ENGLEWOOD — Englewood native Lannon Broughton has been diligently working in the shadows for his community for years.
The father of four and grandfather of 11 said he doesn't’t like to brag, so he was quite surprised when the Resident Association of Greater Englewood honored him as “The Hardest Working RAGE Member.” Although the award was given at a private event in December — the first time it has ever been awarded — the association publicly shared the news Monday.
“No one puts in more elbow grease for the Resident Association of Greater Englewood than Lannon Broughton,” the group posted. “That is why it is no surprise he was the recipient of the 2016 Hardest Working R.A.G.E. Member Award.”
Broughton has been a member of the association for three years, he said.
He has spearheaded many initiatives to improve Englewood. He helped the community get designated as an innovation zone for the “Race to The Top” program, implemented under the Obama administration. Broughton was able to secure $10,000 in funding for a parent peer advocate pilot program to help parents of students with Individualized Education Programs.
Five years ago, Broughton founded VisaVie Engagement, a community outreach, consulting and training organization that Broughton said is about “face-to-face” communication and providing services and resources.
He’s worked with Englewood resident Andrea NaTay on community outreach for the Englewood Police Youth Baseball League.
He has led many other initiatives.
Besides volunteering with the association, Broughton gives his time to Teamwork Englewood and is a member of Grow Greater Englewood. He serves as a champion for the Englewood Quality of Life Plan’s Housing Task Force.
Broughton said he didn't find out he was being honored until the evening his name was called.
“I was in complete amazement,” he said. “I don't like to toot my own horn, but they recognized the work I was doing with them and even before I was introduced to them.”
RAGE President Aysha Butler praised Broughton’s efforts in the community.
“He is around the clock doing so much behind the scenes to make sure RAGE functions and is operational, from volunteering at all of our events to set up, to helping us with our pop-up shops,” Butler said. “He is so committed to Englewood and has been a huge asset to our association. We love Lannon.”
The association started with just 13 members now has nearly 300. Butler said that it decided this year to do “Member Mondays” to spotlight those residents who are doing good in Englewood.
“We have such a huge diverse following of members who need to be highlighted,” she said.
