WORCESTER—The Greater Worcester Community Foundation has named Yvette Dyson, executive director of Worcester Common Ground, as the recipient of this year’s Renaissance Award for her exceptional contributions to community development.
Established in 2004 by founding member John W. (“Jack”) Lund, who passed away in 2010 at age 90, the Renaissance Award honors individuals in Worcester County who demonstrate outstanding commitment and innovation in the nonprofit sector. Dyson also receives a $5,000 prize for personal renewal, such as travel or study. Additionally, the Foundation provides a new $5,000 unrestricted grant to Worcester Common Ground.
“I am deeply grateful to be chosen for the GWCF Renaissance Award,” said Dyson in an announcement, “and I am humbled to be aligned with those chosen in previous years for their amazing contributions to Worcester County. I am also grateful to the incredible residents and neighbors from our Piedmont community that I have the privilege of working with every day. With this generous gift, I will be able to plan a getaway to celebrate my husband’s one-year successful liver transplant. This recognition could not be timelier. It is with a full heart that I give thanks.”
Nominations for the Renaissance Award are solicited from the Foundation’s 250+ corporators, with the winner ultimately selected by Foundation staff and board based on the quality of nomination(s) received. Dyson stood out for her steadfast dedication to Worcester County in the pursuit of affordable housing, spending the last 24 years working at Worcester Common Ground, a community development corporation in the Piedmont neighborhood of Worcester, according to the announcement.
Worcester Common Ground fosters lasting community improvement through affordable housing, resident activism, and economic development. Yvette Dyson, who joined the organization as the director of development in 2000, brings a wealth of expertise in architecture and construction management, making her a crucial part of the team’s success.
She was officially appointed to the role of executive director in July 2013. “As a leader, Dyson fosters a collaborative and supportive environment with her team,” continued the announcement, “recognizing that the commitment and expertise of her staff are vital to achieving their shared goals and the goals of their resident-led board of directors.”
Over the past three years, Dyson and her team have worked closely with a DEI consultant to help shape the organization’s work around inclusivity, helping to build a new team that is representative of the Piedmont neighborhood they serve.
“We are proud to honor Yvette with the Renaissance Award and a matching grant to Worcester Common Ground,” said Pete Dunn, president and CEO, Greater Worcester Community Foundation. “This award is a celebration of Yvette’s leadership and her unwavering commitment to the community she serves. We are grateful to our donor, Jack Lund, for recognizing the importance of personal renewal for those working tirelessly in the nonprofit sector.”
The Renaissance Award was presented at the Greater Worcester Community Foundation Annual Meeting on June 12.
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