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Leonard and Champion honored
Nevada’s Mayor Brian Leonard and Nevada Police Department officer Marcus Champion were honored by the Southwest Regional Council of the National Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials at their annual conference in San Antonio, Texas, last week. Their awards were presented to them Tuesday afternoon at Nevada City Hall by Carol Branham, executive director Nevada Housing Authority and Missouri NAHRO president.
Champion has been with Nevada Police Department for just over one year and is the Community Policing Officer. He received the SWNAHRO Special Achievement by Local Law Enforcement Officer.
“Officer Champion quickly adapted to our community and the community embraced him with open arms,” Branham said in Champion’s nomination. “His personality and demeanor in networking and doing his job demands respect for him as a person as well as the blue uniform. He immediately volunteered at our housing agency to work with the children and tenants. He became a familiar face at all our resident activities. He developed a relationship with the staff and the tenants that help problem solve in many situations for us to be able to mitigate situations … Officer Champion is respected by his peers and administrators. His presence is that of calming but in control. Our residents reach out to Officer Champion on a regular basis because of the relationships he continues to build throughout the community.”
Leonard has served on the Nevada City Council numerous times including multiple terms as mayor. He received the award for Special Achievement by Public Officials.
“Mayor Leonard has been very supportive of our housing programs and participates in our events,” Branham wrote in Leonard’s nomination. “He has educated himself of the importance of our programs in the Nevada community and advocates on our behalf. It is through the great relationships with our public officials and community stakeholders that help us sustain and continue with a strong program presence in our community. Our programs impact lives daily from the elderly person to the single parent that has lost everything to the individual that is faced with life changes that has new accommodation needs. Mayor Leonard embraces our mission and works closely with us for the best of the community. It is an honor to see local partners receive awards from our housing associations, continuing to show what a great community we live in and our ability to work together in addressing concerns and solving problems.”
SWNHARO exists to develop and maintain housing for all people in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and New Mexico.