Mayor Walsh opens nominations for SPARK Boston's Annual Impact Awards

BOSTON - Thursday, June 23, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced nominations are now open for SPARK Boston's 2016 Impact Awards. The annual Impact Awards shine a spotlight on young adults aged 20-34 doing outstanding work to improve the City of Boston. Applications are available online, and will remain open through the summer.  

"As we prepare to welcome the Forbes Under 30 Summit and many of our nation's most influential young leaders, I am proud to showcase the incredible young people improving our neighborhoods and strengthening communities right here in Boston," said Mayor Walsh. "From dedicated public servants to community builders and social entrepreneurs, millennials are some of our most innovative and civic-minded residents."

"SPARK Boston is not just a program for millennial residents -- it's a program entirely driven by millennial residents,"  said SPARK Boston Council Member and Brighton resident, Fhiwa Ndou. "The Impact Awards give young leaders a platform to speak directly to their peers. Their passion and dedication have a ripple effect as they inspire others to become more engaged citizens themselves. That kind of influence can have a tremendous impact, and that's the idea behind the SPARK Impact Awards."  

This year's award categories reflect the diverse ways millennial residents act as leaders and changemakers in Boston:

• Arts & Culture: Visionaries who weave arts and culture into the fabric of our communities to engage and inspire those around them.
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Civic innovators who help our city attract and keep talented people, expand economic opportunity and create a culture of engagement.
• Activism & Issue Advocacy: Emerging leaders elevating the voices of young Bostonians on the issues that impact us all.
• Public Service & Civic Leadership: Public servants, elected officials and other civic leaders working to ensure strong democracy and successful governance in our city.
• Community Building & Neighborhood Improvement: Engaged citizens who work collaboratively to strengthen their neighborhoods and promote their communities' interests.
• "Unsung Heroes": Outstanding teachers, social workers, nurses, emergency responders and human services professionals whose everyday dedication supports a healthy, thriving city.

Nominees must be between the ages of 20-34 and live/work in Boston to be considered. A selection committee comprised of members of the SPARK Boston Council will review all nominations and select the top nominees in each category. A round of online voting will follow, and winners will be announced at the SPARK Impact Award ceremony in October.   To nominate a friend, colleague, neighbor or yourself, visit http://www.sparkbos.com/impact-award-nomination.html.  

ABOUT SPARK BOSTON

Boston is home to a large and diverse millennial population. SPARK Boston (formerly ONEin3) is a City of Boston initiative that aims to empower the millennial generation to play a greater role in planning for the future of our city.

SPARK Boston focuses on engaging the next generation of civic leaders and social entrepreneurs in the work of city government. This will shape how the City designs and develops policies, convenes stakeholders for important initiatives and works collaboratively with young people to shape Boston's future.

Learn more at  www.sparkbos.com.