Tina Bingham honored with national “Entrepreneurial American Leadership Award”
Nov 28, 2018 01:07PM ● By Press Release
WASHINGTON D.C. and LAFAYETTE, LA.—Tina Shelvin Bingham, executive vice president of Lafayette’s McComb-Veazey Neighborhood Coterie, received the national “Entrepreneurial American Leadership Award,” presented by Partners for Livable Communities (Partners), a Washington-based nonprofit.
Partners announced the honor as part of the “Celebrating Champions of Livability” national awards program, which recognized 23 individuals, four organizations and two communities for their role in shaping a more livable, sustainable and equitable America. The honorees were announced at a luncheon and awards presentation at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., in early November 2018.
The Entrepreneurial American Leadership Award acknowledges the civic capacity building, commitment, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit of an individual. Those honored with this award are real “doers” who accomplish change for the betterment of our communities.
“Celebrating Champions of Livability” recognizes national leaders who have embodied the time-tested elements that Partners has woven together to define livability since its founding in 1977. Those elements of livability include: concern for older individuals; equal opportunity for all; amenities, arts and culture as assets; innovative economic development strategies; and bold municipal leadership.
“We will pay tribute to the women and men who are creating livable communities for all,” said Robert McNulty, president and founder of Partners. “Their extraordinary work has set the standard by which civic leaders and policymakers in both the public and private sectors can initiate and carry out community improvement strategies.”
During the summer of 2008, city planners, residents, churches and business owners began work on a revitalization plan for Lafayette’s McComb-Veazey Neighborhood Coterie—one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city, and ripe with French Creole culture and African-American heritage. Through Tina Shelvin Bingham’s leadership, McComb-Veazey has created a strategic agenda and raised $787,500 over three years to meet community needs for safety, education, homeownership, place making, and place-based economic development.
Today, Bingham is the executive vice president for the McComb-Veazey Neighborhood Coterie. Over the last six years, she has led the implementation of revitalization plan components, which include the Homegrowers Community Farm, the certification of McComb-Veazey as a Louisiana cultural district, establishing the Creole F.A.C.E. cultural products district, implementing a musical/edible pocket park, and beautification efforts that include tree plantings, ArtBox installations and neighborhood heritage signs.
In her current role as the community development director for Lafayette Habitat for Humanity, and with support from national foundations, Bingham is advancing a broader set of community building efforts. Additionally, she is the project manager for McComb-Veazey-based initiatives supported by The Kresge Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation and Smart Growth America.
For her efforts, Bingham was recognized locally with a 20 Under 40 Acadiana Leadership Award and Project Front Yard’s Best in Beautification Award. Bingham is a member of the NACO Creative Counties- Lafayette team, the Leadership Lafayette Class XXX, and the Leadership Louisiana Class of 2019.
