Chandler department director receives statewide award

Leah Powell, Chandler’s neighborhood resources director, was recently selected as a recipient of the Community Builder Award as part of the 2024 Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Awards.

The Community Builder Award recognizes public servants in large and small cities and towns who advance community pride and connection.

Powell has been the neighborhood resources director for Chandler since 2017, overseeing neighborhood preservation, community redevelopment and resources, and Chandler’s Public Housing Authority.

Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke, who technically serves as the chair of the Housing Authority,  mentioned Powell's award at a June public meeting, leading to a round of applause in council chambers.

During her 40-year municipal career, she has devoted 28 years to Chandler and held seven roles, including assistant to the city manager and diversity administrator.

A news release states Powell has been pivotal in fostering partnerships between nonprofits, faith-based groups, and businesses, exemplified by her creation of For Our City-Chandler under Care Inc.

This collaborative model is aimed at advancing community connectedness,

As Chandler's first diversity administrator, she promoted community understanding and unity, notably advancing Holocaust education in local schools and pioneering groundbreaking exhibits.

Powell has also led several Chandler nonprofits and currently chairs the Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

“I'm deeply honored to receive a 2024 Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Community Builder Award from the Center for the Future of Arizona,” Powell said in the release. “This recognition reminds me of the importance of public service and community engagement. I'm grateful to be part of a legacy that honors Gabe Zimmerman's dedication to bringing people together. A heartfelt thank you to my incredible team — your hard work and commitment make our efforts possible. Thank you to all who support and inspire community-building efforts across our state.”

The 2024 Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Awards were presented during the Arizona City and County Management Association summer conference held in Tucson.

The awards are named after the community outreach director whose life was taken in a mass shooting in 2011 at a “Congress on Your Corner” event for Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. The awards are a collaborative effort between the Center for the Future of Arizona, the Zimmerman family, and the Arizona City and County Management Association, highlighting contributions non-elected public servants make to the communities they serve.

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