PRESS RELEASE
FOR PLANNING PURPOSES:
April 3, 2024
CONTACT:
Clarissa Rucker (DCHR) – (202) 809-0349; clarissa.rucker@dc.gov
The Awards Recognize the Unsung Heroes of Public Service in the Heart of the Nation’s Capital
(Washington, DC) – The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, in collaboration with the George Washington University’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, part of the GW College of Professional Studies, the DC Department of Human Resources, and the Bowser Administration, proudly presents the winners of the 21st Annual Cafritz Awards. This prestigious event honors exceptional individuals and teams for their unwavering dedication, innovation, and positive impact on the Washington DC community.
“When the Cafritz Awards were established in 2000, the Foundation aimed to highlight the contributions of extraordinary government employees. We wanted to acknowledge the outstanding individuals and send a message to other excellent government employees that their dedication and considerable accomplishments are valued,” mentioned by the late Calvin Cafritz, former President and CEO of the Cafritz Foundation.
Presenting the 21st Annual Cafritz Awards Individual Winners:
Reginald Gerod Blackwell Sr., M (ASCP)
Medical Technologist, DC Public Health Laboratory
Initiated successful training programs, internships, and informal mentorship opportunities available to the District youth pursuing careers in STEM, while helping to establish a model for addressing a severe shortage of trained laboratory personnel needed to run laboratory tests.
Nicholas Bonard
Branch Chief - Floodplains, DC Department of Energy and Environment
Led efforts to establish the Flood Task Force among 26 agencies, with the goal of improving flood resilience, and secured two FEMA grants totaling $307,000 and a local budget of $490,000 to fund the FloodSmart Homes pilot program. Efforts helped make the District of Columbia a leader in flood prevention nationally and internationally.
Charles J. Guddemi
Statewide Interoperability Coordinator, DC Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Enhanced the emergency communications ecosystem, addressing gaps exposed by the U.S. Capitol Insurrection, through the development of the District’s first Primary Alternative Contingency and Emergency (PACE) curriculum. This serves as a model for how and what to do to build individual, community, and organizational emergency response plans.
Parythina Harris
Program Manager, DC Department of Human Services
Implemented transformational customer service initiatives for the DC Department of Human Services, an agency which serves around 300,000 clients within the District’s most vulnerable communities. Efforts significantly reduced backlogs and customer escalations, while improving agency efficiency and satisfaction ratings.
Latrena M. Owens
Executive Director - St. Elizabeths East Redevelopment, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
Successfully oversaw the monumental St. Elizabeths East Campus Redevelopment, which is a billion-dollar investment aimed at revitalizing the 183-acre campus in the Congress Heights neighborhood, while prioritizing community needs.
Presenting the 21st Annual Cafritz Awards Team Winner:
Office of Migrant Services, DC Department of Human Services:
Justin B. Brown, Debra R. Crawford, Tatiana Laborde, Joseph Lippi
Under the leadership of the Bowser Administration, addressed the escalating migrant emergency crisis, meeting the needs of nearly 17,000 migrants bussed to the District of Columbia since September 2022 from the Southern Border Region of the country. Exceptional team efforts created a comprehensive ecosystem to address the crisis with the help of local and community partnerships, and ensured client dignity and basic needs of those under care (such as safety, nutrition, urgent medical care, clothing, schooling).
“The Cafritz Awards represent the pinnacle of public service excellence, showcasing the tireless dedication of our government employees in making a lasting impact on our city. Their achievements inspire us all to continue striving for excellence in service to the residents of the District of Columbia,” said DC Director of Human Resources, Charles Hall, Jr.
The winners for this year will be formally recognized at the 21st Annual Cafritz Awards Gala on Thursday, April 4, 2024 on the George Washington University campus.
The event will be livestreamed, for more information visit cafritzawards.org.
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