The winner of the 2020 Diana Conn Good Neighbor of the Year Award is so committed to neighborhoods, she belongs to two neighborhood groups.

Anne Crais, a retired elementary school librarian, is an active member of the West Hills and the Wesley Friends community associations; she has served as secretary of the latter since 2012.

“Anne’s contributions through the years are numerous and never-ending,” neighbor and fellow board member Sandy Robinson wrote in her nomination of Crais. “Her energy in our neighborhood is bountiful. She does everything with grace, dignity and inclusiveness. Wesley Neighbors and West Hills are very fortunate and proud to have Anne Crais as a neighbor.”

In 2019, Crais engaged neighbors in the statewide Healther TN initiative, planning group events like bike rides and exercising. All told, participants walked more than 16,000 miles, and those efforts led to the group winning the Bronze Award and Anne receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award.

At a Neighborhood Recognition Dinner held July 23 at the future site of the Public Safety Building, Mayor Indya Kincannon presented proclamations to Crais and the other finalists who were honored for contributing their time, creativity and enthusiasm to improving their neighborhoods. Those finalists are:

• Jeff Johnson, Historic Fourth and Gill Neighborhood Association
• Kevin Jeske-Polyak, Southside Waterfront Association (SWFT)
• Beaetta Prater, Eastport/ Five Points Neighborhood Watch

All nominees demonstrated the qualities exemplified by the late Diana Conn, for whom the award was named and given posthumously. Members of the Old Sevier Community commended Conn as a generous, caring and devoted neighbor.

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