Six different individuals and groups were recognized recently by the Board of Supervisors as recipients of 2024 Chesterfield Community Champions awards.

The program, which is managed by the Department of Community Engagement and Resources, was created in 2020 to honor residents who volunteer their time and resources to effect positive change in their communities.

These awards recognize the impact of volunteer service in the community and celebrates the outstanding residents who are making a difference.

Here are the six categories and the corresponding winners:

Youth: Mila Marrero developed an organization to provide girls in her community with mental health toolboxes. She handpicks the materials and makes the bracelets that go in the boxes. Through the creation and delivery of the boxes, she encourages the community to talk about mental health and help decrease the stigma around it.

Teen: Jonathan Dandridge participated in the leadership training program at Beulah Recreation Center. The program is designed to help youth ages 15-17 develop leadership and decision-making skills, problem-solving and conduct various mentoring activities through the Department of Parks and Recreation. Through the program, Jonathan volunteered 152 hours for children ages 5-12.

Adult: Nury Mojica is a champion for equality and growth. She works diligently within the community to foster partnerships and connections to resources many people are unaware of. Nury has coordinated food and clothing drives, outreach events and job training for employment.

Senior: Julie Grimes worked as a full-time librarian for Chesterfield County, where she organized and led programs for residents of the Juvenile Detention Center. After retiring, she immediately asked to be the center’s volunteer librarian. Julie volunteers at least once a week, seven to 10 hours a day, meeting with youth to make sure they have books to read. She attends their graduations and special events and even visits on Christmas Day to be with residents who don’t have family.

Group: Volunteers from Caring Canines bring dogs to the Chesterfield County Jail to spend time with inmates in the HARP program. This time is valuable to program participants because they’re able to connect with both the volunteers and service animals.

Organization: The primary mission of Launch for Life, a membership program for boys ages 9 to 16, is to empower, provide structure for and support young men in need of positive role models. Launch for Life focuses on delinquency prevention, skill development and academic achievement. It is designed to build connections, increase emotional competence, empathy, motivation and accountability while laying the foundation for resilience and growth.