2026 Transparency & Trust Awardee, Alderwoman Dionne Peeples-Jones!
Congratulations to Ms. Dionne Peeples-Jones, Alderwoman of City of Pine Lawn, and recipient of our 2026 Transparency & Trust Award.
The Transparency & Trust Award recognizes a person who:
Works with honesty and openness and isn’t afraid to be vulnerable, especially when things don’t go as planned.
Co-creates work with the people and partners they serve and works to build shared trust so that all at the table feel supported and valued as part of the process.
Embraces mistakes and weaknesses in the open as opportunities to learn and grow.
“When you make mistakes, learn from them and share so other people don’t make the same”
For Alderwoman Dionne Peeples-Jones, transparency and trust are not just values, but foundational to how she serves her community. As an alderperson in Ward 1 of the City of Pine Lawn, Alder Dionne was especially grateful for this recognition as a public servant.
Alder Dionne initially ran for public office because of the possibilities to make meaningful change in the community. Community work was not new to her. “My mom would say that I’ve been doing community development and activism since I was a kid,” says Alder Dionne. Before becoming an alderperson, she worked as a journalist covering community and urban development in cities across the country. Through it all, one thing remained constant: people and community. As Alder Dionne shared, “when you look for it, you can find it.” These experiences strengthened her love for how people come together and informs the work she does today.
“Serving the community is the most important thing”
According to Alder Dionne, a community leader has the ability to listen and serve. Leading is twofold; one must be willing to really hear what someone is saying and make the changes in service to them. Listening to what people are saying and fighting for that is key to being an impactful leader serving the residents of Pine Lawn.
Alder Dionne demonstrates transparency and trust through hands-on community work that brings residents together and shows them their voices matter. One example is a volunteer clean-up initiative she launched in Pine Lawn. When the city council voted against hiring contractors to clear overgrown vegetation, she didn’t let that stop her. “I’m still going to find a way,” she said, and turned to neighbors, friends, and family for help. People showed up with chainsaws and equipment, tackling the work themselves and connecting with one another in the process. The project created pathways for people to preserve and care for their community. “If you love your city, you protect it.” By embracing challenges and co-creating solutions with the people she serves, Alder Dionne embodied the principles of transparency, trust, and community-led impact.
“Take constructive criticism, and use it as fuel to propel you forward. Don't let it break you”
Alderwoman Dionne is a major advocate of sharing and receiving feedback, learning from mistakes, and striving to be a better person for herself and her community. Being honest and vulnerable, and embracing mistakes as opportunities to learn isn’t easy but it’s necessary for growth. Alder Dionne expressed how deeply she values sharing the mistakes she’s made and normalizing making mistakes as pathways to learning. It can be hard to be open when you work as a public servant, but Alder Dionne welcomes the challenge and continues to advocate for Pine Lawn.
We hope you can join us to celebrate community builders like Alderwoman Dionne Peeples-Jones at our 14th Annual Community Development Family Reunion event on April 23, 2026!