Jacqueline Gillon recognized with Trailblazer Award

Jacqueline Gillon, Community Engagement Specialist with Western Reserve Land Conservancy’s Thriving Communities program, was recognized in September 2017 with the Trailblazer Award by the Cuyahoga County Section of the National Council of Negro Women for her years of advocacy, work, and sacrifice.

In addition to Jacquie’s work with the Land Conservancy, Jacquie spent a total of 19 years with Neighborhood Centers Association and Neighborhood Leadership Institute, co-facilitating and mentoring 29 classes of Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland. Partnering with Environmental Health Watch and the Earth Day Coalition, she was involved in environmental education through the Sustainable Cleveland Partnership and helped the Coalition to conceive Nature hood, an initiative promoting greening of vacant lots. Appointed at 23 to the former East Cleveland City Commission, she was elected at 31 and completed three consecutive terms on the East Cleveland City Council, focusing on community development, youth, environmental policy, as well as safety and law enforcement.

We are lucky to work with such a talented and accomplished Trailblazer! Congratulations, Jacquie!