GREENSBORO, N.C. – U.S. Representative Mark Walker (NC-06) jointly honored Phil Bowers and the Troxler family of Alamance County as the 6th District Community Heroes of the Month for October 2016.

Each month, Congressman Walker honors a constituent, business, or organization in his district for displaying extraordinary acts of service and making a difference in their community.

This is the first jointly presented Community Hero of the Month Award for the 6th District.  
Phil Bowers is the Founder and Executive Director of Sustainable Alamance, a nonprofit organization that takes a unique approach to defining and creating sustainable communities.  The goal of Bowers and his organization is to use bold and innovative methods to connect former offenders facing employment discrimination.  "I was touched by the personal stories of these men," Bowers said.  "They were ready but just needed help getting access to resources."  The program has had great success not only providing the mentoring structure and opportunity to develop key interpersonal, life, and work skills, but placing participants with local employers that will provide job opportunities.   

That is where the Troxler family comes in, filling the second half of the equation.  

The Troxler brothers, Jesse and Jeremy, along with their father Rockie, have been working in tandem with Mr. Bowers for over five years.  The Troxlers own a local metal works business, Piedmont Metals, and hire individuals from the Sustainable Alamance program who seek to reenter the workforce. Throughout this program partnership, the Troxlers have seen growth for both those employed from the Sustainable Alamance program and for their own business.  

Bowers and the Troxlers hope they can serve as an example to the community, by offering second chances and by showing that you can create partnerships with people from different backgrounds.  "We found that there's a tremendous value in the individual, even if they have some skeletons in the closet," Jesse Troxler said.  Bowers hopes people can see that "there is no throw away person. Everybody matters." 

“I am so honored to present our first joint Community Hero of the Month Award to two incredibly deserving groups,” Walker said.  “Mr. Bowers and the Troxler family have forged a visionary and key partnership in our community.  This is more than providing an opportunity to people who many would turn away.  This remarkable partnership is a conscious choice to invest in someone’s life and give them a second chance. I look forward to hearing even more success stories as they continue to change lives.”

Walker presented Bowers and Troxler with certificates and flags flown over the U.S. Capitol during a ceremony at the 6th District Congressional Office in Graham.