Volunteer of the Year: Dawn Wilson

Volunteering is a work of heart and few illustrate that better than Dawn Wilson. She regularly demonstrates her commitment to volunteerism through her role as a leader in the downtown district.  Most days, you will find Dawn running Cup of Joe, one of the cornerstone businesses in the district.  Owner since January 2007, Wilson interacts daily with a variety of downtown patrons. She has her pulse on the wants and needs of both the business community, and the entire citizenry of Cedar Falls. For her ongoing dedication and effort to make downtown a better place for us all to live, work and play, Community Main Street is pleased to honor Dawn Wilson as the 2014-2015 Volunteer of the Year.  

Wilson is a member of the Community Main Street Board of Directors, Design Committee, and Business Improvement Committee.  In her role as an active committee member, Wilson began looking at future plans for growth in the district and recognized downtown would experience some growing pains.  Knowing how important parking is to downtown patrons, Wilson added a leadership role on the Parking Task Force to her volunteer duties. During the past year, she has acted as the point person for the downtown parking audits by coordinating the audit volunteers, conducting audits herself, and tallying the data. Gathering and analyzing this data will help the Task Force, Community Main Street, and the City of Cedar Falls develop a plan to utilize space in the best possible way to provide adequate, accessible parking as the district grows.

Wilson’s support of charitable organizations and commitment to the community doesn't stop with Community Main Street.  As founding principles of Cup of Joe, the philosophies continue to be at the forefront of Wilson’s business endeavors showcased by donations to charities such as Iowa Women’s Foundation’s Chicks for Change, Cedar River Festival, Under the Harvest Moon, Rotary, the University of Northern Iowa, and a myriad of other locals causes and schools.

Community Main Street is proud to recognize and thank Dawn Wilson for her energy, enthusiasm and determination to support the efforts of our organization, the downtown district, and the community of Cedar Falls.   

1. business owners
2. parking
3. volunteers