Annual Meeting and BLOCK PARTY 2022!
When we started planning for this year’s annual meeting and decided we would hold it in person for the first time since the start of the pandemic, our planning committee discussed the “vibe” we were aiming for with the event. Everyone agreed: after so many years apart, we wanted it to feel less like a meeting and more like a family reunion, a backyard cookout, a block party. Of course, we wanted to provide the essential organizational updates we’ve always provided, and we were eager to present this year’s community awards, a tradition we started last year (and now that we’ve done it two years in a row, we can officially call it a “tradition”!). But this year, more than ever, it felt essential to make as much space as possible to just be neighbors: to share a meal, catch up with each other, and celebrate our community.
As it turns out, 145 of you agreed with us that it was time for a reunion. And what fun we had!
If you joined us, check out the photo slideshow below and see if you can find yourself in the crowd! Did you take photos you’d like to share with us? Send them to Daniele Berman at dberman@communityhometrust.org!
- As always, we shared organization updates, including highlights from the past year and headlines for next year. All the details and more are available in our annual report, available online now. If you’d like a hard copy, let us know and we’ll drop one in the mail – or stop by our office to pick one up!
- Community Home Trust homeowner Kevin Baker had us dancing and singing along to songs from the 50s all the way to today. Check out Kevin Baker Music on Facebook!
- We feasted on dinner and dessert from Game Time Hot Dogs, Cubanita’s Delicacies, Mediterranean Deli, and Locopops. Yum!
- We gave away over a dozen door prizes, including treats and gift cards from Outer Banks Granola, Paco’s Shave Ice, Hand and Stone Spa, Caribou Coffee, and Chapel Hill Toffee, plus great items to use at home like a Google Home Mini, a wifi plug, and first aid kits!
- We worked together to create gift baskets for future Community Home Trust homeowners, with gifts and handmade cards and notes.
- And we presented our annual awards! You can read the press release here.
- The recipient of our second annual Exceptional Innovation Award, presented by UNC Health, was the Town of Chapel Hill, and the award was accepted by Town Council member Michael Parker and Director of Affordable Housing and Community Connections Sarah Viñas. The award recognizes the Town’s exceptional efforts to increase access to affordable housing, especially through its inclusionary zoning policy.
- The Deanna Carson Memorial Good Neighbor Award was presented by Teresa Parker of Union Home Mortgage to LaPerry Ward, whom neighbors recognized for being like the neighborhood uncle or big brother, always looking out for everyone.
- And the Building Better Futures award, presented by East West Partners, was presented to Evan Hirawasa in recognition of her 19 years of faithful financial support of Community Home Trust’s mission.
If you’re a Community Home Trust homeowner or tenant, we want to invite you to continue the great conversations you had with your neighbors at the party by joining our new Facebook group! This is for CHT residents only and will give you a space to stay connected with each other.
We also sent all our attendees home with goody bags filled with resources from some of our partner organizations. If you didn’t get a chance to pick up a bag, you can see some of those resources online.
We can’t wait to see you at next year’s meeting!
