The Board of Directors of Neighborhoods, USA (NUSA) annually recognizes neighborhood advocates and volunteers whose work mirrors the mission of NUSA with the “Who’s Who in America’s Neighborhoods” award. Established in 2010, the award honors individual(s) who work to: (1) build and strengthen neighborhood associations; (2) encourage neighborhood involvement in the decision-making process in local governments; and (3) promote productive communications and collaborations among neighborhood associations, local governments and the public and private sectors. The 2016 “Who’s Who in America’s Neighborhoods” award recipients is:
Karen Bluvas
Omaha, Nebraska
On Friday, May 27, NUSA was able to surprise Karen Bluvas from Omaha with the special “Who’s Who in America’s Neighborhood” honor at its 41st annual conference in Memphis, Tenn. and she became the 12th person to ever receive the award. Brought to tears, when her daughter Marcy came on stage to tell conference attendees more about her mother and her work, Bluvas was recognized for her decades of service to making her neighborhood stronger, as well as for her work in helping other neighborhoods across the city of Omaha. Among Bluvas’ work and accomplishments include:
- Over 40 years of dedication to her community
- Takes a “just get in and do it” approach
- Started a daycare center in her community
- Worked with a university to establish recognition for neighborhoods across Nebraska
- Developed a training program for neighborhood leaders
- Publishes monthly neighborhood newsletter
- Serves on Transit Advisory and Riverfront Development Committees
- Serves on Police Precinct Advisory Council
- Co-chaired the Iowa/Nebraska Neighborhood Conference in 2015 * Served on presentation team to bring NUSA to Omaha in 2017
- Currently working on the history of her neighborhood back to the 1880s
This year’s presentation of the “Who’s Who in America’s Neighborhoods” award was the 7th time NUSA has presented the award since its creation in 2010.
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