Our 2008 Honorees were: 

Joan is being honored for strong leadership and vision in community building, civic engagement and improving the quality of life in our community. She is well-known to readers of the Santa Maria Times for her “Looking Forward” columns, which offer practical advice and solutions to local issues. As founder and chair of the Santa Maria Community Coalition, she regularly attends and testifies at Santa Maria City Council meetings. Joan served two years on the Santa Barbara County Grand Jury, and was elected twice as president of the Santa Maria League of Women Voters.

This award for promoting tolerance, respect and compassion for all people in our community will go to John for his work in helping to develop the county's 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. This plan will help people who have been homeless for a year or more due to physical disabilities, mental health or substance-abuse problems. John also served from 1985 to 2004 as executive staff to the 3rd District supervisor, helping to organize and lead hundreds of community meetings to work on critical social justice, environmental and land use issues.

The Dunes Center is being honored for its work in educating the community about the need to protect and preserve one of the wondrous natural resources in our community. The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Complex is a National Natural Landmark, with more than 22,000 acres of one of the largest coastal dune ecosystems on Earth. With more than 1,000 known species of birds, plants and animals, and some of the highest dunes on the west coast, it is a place of rare beauty and significance.

As director of CCEHP, Eric will be receiving our Working Families Award for providing education to improve health conditions at work and in the home. CCEHP raises awareness about health risks posed by pesticide exposure, and works to decrease our reliance on pesticides. The project is tailored to the needs and concerns of farmworkers and their families, and other community members who work, go to school, or live near farming operations. Eric helped to draft and pass statewide legislation addressing pesticide use near schools. He has also been instrumental in bringing together members of the environmental and agricultural communities to form an Ag Futures Alliance to promote sustainable agriculture that is environmentally safe and fair to farm workers.

 

This award goes to Connie for her selfless hours of community service. As a member of the Sierra Club, Connie has been leading hikes into the Los Padres National Forest and State Parks for the last 16 years. She also leads environmental cleanups along Highway 1, and regularly participates in the California Coastal Beach Clean-ups at Surf Beach. Connie is active in the Lompoc Valley Botanical and Horticultural Society, California Native Plant Society, Audubon Society, Lompoc Library and Lompoc Animal Shelter.

 

The Sierra Club, The Fund for Santa Barbara, Sara Miller McCune, Guadalupe Cultural Arts & Education Center, Santa Maria League of Women Voters, Northern Santa Barbara County Women’s Political Committee, and Santa Maria Valley Democratic Club.