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CAMBRIDGE & NORTH DUMFRIES COMMUNITY AWARDS

Local organizations take centre stage

PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY TOMASZ ADAMSKI / AWARD PRINTS PROVIDED BY KRAJEWSKI GALLERY AND PICTURE FRAMING

The accomplishments of our local not-for-profit sector and the individuals that play a key role in it were recognized at
the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce’s Cambridge & North Dumfries Community Awards in November. Several hundred
community leaders and supporters attended the Hamilton Family Theatre to celebrate the impact these groups and
individuals have had during the past year. The recipients included:
Community Collaboration Award – Downtown Cambridge Community Impact People’s Choice Award - Langs’
BIA (Cambridge Wedding Week) Interprofessional Primary Outreach (IPC) Team
This week-long initiative provided a unique opportunity for By working with Public Health, the team has been able to make
small businesses, media groups, and charitable partners to great community impact by continuing to provide not only
connect and grow their networks, fostering new relationships COVID vaccinations and screenings, but treatment for other
and sharing resources to strengthen the business community communicable diseases that can be devastating to the homeless
downtown. Among the charitable partners who benefitted was population while at the same time acting as their advocates. Led

the Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation which received by a team of dedicated experts that provide outreach using a
$5,000 through a charity auction organized by a business that flexible, patient-focused approach connecting with folks in many

decided to open its flagship store downtown due to the success non-traditional outreach sites, these partner relationships have
of this initiative. Through the creation of a superior multi- been essential to building a strong multifaceted wraparound
channel marketing campaign thanks to the talents of teams approach to connecting with our most vulnerable. By working
of professionals across numerous disciplines and businesses, with Public Health, the Langs team has been able to make great
the resulting initiative garnered tremendous awareness for all community impact by continuing to provide not only COVID
participating businesses, groups and individuals involved. vaccination and screening, but treatment for other communicable
diseases that can be devastating to this population.
Community Leadership Award – Kim Decker (YWCA
Cambridge Chief Executive Director) Arts and Culture Award – Idea Exchange (Cambridge Art
Kim’s skills in building partnerships have served the organization Galleries)
she leads to great success not only in terms of programming, By providing the community free access to all its programs and
but at staying relevant and current. Being nimble and innovative resources, the Idea Exchange has minimized countless barriers
are qualities that have served her well. Kim is the epitome of a for people of all ages and abilities. Raising the profile of arts and

leader who leads with kindness and empathy, and is known by culture within the community continues to be its fundamental
colleagues, community partners and other leaders for leading mission which it successfully accomplished in 2023 using a
with compassion, honesty, vulnerability, trust, and respect. combination of both traditional promotional methods and
Everything she does in her leadership role is done with an eye modern digital strategies. These include not only creating an
to the advancement of women, girls, and children, and her many engaging social media presence, but creating interactive content
successes speak for themselves. Her leadership style isn’t the ‘up and providing visual storytelling. Its commitment to promoting
front and highly visible’ kind, rather, she respects the experience arts and culture go beyond its walls and its outreach team has

and knowledge her staff bring to the table and encourages them been putting their feet to the pavement to reach community
to grow within. members where they are with the tools they need.

16 Winter 2024 www.cambridgechamber.com