Serena Locust
Community Activist, Northwest Park Apartments

Serena Locust embodies what it means to be a good neighbor. Over the 30+ years that she has lived at the Northwest Park Apartments in Silver Spring, MD, Serena has been a voice for the diverse community of residents that call the expansive complex home.

As a member of IMPACT Silver Spring’s, Neighborhood IMPACT network, Serena is a true leader who understands how to build and leverage relationships. Serena brings together residents in a setting in which people from different cultural backgrounds, sometimes speaking five or more languages, can meet one another, find common ground, and share information and experiences. Her vision and persistence led to the creation of a YMCA center at Northwest Park apartments. Because of Serena’s energy and dedication, members of her Silver Spring community are engaged and informed leaders.

Ted Pringle
Food and Clothing Programs Director, Bread for the City
Ted Pringle recently passed away after his battle with cancer. His monumental contribution to the National Capital Region will be greatly missed. Read a tribute to Ted here: http://breadforthecity.blogspot.com/2010/07/in-memory-of-our-dear-friend-ted.html.

Near 10,000 Washington, DC residents benefited from the work of Ted Pringle each month, yet few of them knew his name. For 17 years, Ted labored behind-the-scenes at Bread for the City, building its food program to the point where today it is the largest food pantry in Washington, DC, feeding thousands of individuals and families every year.

Ted was considered a visionary at Bread for the City, inspiring staff to reach ever higher and constantly injecting new life into the organization, finding innovative ways to stretch every food donation dollar and maximize the nutritional value of food in each and every bag. A veteran of the United States Navy, Ted literally went the extra mile -- often driving hours early on Saturday mornings to pick up food donations. Perhaps most of all, Ted saw qualities in people whom otherwise have been written-off by society. This quality is best demonstrated by the fact that at least 3 of the staff who he brought on to work for him in the Bread for the City food pantry started as clients of the agency. For his endless caring and compassion, we salute Ted Pringle.

Scott Rechler
Program Director, LearnServe International
Scott Rechler passionately incorporates social responsibility, global awareness and community leadership into every aspect of his life. Scott spent the last five years leading Ashoka: Innovators for the Public’s security program, where he facilitated emergency assistance to social entrepreneurs under threat and helped launch a new initiative around innovations in peace building and cultural tolerance. A native of Washington, DC, Scott can often be seen riding his bicycle around Washington, DC – inspiring his neighbors to be more environmentally conscious.

As part-time director of the LearnServe International Fellows program, Scott challenges and nurtures high school students from across the Metropolitan Washington, DC region, equipping them with the tools to bring about social change. Scott inspires young people to think critically about the change they want to see in the world and to become social leaders in their own right.

Carlton P. Willis
Board Member, Carpenter’s Shelter
A retired Army Major, Carlton Willis is a visionary volunteer who is not afraid to think outside the box to strengthen the ability of organizations to touch the lives of the homeless in Alexandria, Virginia. From mentor to board member, Carlton has worn many hats at Carpenter’s Shelter, which provides urgent basic services and shelter to individuals and families facing homelessness.

Carlton combines his professional expertise with his compassion for families in need. Over the years, his countless of hours of pro bono technology work have provided refurbished donated laptops, improved donor software, and critical updates to administrative systems needed for Carpenter’s Shelter to operate efficiently. Carlton is a leader beyond the shelter’s walls, recruiting members of the region’s faith community to become more involved in ending homelessness. Carlton is one of those rare individuals who both leads and serves.