THE ELIZABETH ANABO BRICC AWARDS

Building Resourceful Inspirational Creative Community

Silicon Valley Community Foundation recognizes creative, resourceful and inspirational neighborhood groups in Santa Clara County with the Elizabeth Anabo BRICC Awards. Since 2001, The Elizabeth Anabo BRICC Awards commemorates the late Elizabeth Anabo, former senior program officer at Community Foundation Silicon Valley, one of our parent foundations. Elizabeth was extremely dedicated to and passionate about neighborhood groups and made tremendous contributions to them over the four years she worked at the community foundation.

BRICC awards of $1,000 are given to one or two neighborhood groups in Santa Clara County that have made outstanding contributions to their community. The two categories for the award are seasoned groups and new and emerging groups. Previous BRICC Award recipients may apply two years after receiving the award. Neighborhood groups may nominate themselves. A review panel composed of community representatives, including past award recipients, selects the BRICC award recipients.

This year, BRICC awards were announced at the United Neighborhoods Fall Conference on Saturday, Oct. 11 at San Josè City College.

Criteria: The review panel used the following criteria to select award recipients. Group efforts are recognized rather than individual efforts. Nominees demonstrated the ability to:

• Mobilize broad citizen participation
• Address significant issues in their community
• Make creative use of available resources
• Provide opportunities for neighbors to take greater control of and responsibility for what goes on in their neighborhood
• Inspire neighbors and others to take action

Congratulations to the 2008 BRICC Award recipients:

Seasoned Awardee
McLaughlin Area Tenants, San José

New and Emerging Awardee
Piedmont-Hostetter Neighborhood Association, San José

"Most of us are not citizens but we do pay taxes.
Most of us do not speak English but our native language.
Most of us do not read or write but we try.
Most of us are trying to learn English as a second language.
Most of us have endured exploitation of our labor and at times did not get paid for the work we did.
Most of us have been threatened by property owners, native born residents that they will call immigration on us.
Most of us have been threatened, have been victims of crime, have endured intimidation and most of all have been treated like second-class individuals.

Although we have endured all of these experiences most of us continue to have HOPE and see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We have come to live here with our families for a better life.
Most of us are willing to make our community safe for our families.
Most of us do want to get involved.
Most of us want to learn how this government works and we continue to learn how to improve and maintain our neighborhood.
We as individuals have changed for the better and are not as timid as we once were. We might not know everything but our spirit of building a better community is something that we know in our hearts and want to make our dreams a reality. This is what most of us hope for."

- Quote from the McLaughlin Area Tenants' nomination form describing what is unique and distinctive about their community group

"The Gang Awareness meeting provided much needed information about what to look for regarding unwanted gang activities. As a result, the community became much more active in reporting suspected gang and graffiti activities to the city. Additionally, we've provided each other with information on events such as residential break-ins, car thefts, etc., that have increased awareness and increased reporting of these incidents - in many cases, providing the city with additional information they needed to resolve issues.

The members have gained more of a sense of security because they are more connected with their neighbors. They have learned about information they would not have normally seen in their day-to-day lives. It has also been helpful in directing the community to the right agencies to elicit positive changes."

- Quote from the Piedmont-Hostetter Neighborhood Association’s nomination form describing their accomplishments in the last two years