Howard County Arts Council Executive Director
Coleen West (left) accepted the Service Award
at CAC's 2011 Holland Awards Dinner on Oct. 19.
CAC President Bita Dayhoff is pictured with Ms.
West.

CAC Honors David Weeks, Howard County Arts Council

More than 320 people attended Community Action Council of Howard County’s Holland Awards Dinner on October 19th at the Turf Valley Country Club in Ellicott City. The event raised funds for CAC which provides programs and emergency services for the low-income population of Howard County. The Sanford Companies, Inc., Verizon, and Orchard Development were the top sponsors.

David Weeks, Global Education and Community Service Program Director at Glenelg County School, received the Humanitarian Award, which is given to individuals who demonstrate extraordinary commitment and dedication in serving low-income people in Howard County. The award is named in honor of the late Rev. John W. Holland, who sought solutions to obstacles confronting the disadvantaged and served on CAC’s Board of Directors for 17 years.

For the past two years, Mr. Weeks, along with a group of students from Glenelg Country School and Long Reach High School, have helped cultivate CAC’s Community Garden which provides food for the Howard County Food Bank.

CAC’s Service Award was presented to Coleen West, Executive Director of the Howard County Arts Council. Through its Head StART in ART artists-in-education residence program, the Howard County Arts Council has provided students at the Ellicott City and Tubman Head Start centers the opportunity to experience the wonders of drama play, music, dance, and visual arts mediums since 2002. Professional visual and performing artists worked in each classroom to create at least one finished group or individual project. The hands-on artistic experiences reinforced common thematic lessons in early childhood education.

Bita Dayhoff, President of CAC, congratulated the honorees and stated that they richly deserve the coveted honors because of their passion for making a difference and compassion for the human condition.

Dr. Freeman A. Hrabowski III, President of UMBC, was the keynote speaker and said that Howard County is “the wealthiest county in the wealthiest state in the wealthiest country in the world,” but the county still has low-income residents who need to lean on community organizations like CAC which need to be supported.

The Reverend John W. Holland

The Reverend John W. Holland Humanitarian Award is presented annually to an individual who demonstrates extraordinary commitment and dedication to service to the disadvantaged community in Howard County. The award is named in honor of the late Reverend John W. Holland, whose life of tireless services was an example and inspiration for all. Born February 3, 1910, in Cooksville, Reverend Holland was a lifelong resident of Howard County. Through his ministry and civic leadership, he was a force in shaping the quality of life in the County.

Reverend Holland became president of the local branch of the NAACP in the late 1950s, a post he retained for ten years. During his tenure, he provided exemplary leadership to a community that openly and aggressively protested discriminatory practices of businesses and government in Howard County. He was inspired by the late Lille Jackson and traveled throughout the state and country with her, trying to ensure human rights for all people. In the late 1970s, Reverend Holland joined the Community Action Council (CAC) Board of Directors. During his 17 years of services on the Board, Reverend Holland was faithful, dedicated and always sought solutions to problems and obstacles confronting the disadvantaged. Reverend Holland worked closely with the CAC staff and led his congregation to offer its facilities to be used as a Senior Citizen Satellite Center, the first senior center in Western Howard County.

Reverend Holland was a founding member of the Lillie Carroll Jackson Museum, vice president of the Maryland State Conference of NAACP Branches, member of the Human Relations Council of Howard County, Black Family Life, the Ministerial Alliance, Howard County Commission on Aging and the Howard County Association for Retarded Citizens. On November 25, 1987, Reverend Holland's journey through this life ended. Having won the respect of friends and foes, he left a legacy and a lifetime of memories of a gallant man, committed to his family, his community, and his God.

Reverend John W. Holland Humanitarian Award Criteria For Selection of Awardee

Humanitarian award nominees will be evaluated on three criteria: basic requirements, community contribution, and leadership/example.

The basic requirements that must be met to receive the Humanitarian Award are the following:

1. Howard County resident,

2. High standing and respect within the community, and

3. Prior association and/or involvement with CAC or work central to CAC's mission.

The community contribution component consists of having a history of community and county-wide service in the areas of human services, health, education, and/or faith communities.

The Leadership/Example criteria consists of three factors:

1. Community and organizational inspirational leader and role model,

2. Demonstrates ability to successfully lead community toward positive goals, and

3. Mobilizes others to higher goals.

Recipients of The CAC Holland Awards Dinner Humanitarian Award

1992 Rev. John W. Holland

1994 Dr. Silas Craft, Sr.

1995 Dr. Morris Woodson

1996 Mr. James W. Rouse

1997 Mrs. May Ruth Seidel

1998 Dr. Benjamin Carson, Sr.

1999 Mrs. Jean W. Toomer

2000 Mrs. Leola Dorsey

2001 Mrs. Celonia Walden

2003 Dr. C. Vernon Gray

2004 Senator Robert H. Kittleman

2006 Mr. Victor Broccolino

2007 Ms. Barbara Lawson

2008 Delegate Elizabeth Bobo

2009 Willis McGahee

2011 David Weeks