacher Memorial Award for Culture and Community

Byron Rushing, the director of the Museum of Afro-American History and Second Assistant Majority Leader in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, has advocated policies that preserve the history and promote the rights of our society’s most disadvantaged populations, including African-Americans and the LGBT community.

Entrepreneurial American Leadership Award

Recently hired as the first female president and CEO of the United Way of New York, Sheena Wright has worked extensively towards improving community livability for the city’s most underserved populations. Prior to joining the United Way, Mrs. Wright spearheaded efforts to revitalize New York’s marginalized communities, as well as help build the first new high school building in Harlem in 50 years.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Henry R. Richmond co-founded 1000 Friends of Oregon in 1974 with then-Governor Tom McCall to defend Oregon’s new land use law. Local governments opposed enactment of the law, but had authority to say what it meant. 1000 Friends won dozens of court rulings in defense of the law while building a coalition of homebuilders, farmers, timber companies, and high tech companies. That broad support was essential for continued legislative support and implementation in 36 counties and 241 cities. Forty years later, the law remains a success - each city has an urban growth boundary (UGB): inside UGBs, higher densities and mixed uses increase housing affordability, transit feasibility, and reduce carbon emissions. Outside UGBs, 25 million acres of farm and forest land -- four times the area of New Jersey -- are limited to farm and forest use.

Entrepreneurial American Community Award

Houston has successfully transformed from a city once reliant on the fossil fuel industry into one of America’s boom towns. With a strong economy and high level of diversity, Houston today has set an example for what America should aspire to in the future.

William H. Whyte Award

Wolfgang Oehme and James van Sweden co-founded the landscape architecture firm Oehme, van Sweden & Associates in 1977 and have since created a ‘New American Garden’ style of landscape architecture. Their understanding of the strong sculptural relationship between architecture and landscape has helped promote the greening of cities and the has resulted in numerous public health benefits. Lisa Delplace is the principal and CEO of Oehme, van Sweden & Associates Inc.

Bridge Builders Award

For over 40 years, the Inter-American Foundation has helped fund development projects undertaken by grassroots groups and non-governmental organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean with a focus on the inclusion of the society’s most marginalized communities. Since 1972, the IAF has awarded over $680 million in grants that have benefited hundreds of thousands of families throughout the hemisphere. Robert Kaplan is the president and CEO.

Founders Award for Civic Leadership

The Founders Award for Civic Leadership acknowledges groups and individuals of national stature for his or her contributions to the stewardship of communities.

Robert L. Lynch is being honored for more than 50 years of work to advance the arts in schools and communities across the United States. His work has resulted in public policy that recognizes the value of the arts in our society and his successes have promoted and protected access to the arts for the whole population. Lynch is the president of Americans for the Arts.

A true leader in the field of arts advocacy, Robert L. Lynch became the executive director of the National Assembly of Local Arts Agencies in 1985. He oversaw its successful merger with the American Council for the Arts twelve years later, creating the nationally-renowned advocacy group Americans for the Arts. Under Lynch’s leadership, the organization has grown to 50 times its original size, with a permanent staff of more than 60 individuals working in offices in New York and D.C. and an annual budget greater than $11 million.

Americans for the Arts has become the defining leadership group for arts advocacy in America in terms of membership and advocacy. Outside of his work with the organization, Lynch has served as counsel to the President of the United States on matters concerning the arts and has lent his expertise to the boards of a number of influential arts organizations, including the Craft Emergency Relief Fund and the Arts Extension Institute. Lynch’s admirable history of arts advocacy has allowed countless communities to enjoy the benefits that the arts can bring, and the creation of this leadership group is a truly great achievement for the arts in America today.