Lively Omaha announced the recipient of its fourth Laurels Award as Kathleen Jeffries, former chairwoman and member of the Omaha Planning Board. The Laurels Award is given in recognition of significant contributions to the creation of great public spaces in the city.

Jeffries served as a volunteer on the Omaha Planning Board for 15 years, before retiring earlier this month. Mayor Mike Fahey paid tribute by stating, “ Kathie has improved the quality of life for all Omahans and set a standard for civic dedication that few can match. Lively Omaha Director Connie Spellman calls Jeffries “a model of the impact one person can make on their community by identifying a problem and them becoming part of the solution. Omaha is a more attractive place because of her dedication and leadership.”

Kathleen Jeffries will continue her commitment to Omaha’s public spaces by serving on the Working Review Committee for Omaha By Design, a partnership between Lively Omaha, the Office of the Mayor and the Omaha Planning Department.

Other recipients of Lively Omaha’s Laurels Award are First National Bank, the Omaha Planning Department and its director, Robert Peters, and Lively Omaha’s volunteer Place Game facilitators.