Celebrate Excellence in Community ActionThe 2025 Community Action Awards recognize the individuals, employees, and partners who exemplify the heart of our mission — advancing equity, overcoming barriers, and empowering communities across New York State. Each year, NYSCAA honors outstanding contributors in the Community Action Network. These awards spotlight personal achievements, rising talent, transformative leadership, and innovative programs that help families reach self-sufficiency and build brighter futures. We invite you to nominate deserving individuals or teams in one of the five award categories listed below. Help us shine a light on those making a difference every day. Community Action Personal Achievement AwardDescription: This award recognizes a current or former Community Action participant or customer who has achieved significant personal accomplishments. The individual demonstrates a genuine commitment to persevere despite obstacles or disability. They work hard, are a positive influence, show appreciation, and are dedicated to helping themselves and others. This award is not intended for staff persons. The winner of the Personal Achievement award will be reimbursed up to $300.00 for expenses related to attending the conference to accept his/her award compliments of NYSCAA. SUBMIT A NOMINATIONCommunity Action Impact AwardDescription: This award recognizes an existing employee of the Community Action Network who, through excellent leadership, has positively and significantly impacted a specific community or the Network at large and works to promote greater economic opportunity for children and families. The individual’s leadership had transformed their CAA, department, or program and contributed to their community becoming a better place to live. Nominees for this award must be employed for at least three years by a Community Action Agency in a leadership role. SUBMIT A NOMINATIONCommunity Action Promise AwardDescription: This award recognizes an individual who has contributed significantly to the Community Action Network, its programs, and activities and exemplifies the true meaning of Community Action. The recipient demonstrates the willingness to go the extra mile to help people in need, respects all people, and is dedicated to the mission and values of Community Action. This award will be given to a current Community Action Agency employee and/or a non-employee who has made significant contributions to the Community Action Network. Non-employees may include CAA board members, volunteers, CSBG State Agency staff, public officials, representatives of a corporation, or community members. SUBMIT A NOMINATIONCommunity Action Rising Star AwardDescription: The Rising Star Award is presented to an up-and-coming Community Action employee who has shown exceptional promise and made a significant impact. This individual exhibits excellent potential and has demonstrated remarkable talent and accomplishments early in their career. The recipient will have spent less than five years in the Community Action Network. SUBMIT A NOMINATIONCommunity Action Opportunity and Access AwardDescription: The Opportunity and Access Award recognizes the exceptional and innovative contributions of Community Action Agencies, their staff, and programs in advancing opportunity and access throughout New York’s Community Action Network. The award is presented to the individual, agency, or department that has demonstrated through their work, fostered collaborations and partnerships, advocated promoted learning and education, and created transformative organizational change, that demonstrates that they are creating a supportive environment that encourages authentic connections, removes obstacles, values unique strengths, and provides the resources, support and guidance for all people to thrive. SUBMIT A NOMINATIONNominate TodayHelp us celebrate the incredible people and programs shaping the future of Community Action. Award recipients will be recognized at the 2025 NYSCAA & NYSWDA Annual Conference in Syracuse, NY. The nomination form and deadline will be posted here soon. |
