During its third annual Moxie Awards on August 28, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce honored Rainbow Village CEO, Melanie Conner, along with six other women who were deemed as being bold in business and making things happen in Gwinnett County. Hosted at Infinite Energy Forum and presented by Northside Hospital, the 2020 Moxie Awards included the recognition of Conner with a Pay It Forward Award. 

The Pay It Forward Award is designed to pay tribute to an individual who is generous with her time, talent, or resources. The Gwinnett County community is a better place because of her contributions and efforts towards helping others. At the helm of Rainbow Village since 2018, Melanie Conner fits that description beautifully. A Duluth, Ga.-based nonprofit established in 1991 to address the needs of families with children contending with homelessness, poverty and domestic violence, Rainbow Village serves as a community of transformation through transitional housing, life skills classes, counseling, mentoring, youth and adult programs, fellowship and awareness. Through it all, Conner and her team are dedicated to empowering at-risk families on their journey back to self-sustainability.

“While I certainly don’t do what I do for the recognition, I feel truly honored to receive a Moxie Award – particularly among so many amazing women,” Conner said. “For me, it means Gwinnett County sees what we are doing at Rainbow Village. They see the families we are helping, the lives we are changing. More importantly, it means they see that there’s a real need out there for the work we are doing. Homelessness is not only an urban issue. It’s an everywhere issue. There are families within the Gwinnett County community right now that are sleeping on a friend’s floor or staying in a motel room until the money runs out or living out of their cars. We seek to provide them with a sense of community and the knowledge that they are not alone, then provide them with the tools they need to get back on their feet and stay there. Every time a family graduates from our program and moves into a home of their own, I am reminded of the true value of the work we are doing and I am so grateful to be a part of that.”

In addition to Conner, a Rainbow Village Board Member was recognized with a Moxie Award by the same name. Dr. Jann Joseph, President of Georgia Gwinnett College, was honored as a lady leader who is an inspiration to many - making an extraordinary impact on her professional career and the values of her workplace.

“These inspiring women deserve to be lifted up and recognized for all that they do for our community,” said Alicia Krogh, Senior Vice President, Executive Engagement & Programs, Gwinnett Chamber in a press release following the event. 

For more information about the Moxie Awards, visit GwinnettChamber.org/moxie. To learn more about Rainbow Village and its programs or to make a donation to support the nonprofit’s efforts, please visit www.rainbowvillage.org.