The best moment of our first Citizen of the Year Awards celebration in January came courtesy of Michelle Belser, our 2024 Block Captain of the Year. As she collected her award from former Mayor Michael Nutter — who introduced her by noting that block captains are “the most important elected role in the city” — Belser summed up what so many of us in the room felt at that moment:

“I love Philadelphia and will be here for eternity,” she said.

That night, which also featured a conversation with Star Trek actor and democracy activist George Takei, The Citizen honored 11 Citizens of the Year in nine categories. They ranged from Mike Innocenzo, then the CEO of PECO, to Robert Saleem Holbrook, Executive Director of the Abolitionist Law Project, to Sarahi Franco-Morales, a 20-year-old Penn student who discovered the joy of civic engagement during the pandemic — and has kept on giving to her community.

It was beautiful and inspiring — just like our winners.

Now we are launching our search for the newest Citizens of the Year, also in nine categories: Disruptor; A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Social Justice Champion; Block Captain; Lewis Katz Corporate Citizen; Educator; Youth Leader; Lifetime Achievement; and Citizen of the Year.

Who do you think we should honor this time?

Let us know in the form below, and stay tuned for information about our Citizen of the Year Awards celebration, to be held on January 30, 2025.