[Archived] Alexandrians Invited to Nominate Local Environmental Stewards

For Immediate Release: February 21, 2020 

The Alexandria Environmental Policy Commission and Alexandria Renew Enterprises are seeking nominees for the Ellen Pickering Environmental Excellence Award. This award recognizes members of the Alexandria community who demonstrate a commitment to protecting the environment and preserving local natural resources. Nominations must be received by March 25.  

The award will be presented at the 2020 Alexandria Earth Day celebration on Saturday, May 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lenny Harris Memorial Fields at Braddock Park (1005 Mt. Vernon Ave.). The event will include educational exhibits, hands-on activities for children, art, and a celebration of the natural environment. 

The Award was established 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 was a longstanding advocate for environmental conservation, who 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.  

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

For more information about the Ellen Pickering Award, 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. 

For reasonable disability accommodation, email  geralyn.taylor@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.4084, Virginia Relay 711.