2026 CivicCon Awards

Help us recognize the individuals and organizations making Pensacola a better place to live, grow, work, and invest! Join us for the 2026 CivicCon Award Ceremony at the SCI Building on Monday, December 7 from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be provided! Since its launch in 2017, CivicCon has featured 80 speakers, all of whom brought data, ideas, examples, and resources for how people can improve the quality of life in the cities and neighborhoods where they live. Thankfully, citizens across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are stepping up every day and using that knowledge to make their streets, neighborhoods and cities into more vibrant, equitable, and lovable places to live. These people are doing the work. The Placemaking Award This award recognizes the work of an individual or organization to create a great public space for anyone in the community to enjoy. 2021: Palafox Market Vendors 2022: Generation Church/REX Theatre | Pensacola Off-Road Cyclists 2023: Upward Intuition | United Way of West Florida 2024: 309 Punk Project | Veterans Memorial Park Foundation of Pensacola 2025: From the Ground Up Garden The Environmental Award This award recognizes the work of an individual or organization that results in better water or air for a part or all of the community. 2021: Ocean Hour, Inc. | Ally Atchison 2022: Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program | Barbara Albrecht 2023: Kelly Hagen | Citizens Tree Canopy Restoration Project 2024: Vernon Compton | The Bream Fisherman Association 2025: The Santa Rosa Band of the Lower Muscogee | The Trust for Public Land, Santa Rosa County, and the Department of the Navy The Great Neighborhoods Award This award recognizes the individual or organization who has done the most to improve a neighborhood, strengthen a neighborhood association or help others launch their neighborhood association. 2021: Josh Womack and Cantonment Improvement Committee | Rand Hicks, Council of Neighborhood Association Presidents of Pensacola 2022: Calvin Avant, Executive Director of United in the Family Ministry | Chris Wilde, Dunmire Woods Neighborhood Association 2023: Ty Jones & Chris Greye of Street Chefs Unite | East Pensacola Heights Neighborhood Association | North Hill Preservation Association 2024: Bands on the Bayou | Eddie Todd 2025: East Hill Neighborhood Association | Ronnie Rivera The Safe Streets and People-Centered Transportation Award This award recognizes a group or individual that has worked to make streets safer and more welcoming to pedestrians and people on bicycles. 2021: Mike Kilmer and West Cervantes Coalition | Bike Pensacola 2022: CycleSports Bicycles | The Ride Squad 2023: The Last Mile 5k 2024: UWF Historic Trust East Zaragoza Streetscape Project | Robin Rowan | Russell Stark 2025: Christian Wagley The Good Government & Transparency Award This award recognizes an individual, a local government staff member, an elected official, a journalist or an organization that has helped bring community members into governmental processes. 2021: Dr. Karen Barber | Mayor Grover Robinson 2022: Jacqueline Aimee Rogers 2024: Pam Childers | Escambia County Sheriff Chip Simmons | Pensacola City Council - Maritime Park Parcel 5 2025: Grace Resendez McCaffery The Equity Award Recognizes an organization or individual who has worked to promote equity among all people in their community. 2021: Julian and Kim MacQueen | Sylvia Tisdale | Sandra Donaldson | Troy Rafferty 2022: Teniadé Broughton | The Kukua Institute | Peter Mougey 2023: Sunday's Child | The Ella Jordan African American History Museum 2024: Righting the Past | Stamped Film Festival | Walter Arrington 2025: Transformation Church | Cheryl Hinnen Best New Addition to Downtown Pensacola/Milton Award This award recognizes the new business, project, or expansion that was the best addition to downtown Pensacola. 2021: The Well | The Garden 2022: The Old Coca Cola Building Renovation | UWF Historic Trust Museum Plaza 2023: The Handlebar | Lily Hall 2024: Easy Going Records | Bruce Beach Park 2025: Fred Levin Way Fest | The Sweet Greek The Strong Towns Award The Strong Towns award recognizes the person or organization that has best realized the Strong Towns mantra of making the good use of our existing resources and infrastructure, instead of creating costly new sprawl. 2021: aDoor Properties | Savoy Place 2022: Mount Lily Studios 2023: Amir Michael Fooladi 2024: Pensacola Habitat for Humanity | Masonic Lodge Renovation in Brownsville 2025: End of the Line Cafe The Founding Member Award This award recognizes one CivicCon founding member for consistent attendance and involvement with the CivicCon Speaker Series, Civic Engagement Courses, or community involvement that has been inspired by CivicCon. 2021: Camille Bonner, Community Volunteer | Theresa Blackwell, Advocate for Beulah 2022: Brian Wyer, President/CEO of Gulf Coast Minority Chamber 2023: Gerry & Leslie Yandle | Carolyn Grawi The CivicCon Award This award is for an individual who best embodies the spirit of civic engagement and shows an appreciation for learning best practices and dedication to improving the quality of life for others. 2021: Christian Wagley | Dottie Debuisson | Jared Moore, City Council District 4, City of Pensacola 2022: Mayor D.C. Reeves 2023: Jarah Jacquay, Bluffline | Audrey Foss & Dylan, Young Citizens Development 2024: The Mental Health Task Force of Northwest Florida | Connie Bookman 2025: Colten Wright The Community Volunteer Award This award is for our dedicated CivicCon volunteers, without whom our events would not be possible. These individuals show up early and work hard to ensure that everything runs smoothly. 2022: Willa Licata | Joseph Leccesse 2023: Delores Shreeves | José León | Jack Stevenson 2024: Chris "Caveman" Holzworth | Hope Above Fear Founder Stephanie Shepard | Brian Wilson & Stephen Born 2025: Reverend John Powell | Anna Lochas