Blackstone Valley Heroes Wanted For 2024 John Chafee Award

WORCESTER, MA — Do you know someone who's organized a litter cleanup, led a tour or taught a class connected to the Blackstone River Valley? The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor wants to hear from you.

Nominations for the 2024 John H. Chafee Heritage Awards are open now. The awards, named for the former Rhode Island governor and U.S. Senator, honor people and groups who "have worked on projects, programs, and institutions that promote cultural heritage, the preservation of natural areas, and/or those who strive to enrich the quality of life in the Blackstone River Valley," the corridor said in a news release.

Chafee helped lead the cleanup of the Blackstone River in the 1970s, and more broadly supported the passage of the Clean Water Act, and helped design the Superfund toxic waste cleanup program.

Some past recipients of the award include U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, Blackstone Watershed Collaborative leader Stefanie Covino, and filmmaker Christian de Rezendes, who worked on the PBS series "Slatersville: America's First Mill Village."

"[The corridor] established the award to honor the late Senator John H. Chafee and recognize citizens and organizations whose work in the Blackstone Valley embodies Chafee’s vision and ideas. Recipients include community leaders, preservation heroes, business partners, environmental advocates, and students whose achievements resulted in public benefit," the nonprofit said in a news release.

Find the nomination paperwork on the heritage corridor website. Nominations are due by Sept. 15.