Make Shift Wins a Civvy
AMERICAN AWARD FOR CIVIC COLLABORATION
Why
We were given this national award on October 30, 2019 for using civic collaboration best practices to achieve real results, enabling cross-partisan action, and putting civility and community above ideology.
Click here to learn about the awards and why we are a winner.
What
The American Civic Collaboration Awards highlight outstanding efforts of civic collaboration making impacts in local, national and youth communities.
There are three categories of awards but we were chosen to receive the Committee’s Choice award, outside the categories.
As a multi-year finalist and the most nominated initiative ever, the committee wrote to us that they have been continually impressed by the steady, committed work we have done to cultivate greater dialogue and civic engagement. The committee believes other initiatives can learn from our successes and hard-won lessons, and the way that we embody the axiom "be the change you want to see in the world".
CRAIG FRESHLEY ACCEPTS THE 2019 AMERICAN CIVIC COLLABORATION AWARD FROM CAROLINE KLIBANOFF AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CITIZENSHIP IN WASHINGTON, DC, OCTOBER 30, 2019.
Who
Craig Freshley came up with the idea but there have been many believers and contributors. Volunteers in communities across Maine have organized Make Shift Coffee Houses, made food, played music, and given money. Our Advisory Board has provided credibility and wisdom.
We first heard about the Civvy Awards three years ago when organizers told us we had been nominated. We have since been nominated 17 times; all by individuals on their own initiative. We would like to express deep appreciation for those who nominated us over the past 3 years.
Tom Ancona
Sydney Avitia-Jacques
Marilyn Bronzi
Marcia Chaffee
Henry Chance
Jane Gallagher
Terry Hayes
James Martin
Melanie Merz
Jane Palik
Cathy Roberts
Susan Singer
Amanda Skinner
Katie Tomer
Kathryn Walker
Sponsors
Special thanks to the organizations who sponsor the Civvy Awards: Bridge Alliance, Big Tent Nation, and National Conference on Citizenship. These folks are shining light on one of the things we love about America: civic collaboration.
After the Awards Ceremony Craig met with Senator Angus King on Capital Hill to discuss civil discourse and the political divide.
Senator King has been a steadfast and vocal advocate for respectful conversation "across the aisle" for many years, from his days as a talk show host at Maine Public Broadcasting, when he served as Maine's Governor, and now in the United States Senate.
We are very grateful for Senator King's support and his incessant attempts to model understanding and respect in politics.