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2025 Elizabeth Duncan Koontz (EDK) Humanitarian Award Recipients

Two Salisburians were honored last month at the annual Elizabeth Duncan Koontz (EDK) Humanitarian Awards Program held at the Salisbury Civic Center.  Honorees Kenneth L. (Kenny) Hardin and Jose Dos Santos were selected from a field of five residents and organizations nominated this year for their dedication to the community. 

Kenny Hardin is a Salisbury native who is the Founder and Executive Board Chairman of the nonprofit organization, the High Road, Inc., which offers free nonlegal advocacy and mediation services to marginalized populations.  He also founded the Veterans Social Center, which is a therapeutic, recreational and museum facility that offers free services to Veterans with mental health challenges.  

Dos Santos is a native of Brazil who moved to Salisbury in 1995.  Chef Santos, as he’s commonly known, goes above and beyond to help those in need by providing meals for grieving families and bringing food to the elderly and those who may be housebound or living with a disability.  In addition, Chef Santos uplifts people by hiring those who are underserved or have been previously incarcerated.  As described in his nomination, Santos “loves all members of this community and is a friend to all people no matter what.”

The award is named in memory of Dr. Elizabeth “Libby” Duncan Koontz who was one of the organizers who re-established the Human Relations Council in 1985.  The Salisbury-Rowan Human Relations Council, now referred to as the Salisbury Human Relations Commission (HRC), sponsors this event annually to recognize community members and/or organizations who have made important contributions to improving local human relations.

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Monthly Newsletter

 TitleDescription
06/2025Lighting the Way and Giving Back | Legacy Mural | City Budget Review
05/2025Rock Out at Cheerwine Festival | Cheers for Shirt Design Winner | Festival Shuttle Service | Festival Information
04/2025Statewide Litter Sweep, Fair Housing Month, BlockWork Call For Neighborhoods, Sidewalk Poetry Call For Poets, Paint the Pavement Call for Artists
03/2025Cheerwine Festival T-Shirt Contest, Spring Spruce Up Week, Protect Your Water Bill, Pilot Traffic Circle
02/2025Tips For Cold Weather, Cheerwine Festival on May 17, Join A City Board, Tree Give-A-Away
01/2025Downtown Winners, BlockWork T-Shirt Contest, MLK Weekend, Wine About Winter, Leaf Collection, Recycling Calendar
12/2024Holiday Contests | Spruce Up Week | Sculpture Show Call For Artists | Empire Hotel Phase 1
11/2024Holiday Events | Safe Shopping Tips | Toss The Grease | Greenway Committee | 130 S. Main St. Survey
10/2024Halloween Safety Tips | Sculpture Show Call For Neighborhoods | Recycling Do's and Don'ts | Leaf Collection Guidelines and Map | Fall Spruce Up Week
10/2024Halloween Safety Tips | Sculpture Show Call For Neighborhoods | Recycling Do's and Don'ts | Leaf Collection Guidelines and Map | Fall Spruce Up Week
09/2024Downtown Sewer Rehab | BrewFest at BTG | BlockWork Volunteers | Neighborhood Beautification Grant | Legacy Mural
07/2024National Night Out | Footbridge Repairs | Approved City Budget | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Prep
05/2024Cheerwine Festival: Band Lineup, T-Shirt Contest Winner, Free Shuttles, Safety Guidelines and Ways to Stay Connected.
03/2024Vote on Cheerwine Festival T-shirt Design | What to do for Water Line Breaks | Sign Up For RoCo Alerts | Spring Spruce Up Week
10/2023Dixonville Cemetery Memorial Dedication | Halloween Safety Tips | Empowering Women in Law Enforcement | Leaf Collection and Map
10/2023Dixonville Cemetery Memorial Dedication | Halloween Safety Tips | Empowering Women in Law Enforcement | Leaf Collection and Map
10/2023Dixonville Cemetery Memorial Dedication | Halloween Safety Tips | Empowering Women in Law Enforcement | Leaf Collection and Map
08/2023An Outdoor Art Adventure | Summer Program Inspires Youth | Salisbury Invests In Community | City Changes Up Departments
08/2023An Outdoor Art Adventure | Summer Program Inspires Youth | Salisbury Invests In Community | City Changes Up Departments
06/2023Dive into Local Pool | Humanitarian Awards | Summer Spruce Up Week | City Budget Updates
05/2023Neon Trees Headline Cheerwine Festival | Summers Camps | Smoke Alarms | Lawn Tips | Street Resurfacing | May is Bike Month
05/2023Neon Trees Headline Cheerwine Festival | Summers Camps | Smoke Alarms | Lawn Tips | Street Resurfacing | May is Bike Month
01/2023Downtown Decor Displays Holiday Spirit | MLK Celebration | Humanitarian Nominations | Wine About Winter Tickets On Sale | Reader Survey
11/2022Holiday Events | Salisbury Youth Council Inducts New Members | Tips to Shop Safe | Toss the Grease
11/2022Holiday Events | Salisbury Youth Council Inducts New Members | Tips to Shop Safe | Toss the Grease
09/2022Bell Tower BREWFEST | BlockWork | Salisbury Police Foundation | Transit Month | Rowan Creek Week
09/2022Bell Tower BREWFEST | BlockWork | Salisbury Police Foundation | Transit Month | Rowan Creek Week
08/2022Kudos To Lifeguards | Grant to Fund Flood, Road Sensors | Funds for Family Water Bills | City Awarded For Good Health
08/2022Kudos To Lifeguards | Grant to Fund Flood, Road Sensors | Funds for Family Water Bills | City Awarded For Good Health
08/2022Kudos To Lifeguards | Grant to Fund Flood, Road Sensors | Funds for Family Water Bills | City Awarded For Good Health
08/2022Kudos To Lifeguards | Grant to Fund Flood, Road Sensors | Funds for Family Water Bills | City Awarded For Good Health
07/2022Sculpture Show | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Season Tips | West End Survey | Council Approves Budget
07/2022Sculpture Show | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Season Tips | West End Survey | Council Approves Budget
07/2022Sculpture Show | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Season Tips | West End Survey | Council Approves Budget
07/2022Sculpture Show | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Season Tips | West End Survey | Council Approves Budget
07/2022Sculpture Show | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Season Tips | West End Survey | Council Approves Budget
07/2022Sculpture Show | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Season Tips | West End Survey | Council Approves Budget
07/2022Sculpture Show | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Season Tips | West End Survey | Council Approves Budget
06/2022Pool Opens For Summer | Reels and Riffs: Movie and Music Series | Wine About Winter ... In Summertime | Summer Spruce Up Week
05/2022New City Manager | Cheerwine Festival | Local Humanitarian Awards | BlockWork Applications Open
05/2022New City Manager | Cheerwine Festival | Local Humanitarian Awards | BlockWork Applications Open
05/2022New City Manager | Cheerwine Festival | Local Humanitarian Awards | BlockWork Applications Open
05/2022New City Manager | Cheerwine Festival | Local Humanitarian Awards | BlockWork Applications Open
03/2022Cheerwine Festival Returns | 5 Ways to Pay Your BIll | SPD Receives Grant | Spring Spruce Up Week
11/2021Bell Tower Green Now Open | Keep Salisbury Beautiful | Shopping Tips For Black Friday
11/2021Bell Tower Green Now Open | Keep Salisbury Beautiful | Shopping Tips For Black Friday
11/2021Bell Tower Green Now Open | Keep Salisbury Beautiful | Shopping Tips For Black Friday
11/2021Bell Tower Green Now Open | Keep Salisbury Beautiful | Shopping Tips For Black Friday
10/2021Fire Prevention Week | BlockWork Looking For Volunteers | Leaf Collection Map
10/2021Fire Prevention Week | BlockWork Looking For Volunteers | Leaf Collection Map
07/2021Salisbury Cease Fire | Citizen's Academy | Summer Spruce Up Week | Sculpture Show
05/2021City & Partners to Boost Minority Business | Festival Looks For Volunteers | BlockWork Nominations Open | Bike Safety Tips
05/2021City & Partners to Boost Minority Business | Festival Looks For Volunteers | BlockWork Nominations Open | Bike Safety Tips
05/2021City & Partners to Boost Minority Business | Festival Looks For Volunteers | BlockWork Nominations Open | Bike Safety Tips
12/2020SRU Exceeds Water Standard | Bring On 2021 Virtual New Year's Eve | Public Input Wanted
08/2020Shop Local | Lock Your Car | Utility Bills | Enjoy Art Outdoors | Census Extended
03/2020Be Part of the Cheer | EDK Awards | 2020 Census | Hurley Park Spring Celebration | Forward 2040 | Fire Station #6
10/2019Fire Prevention Week | City Park Lake | Forward 2040 | Fall Spruce Up | Be Ready To Vote | Employee Spotlight | Leaf Collection Map
10/2019Fire Prevention Week | City Park Lake | Forward 2040 | Fall Spruce Up | Be Ready To Vote | Employee Spotlight | Leaf Collection Map
10/2019Fire Prevention Week | City Park Lake | Forward 2040 | Fall Spruce Up | Be Ready To Vote | Employee Spotlight | Leaf Collection Map
10/2019Fire Prevention Week | City Park Lake | Forward 2040 | Fall Spruce Up | Be Ready To Vote | Employee Spotlight | Leaf Collection Map
08/2019Salisbury Youth Employees | New SPD Initiatives | Youth Baseball Camp | Brewbury Fest Returns | Recycling
06/2019Sculpture Show Returns | Summer Camps | Hurricane Season Tips | Weather Alerts | Pool Hours | #PositiveGossip | Employee Spotlight | Summer Spruce Up | Celebrate Garbage Man Day
06/2019Sculpture Show Returns | Summer Camps | Hurricane Season Tips | Weather Alerts | Pool Hours | #PositiveGossip | Employee Spotlight | Summer Spruce Up | Celebrate Garbage Man Day
06/2019Sculpture Show Returns | Summer Camps | Hurricane Season Tips | Weather Alerts | Pool Hours | #PositiveGossip | Employee Spotlight | Summer Spruce Up | Celebrate Garbage Man Day
06/2019Sculpture Show Returns | Summer Camps | Hurricane Season Tips | Weather Alerts | Pool Hours | #PositiveGossip | Employee Spotlight | Summer Spruce Up | Celebrate Garbage Man Day
06/2019Sculpture Show Returns | Summer Camps | Hurricane Season Tips | Weather Alerts | Pool Hours | #PositiveGossip | Employee Spotlight | Summer Spruce Up | Celebrate Garbage Man Day
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
01/2019EDK Nominations | Holiday Storefront Awards | Celebrating MLK Weekend | Employee Spotlight | Winter Spruce Up Week | Transit Survey | New Tools Keeps An Eye On Water

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