Evanston Preservation Planner Cade Sterling (left) leads winners of the Cultural Heritage Awards at the City Council meeting. The Evanston Preservation Commission formally announced five winners of its first Cultural Heritage Awards. In the past, the commission has given awards that focus on built projects. This year, the awards include “living heritage, the arts, intangible cultural heritage and less tangible stories and histories.” The commission received 12 nominations, which were reviewed by a committee. Here are the winners. (Photos by Richard Cahan)
Charles Smith won the top award of the night. He was named the city’s cultural ambassador by the Evanston Preservation Commission for his work on the Jens Jensen Gardens. “Charles has worked tirelessly to call attention to, protect and transform the Jens Jensen and Alfred Caldwell-designed grounds of the Harley Clarke mansion,” Mayor Daniel Biss announced. Credit: Richard CahanThe Shorefront Legacy Center won outstanding group achievement. From left are board members Schenita Stewart, Angela Joubert James, Laurice Bell, Dino Robinson, Nicole Parker and Rich Foreman. “The Shorefront Legacy Center stands apart for an exceptional commitment to preserving and interpreting the rich history of Black individuals in Evanston,” the commission wrote. Credit: Richard CahanBlair Thrush Lele was given the outstanding individual achievement award for her preservation work. “With an unwavering commitment to the restoration and stewardship of her 1897 home located at 1228 Forest Avenue, Blair has demonstrated a significant contribution to the cultural heritage of the city,” her award read. Credit: Richard CahanEvanston Latinos won an honor award. “Since its formation in 2017, the work of Evanston Latinos has called attention to and strengthened a sense of community and civic responsibility.” From left are Rocio Mancera, Daisy De Jesus, Nancy Castillo with son Quetzalan Kitchel, Oscar Morales, Rebeca Mendoza, Claudia Renteria and Nazaria De Jesus. Credit: Richard CahanNorthwestern University’s Center for Native American and Indigenous Research was honored for “their extraordinary cultural heritage work, especially the collaborative land acknowledgement project that resulted in the creation of the wiigwaasi-jiimaan (birch bark canoe), now installed in the Segal Visitors Center.” From left are Lawrence Curley, Pamala Silas and Megan Bang. Credit: Richard Cahan
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Richard Cahan takes photos for the Evanston RoundTable. He also is publisher of CityFiles Press, a small but mighty media company that believes in the power of words and pictures. You can reach him at…
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