Thank you to everyone who came to this year’s Member Party and Awards at Tennessee Brew Works! We had a wonderful night of community and celebration, and we were thrilled to honor eight outstanding individuals and organizations that have helped advance our goal to make Nashville more bikeable, livable, and walkable. (The party doubled as a wrap party for the Open Streets Summer Series — we’ll have more thoughts on that soon!)

In case you weren’t able to join us, here’s a recap of our honorees:

Organization of the Year: Paragon Mills Elementary School

Meredith Montgomery, our executive director, presented this award to representatives from Paragon Mills including Principal Andy Lyons and Program Manager Abby Conner. Here are some of her comments:

A highlight of the last two years has been Paragon Mills’ annual Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day which takes place at the end of February as a beautiful way to close out Black History Month. But the most inspiring and impactful thing they organized this year was a Walking School Bus program last May. When the flurry of traffic stops filled our community with fear, attendance plummeted in South Nashville schools and parents were scared to leave their homes. Within 48 hours, Paragon Mills organized their passionate teachers and a few volunteers to lead 3 walking school bus routes to and from school 5 days a week. Within a couple days we had over 100 kids participating. 

Paragon Mills didn’t let a lack of sidewalks get in their way, or the delay of a traffic calming project–they leaned on their culture of care and community to make their neighborhood more walkable which is an inspiration to us all.

Crossing Guards of the Year: Peggy Connolly, Lorri Kerrick, Wanda Gholston, & Shaniqua Lewis (Paragon Mills Elementary School)

Advocacy Coordinator Izi Witt honored these four women from Paragon Mills Elementary School. She hit on similar themes to Meredith in her remarks:

At the end of last school year while participating in a walking school bus, these crossing guards always had a smile on their face. You can tell they genuinely care about these children. Each morning, I got to see the kids excited to greet their crossing guards and receive a high five. They made my mornings better, and I know they make the kids' mornings better too.

Advocate of the Year: Eric Hoke

Neighborhood Engagement Coordinator Alexa Little, who has worked with Eric for years to improve safety throughout Nashville, presented this award. From her remarks:

Through his role at Civic Design Center, Eric has poured his talent and passion into making Nashville’s neighborhoods safer, more vibrant, and more connected.

I’ve experienced firsthand how he uplifts and empowers other neighborhood leaders through his support and expertise. 

Eric, thank you for your vision, your leadership, and your relentless advocacy.

Volunteer of the Year: Mike Tamberrino

As our Membership Coordinator, Derek Morgan works closely with our volunteers throughout the year. He helped spotlight Mike Tamberrino, a relative newcomer to our community who’s become an ever-present face at Walk Bike Nashville events and throughout the city. We meant to surprise Mike with the award, but he was unexpectedly unable to attend the party! Derek offered some appreciative words anyway:

Mike just became a member less than a year ago. In that short time, he has given his time to help us out along with other organizations. While still healing from a bike wreck, he played a big part in getting the Tour de Nash Posters out along with helping us with the TDN event day after riding in it. He has also responded to the volunteer call for some of our partners' events. 

I am glad to honor his donation of time with this award. Thank you, Mike, for your support and helpful hands.

Initiative of the Year: Antioch Pike Tactical Urbanism

Eric Hoke wasn’t just an award winner this year; he helped spotlight an outstanding effort to make Antioch Pike safer for neighbors. The project, which you can read more about at WKRN, was propelled forward by Bridgestone Foundation. Eric presented the award to Bridgestone’s Sara Correa, saying:

Thanks to the Bridgestone Foundation’s generosity, we were able to create an innovative tire processing trailer that transforms old tires into sustainable traffic calming tools, something that not only shaped this project but will continue to benefit neighborhoods all across Nashville. Beyond funding, Bridgestone employees rolled up their sleeves and volunteered their time, helping us bring these ideas to life on the street.

Public Official of the Year: Koby Langner

Calah Gipson, our Open Streets Coordinator, worked with dozens of people and partners while working on our Open Streets events and Toolkit this year. They highlighted one outstanding government official who helped make it all possible: Koby Langer, the Livability Planner at the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure. (The two even appeared on TV together to promote the Summer Series!) Calah said while presenting:

Koby is one of the most hands-on supporters we have at NDOT. A bike commuter himself, and formerly the Community Engagement Specialist, Koby is always showing up for us and the community however he can.

I know personally that Koby was instrumental in getting the Open Streets Community Guide and Toolkit launched and published, as well as the new Open Streets Program- which now includes a Sign Share program where neighbors can check out materials they need to put on their own Open Streets. His support and collaboration has been vital in making this program more accessible to the community, and we’re looking forward to seeing its growing success.

Kibby Clayton Award: Choose How You Move Referendum

The Kibby Clayton Award, named after our first board president, is our lifetime achievement award. It typically recognizes individuals who’ve contributed the most time and energy to improve walkability, bikeability, and livability in Nashville. This year, however, we wanted to honor something we hope will come to be seen as an achievement of a lifetime for Nashville.

In November, Nashville voters overwhelmingly supported the Choose How You Move referendum to bring dedicated transit funding to our city for the first time in its history. It’s a seismic shift for our city, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the tireless efforts of Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s office, Nashville Moves, and dozens of campaign staffers and volunteers.

Programs Director Wesley Smith spoke mostly off-the-cuff as he presented this award to Nashville Moves Organizing Director Scott Dietz. Wesley put the scale of this electoral win into context: The number of voters who supported Choose How You Move could fill Nissan Stadium, Bridgestone Arena, Vanderbilt’s FirstBank Stadium, and Geodis Park with around 25,000 voters to spare.

See more pictures on our Facebook page!