Nominations are being accepted for DeKalb’s newly expanded award recognizing outstanding leadership and commitment to environmental sustainability. 

The City’s Citizens’ Environmental Commission (CEC) has revised its annual  environmental award and renamed it as the DeKalb STARR (Sustainability Through  Action, Resiliency and Responsibility) Award. The revised program, which replaces the  retired PRIDE Award, recognizes that sustainability is happening in many ways in the  DeKalb community. 

To reflect this, the award will be presented in up to five categories: Individual Sustainability  Champion, Green Business of the Year, Sustainable Community Project,  Corporate/Institutional Environmental Leadership and Youth Sustainability Leader, which  will be awarded to a nominee younger than 18. 

To select the award winners, community members are encouraged to nominate individuals, businesses and organizations for their impact in one or more of five focus  areas aligning with the City’s Sustainability Plan. These areas are ecological impact,  community engagement and education, environmental leadership and advocacy,  innovation and green technology, and economic contribution to the green economy. 

“The Citizens’ Environmental Commission encourages everyone to nominate their  neighbors, local organizations and favorite businesses for the DeKalb STARR Award,”  said CEC Chair Julie Jesmer. “Every effort to enhance sustainability locally, regardless  of size, deserves to be recognized. We hope this acknowledgment encourages more  people to join the effort to address climate change.”

The nominations can be made through a simple four-question, online form on the City’s  website at cityofdekalb.com/1544/DeKalb-STARR. Anyone can submit a nomination, and  nominees should be making a positive impact on sustainability in the DeKalb community. 

Nominations are due by March 3. The winners will be selected by the CEC and recognized  this April.