[Archived] Alexandrians Invited to Nominate Local Environmental Stewards

For Immediate Release: February 21, 2018

The Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission and Alexandria Renew Enterprises are seeking nominees for the 10th Annual Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award, which recognizes members of the Alexandria community who demonstrate a commitment to protecting the environment and work to sustain local natural resources. Nominations must be received by March 29.

The Award will be presented at the 2018 Alexandria Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Lenny Harris Memorial Fields at Braddock Park (1005 Mt. Vernon Ave.). The theme of this year’s 25th Anniversary Earth Day is “Local Action, Global Impact.” The event will include educational exhibits, hands-on activities for children, art, and a celebration of the natural environment.

The Award was founded to honor the legacy of Ellen Pickering, a former member of both City Council and the board of Alexandria Renew Enterprises (formerly the Alexandria Sanitation Authority). Pickering, a longstanding advocate for environmental conservation, worked to ensure that the Potomac River waterfront was accessible to the public and not reserved for private interests. She also helped create the Mount Vernon Trail between Alexandria and Washington and managed the installation of 1,000 resident-donated cherry trees during her tenure as chair of the Alexandria Beautification Commission.

Each year, the Award Committee – which includes representatives from Alexandria Renew Enterprises, the Environmental Policy Commission and members of Ellen Pickering’s family – selects from the nominee pool and awards an individual or organization for their work in caring for our environment in active, demonstrable ways.

For more information about the Ellen Pickering Awards, including eligibility criteria, nominating requirements, and the selection process, visit alexandriava.gov/EarthDay.

For media inquiries, contact Andrea Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, email geralyn.taylor@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4084, Virginia Relay 711.