The First Annual Downtown OTTY Awards

Our Town Downtown thanks the people who make life in lower Manhattan spectacular When we decided to start a tradition of presenting awards to outstanding community members who live and work in downtown Manhattan, the one thing we knew would be easy was finding recipients. We weren't disappointed. The inaugural Downtown OTTY (Our Town Thanks You) Awards honor a diverse group of amazing people from all neighborhoods, professions and backgrounds, but the one thing they have in common is their commitment to making downtown an incredible place. Whether it's a school chef getting kids excited about kale chips, a longtime block association president dedicated to preserving local history or a yoga instructor who gives back, each of our winners brings their specific brand of vision, passion and talent to their community. We hope you enjoy reading about the people who make your neighborhood great, and we know that they'll all continue to impress us in the coming year. Sincerely, Megan Bungeroth Editor-in-Chief, Our Town Downtown 2012 Downtown OTTY Award winners [Council Member Margaret Chin - Downtowner of the Year](http://nypress.com/margaret-chin-an-elected-official-who-gets-down-in-the-trenches/) [Susan Henshaw Jones - Culture](http://nypress.com/museum-director-brings-her-historical-expertise-downtown/) [Derrick Komorowski - Real Estate Royalty](http://nypress.com/building-manager-reaches-for-the-top/) [Kit Yuen - Healthcare Pro](http://nypress.com/downtown-nurse-bridges-health-care-and-community/) [Liz Berger - Community Builder](http://nypress.com/longtime-resident-helps-downtown-businesses-stay-afloat/) [Dr. James Cooper - Religion](http://nypress.com/trinity-church-rector-ministers-to-the-earthly-and-the-spiritual/) [Officer James Rudolph - Bravest & Finest](http://nypress.com/a-hero-whose-life-would-make-a-book/) [David Garza - Downtown Recovery](http://nypress.com/lower-east-side-leader-provided-direly-needed-help-post-sandy/) [Barbara Warren - Healthcare Pro](http://nypress.com/longtime-lgbt-advocate-pioneers-new-health-services/) [Jenny Gensterblum - Culinary Excellence](http://nypress.com/leman-school-chef-masters-the-art-of-pleasing-kids-palates/) [Tricia Donegan - Entrepreneur](http://nypress.com/lower-east-side-yoga-instructor-offers-more-than-exercise/) [Christopher Kui - Downtown Recovery](http://nypress.com/community-leader-was-a-beacon-in-dark-times/) [Richard Blodgett - Community Builder](http://nypress.com/block-association-leader-brings-history-into-the-present/)