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Press RoomNAHRO's
Elizabeth B. Wells Memorial Award Given to Reverend France A. Davis Contact: Liz Hennessy, 202-289-3500 ext. 280 or lhennessy@nahro.org WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 - The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials has selected Reverend France A. Davis as the recipient of its 2004 Elizabeth B. Wells Memorial Award in recognition of his outstanding achievements and innovation in the housing and community development field. The award will be presented Oct. 13 at NAHRO's National Conference and Exhibition in Baltimore, Md. Davis, chair of the board of the Salt Lake City Housing Authority, has played an instrumental role in that organization and the greater Salt Lake community. A pastor at Calvary Baptist Church since 1973, Davis has become a leading authority on community development and African-American issues in Salt Lake City and the State of Utah. He is widely cited as a major force in uniting the diverse elements of Salt Lake City's population. Davis holds six academic degrees in religion, ministry, humanities, Afro-American studies, communications, and rhetoric, and has said all his academic training was designed to enhance his ministry. Davis helped the Salt Lake Housing Authority rebound from scandal in the late 1980s, and has since played such an integral role on its board that he was asked to serve an unprecedented third five-year term. He has spearheaded welfare programs and helped build a housing complex for low-income elderly. He helped set long-term goals for the housing authority and also led its creation of a nonprofit arm that develops mixed-income housing using tax credits and other innovative programs. "Reverend Davis is a shining example of dedication to his community and a powerful advocate for social change," NAHRO President Jim Inglis said. "I'm proud to honor the remarkable achievements he has made not only in housing, but in the greater community." The Elizabeth B. Wells Memorial Award was established in 1987 to provide
a living acknowledgment of the outstanding contributions Wells made
to the housing field as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the
King County (Wash.) Housing Authority and as NAHRO's first Vice President
- Commissioners. The award honors a commissioner who has demonstrated
excellence as an advocate in developing the financial, political, and
community support necessary to ensure the continuation and expansion
of housing or community development programs.
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