Honorees Announced For The 2008-2009
County of Sonoma Jefferson Awards
“Excellence in Community Leadership and Civic Engagement”

The Jefferson Awards Program is a national recognition system designed to highlight public service in America. The Jefferson Awards began as part of the American Institute for Public Service in 1972 and was established by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, US Senator Robert Taft, Jr., and Sam Beard, a staffer to Bobby Kennedy. More information about the national program can be found on the Jefferson Awards website.

The County’s local program was designed to highlight the value of non-profit organizations, boards, commissions and advisory bodies, as well as individual efforts for Excellence in Community Leadership and Civic Engagement.

Each year the Board of Supervisors makes five Jefferson Awards selections and the 2009 honorees are as follows:

• Becoming Independent serves and advocates for people with disabilities providing a pathway to independence and personal fulfillment for women, men, and children with developmental disabilities in Sonoma County.
  
  
  
• Alexandra Carlson and Melissa Carlson have demonstrate youth leadership in the community by addressing the need for youth to be more involved, educated, inspired and engaged with their local ecology and to help with the preservation and conservation of their environment.
  
  
  
• Canine Companions for Independence enhances the lives of people with disabilities, helping them to lead independent lives, by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships.
  
  
  
• Reverend James E. Coffee is a community leader whose personal motto is “making a difference one person at a time”. He works tirelessly to break down racial barriers and promote awareness of cultural diversity in Sonoma County.
  
  
  
• Linda Lavery and Keith Travinsky are foster parents in Sonoma County. They saw the need for children entering foster care to have something to call their own. They took action and today, every child entering emergency foster care in Sonoma County receives clothing, toys, comfort items and a place to keep them.
  

The County of Sonoma is proud of and grateful to these agencies and individuals for their outstanding service to our community. They exemplify the spirit of the Jefferson Award for public service in their Excellence in Community Leadership and Civic Engagement.

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