For the second consecutive year, Aurora was honored in the Illinois State Capitol.
In a ceremony held Monday at the Governor’s Mansion in Springfield, the Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service presented 21 communities with 2019 Governor’s Hometown Awards.
The city government of Aurora received the award for the outstanding success of National Night Out 2018.
More than 6,000 Aurora residents joined in celebrating National Night Out last year. Celebrating at 42 event sites, residents enjoyed forming bonds with their neighbors, getting to know their neighborhood police officers, and interacting with City officials on a personal, one-to-one basis. There were 320 volunteers from neighborhoods throughout Aurora, who were supported by the City’s Neighborhood Group Support Team, in organizing the festivities.
“National Night Out has become an annual tradition in Aurora that shows the power of collaboration, connections and community service,” said Aurora mayor Richard C. Irvin. “Although it is only one day on the calendar, the event has a ripple effect on our city throughout the year. We have seen an increase in the number of neighborhood groups, community activities, and civic engagement because of the energy generated on the first Tuesday of every August during National Night Out.”
Representing Aurora at the ceremony was Aurora Police Commander Keith Cross, Aurora Neighborhood Groups manager Cheryl Maraffio and Neighborhood Groups organizer Karina Garcia.
Last year, Aurora received the 2018 Governor’s Hometown Award for the “Lighting Up Our Neighborhoods” project, a collaboration with Rebuilding Aurora Together.
The Governor’s Hometown Awards program gives formal recognition to those who contributed to their communities’ quality of life through projects that had strong volunteer support, met a need, and made a definitive impact.
Other winners included: Will County for MacroPantries; Take What You Need, Leave What You Can; Joliet for Old Joliet Prison Tourism & Restoration Initiative; and Roselle for Flags for Roselle.
—City government of Aurora