Community Renewal founder Mack McCarter named Citizen of the Year
Community Renewal Founder Mack McCarter was honored with the 2018 Citizen of the Year Award from the National Conference on Citizenship. The award was presented at the NCoC’s annual conference, “It’s Your Democracy!” in Washington, D.C.
“Mack and the team at CRI provide a model of unity, caring and healing that compels us to constructively work toward making our country a better place.” – Sterling Speirn, CEO, National Conference on Citizenship
“Mack and the team at CRI provide a model of unity, caring and healing that compels us to constructively work toward making our country a better place.” – Sterling Speirn, CEO, National Conference on Citizenship
“With more than 25 years’ experience and amazing results in community building and unifying people, the Community Renewal program led by Mack McCarter was an obvious choice,” said Sterling Speirn, CEO.
“The organization, through Mack’s leadership and partnership, connects neighbors and residents to restore the foundation of safe and caring communities, leading to dramatic outcomes. The unity, the love and healing, and the caring that exist in Shreveport-Bossier is phenomenal. I have never seen anything like this in terms of persistence and prevalence and impact.”
The Citizen of the Year Award recognizes individuals who use their public presence to inspire others and give back to their community. Mack was chosen for his leadership and partnership to build hope and renew the spirit of cooperation in every segment of the Shreveport-Bossier community. The NCoC noted that evidence of CRI’s work can be measured in many ways, perhaps most notably that major crime has dropped an average of 52 percent in areas where we operate Friendship Houses.
“We are honored to continue the tradition of the National Conference on Citizenship by honoring Mack with this award,” continued Speirn. “In this time where national division has taken center stage, Mack and the team at CRI provide a model of unity, caring and healing that compels us to constructively work toward making our country a better place.”
Mack gave credit to the CRI team for this national recognition.
“I am so grateful to witness the results of the work of the dedicated men and women of Community Renewal,” Mack said. “It is because of this relentless effort that Community Renewal has begun to cure the cancer of division and brokenness we all are experiencing in our cities – by changing our world one block at a time.
“While caring alone will not produce a loving and caring community, caring together will. Community Renewal truly is a miracle which is unlocking and releasing the best in all of us in the hometown I love. My vision is that all communities will follow its methods to heal our shattered society.”
Sally Prouty, former interim CEO of NCoC, said Mack has shown an extraordinary commitment and passion for true community renewal.
“Mack has invested his time, energy and financial resources in developing a methodology designed to tap into the caring spirit we all possess. Mack, we honor you for your kindness, your friendship, your dedication and all the things that are mentioned here,” she said at the presentation.
Mack founded CRI in October 1994, and under his leadership, it has grown into an organization that has received national and international recognition for its life-changing impact. A native of Shreveport, he holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion from Texas Christian University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Brite Divinity School. He served as a pastor for 18 years in Texas before returning to Shreveport in 1991 to begin implementing his vision for a movement that is today known as Community Renewal International.
The National Conference on Citizenship is a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening civic life in America. NCoC was chartered by Congress in 1953 to harness the patriotic energy and national civic involvement surrounding World War II. In 2009, Congress named NCoC in the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, expanding their Civic Health Initiative to become the nation’s largest measure of civic engagement.
Many words of congratulations came into our office after the Citizen of the Year Award was announced. Charlcie Bain of Shreveport sent this wonderful Letter to the Editor of The (Shreveport) Times:
“Mack’s vision to build individual relationships in neighborhoods as a way of building a better world is one on which we all agree, no matter our age, race, gender, address, political, or religious affiliation. It is THE answer to what is so visibly broken today, THE answer to holding our city, state, country, if not world, together.
“And so it is with great respect for a life of great purpose that we all salute Mack McCarter. We salute his determination and diligence, perseverance, abounding love and ever present smile.
“We also applaud every local citizen who has given time, talents, energy and money to advance CRI’s mission. There are thousands among us and each has contributed to achieving this astounding recognition. We salute the Ark-La-Tex for sharing your caring.”
