We're starting 2011 by honoring several people who are committed to enriching their communities, some through their professional roles, some as volunteers.

Although each of the recipients of the 2011 South Journal Awards is involved in the community in a different way, they all share a common passion to make South St. Louis and South County stronger, more vibrant places in which to work and live.

The 2011 honorees are Caya Aufiero and John Chen, Nick Dragan, Laurie Tretter-Larkin and Tim Bolt.

Caya Aufiero and John Chen

Rehabbing a neighborhood

Caya Aufiero and John Chen call themselves "reluctant restauranteurs."

But when it comes to helping rebuild their once-prosperous business corridor, you won't find any reluctance in this couple.

The South City-based husband and wife own Urban Eats Cafe on Meramec Street in Dutchtown.

They got into the business not for any desire to make great sandwiches — though they do — but to help turn the neighborhood around.

"We moved here in 2005," Aufiero said. "When we bought the building, we were looking for a big space to live in, a loft-style living space to rehab."

After getting started with the rehab, the couple began working to convince a coffee shop, cafe or other "neighborhood meeting place" to open a location on their bottom floor.

That was easier said than done.

"I called every coffee shop in the city: Starbuck's, Kaldi's, Panera. But it was hard to find established people willing to take a risk."

Chen and Aufiero eventually found two people willing to start small businesses, but both failed quickly.

So the couple decided to do it themselves.

Urban Eats is more than a cafe. Aufiero and Chen allow their space to be used for reading programs, mentoring sessions and neighborhood meetings.

The cafe hosts charity fundraisers, and they use a portion of their building to exhibit the work of local artists.

It's all part of what Aufiero calls the cafe's 'social mission."

Long term, Aufiero and Chen hope to turn around this once-thriving stretch of storefronts.

It hasn't been easy. Aufiero owns a real estate business and Chen a medical consulting firm, obligations they don't ignore while running a cafe.

But bit by bit, the neighborhood seems to be getting stronger.

To help speed the process, the pair started the Downtown Dutchtown Business Association and opened it to anyone who owned a home or a business in the neighborhood.

"We've got between 75 to 100 businesses and residents," Aufiero said.

The group advocates on behalf of residents and business owners with the city for things such as security and lighting.

"We also recruit businesses and work with prospective business owners," Aufiero said. "We want to build the community by promoting local shopping. We'll refer people to local vendors."

Aufiero believes things are starting to click into place.

"It's a domino theory," she said. "Four or five new businesses have opened on Meramec in the last two years. This neighborhood has all of the components necessary. People just have to see it as a desirable location."

Which is exactly what Aufiero and Chen saw five years ago.

Nick Dragan

Blending business and charity

Nick Dragan of Sunset Hills is many things: father, former U.S. Marine, Michigan native, financial advisor, pick-up hockey player.

But if you ask around Sunset Hills, "volunteer" might be the first word to describe him.

Dragan, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1986 to 1990, is a member of the Semper Fi Society, a local Marine charity founded by Dragan's Marine buddy, Corey Schuster.

"It's a relatively new organization," Dragan said. "We're looking at ways to give back to the community any way we can."

The Semper Fi Society works closely with the Toys for Tots campaign every year.

This year, Dragan and Schuster convinced 75 restaurants to knock $5 off the bill of any guest bringing in a toy.

The end result was 50,000 toys brought in for kids.

The group also hosted a Route 66 classic car cruise on Watson Road in August to benefit the USO and the Lindbergh School District.

"We raised about $4,000," Dragan said.

They also generated plenty of business along Watson Road.

As a businessman who has volunteered for numerous civic boards and committees in Sunset Hills, Dragan said one of his goals is to combine charity with economic benefit.

He'd like to help jump-start commerce in an area that has flagged a bit since the heyday of Crestwood Mall.

The mall's transition from commerce hub to art center — and subsequent massive dip in assessed value — hasn't helped local entities dependent on tax revenue.

"We need to drive commerce into Crestwood and Sunset Hills and fill up the empty spaces in the area to increase the commercial value," he said. "It's a direct source of revenue for the school district. And with three young kids starting to go to Lindbergh, I want it to remain the great district it is."

Dragan said he was humbled but flattered to receive the recognition, adding that there are many others in his community and organization who are also deserving.

"I think the most important thing you can do is give back to the community," Dragan said. "I've been lucky and fortunate enough in my life to do so, and it's a great feeling to make a difference."

Who knew Marines were so generous?

"We're pretty generous," Dragan laughed. "I have to set an example for my kids."

Laurie Tretter-Larkin

Training a new generation of volunteers

Teaching is more than just a job for Laurie Tretter-Larkin.

"It's a vocation," said the Mehlville School District music teacher. "You do what's going to better the world and the next generation."

What's going to help make things better for the next generation, Tretter-Larkin believes, is volunteer spirit.

At Blades Elementary School, Tretter-Larkin is helping the school's 512 students get "energized and involved."

"One of our projects is Adopt-A-Soldier," Tretter-Larkin said. "Every class is adopting a different soldier and sending care packages and writing individual letters."

Tretter-Larkin coordinated the program with the help of school secretary Melea Genthon, whose son Jake is a Mehlville High School grad and U.S. Army soldier stationed in Iraq. "He came to school and introduced himself," Tretter-Larkin said.

The students were impressed to see a real, live soldier.

Now they're corresponding with more than two dozen of them.

"They love to read about what's happening," Tretter-Larkin said.

Adopting soldiers isn't the only volunteer activity you'll find at Blades.

Tretter-Larkin also heads the Character Choir, a group of fourth- and fifth-grade students who record music for others.

"This year we recorded a CD of holiday music," Tretter-Larkin said. "We sent some to Iraq and sold some as a donation."

Tretter-Larkin is also involved with the school's "Bucket Filler" program, where students are asked to drop a slip of paper in a classroom bucket listing something good they've recently done for the community.

"It could be a donation for the hungry or raking leaves for a neighbor," Tretter-Larkin said.

The results are posted online on a "bucket filler blog," where each class's adopted soldiers can read them.

Tretter-Larkin is also involved with the Mehlville chapter of "Girls on the Run," a nationwide program promoting physical fitness and self-esteem for girls.

As part of the program, third- through fifth-grade students train for a 5K run.

It's all part of a pattern of service for this music teacher.

"I want to set an example for students, to empower them," she said. "And I've definitely noticed a change in their behavior. Helping others makes you feel good inside."

And Tretter-Larkin feels she owes a debt.

"I grew up in the Mehlville community," she said. "Someone did all of this for me when I was growing up. I want to give back."

Tim Bolt

Tending the green spaces

If you see a well-tended public green space on the streets of Holly Hills, there's a good chance Tim Bolt was involved.

Bolt, who earns his living as a loan officer, is a dedicated community gardener.

You'll see him trimming, pulling and planting just about every weekend.

"I've lived here almost 20 years," Bolt said. "And when we moved here, I noticed we had a lot of green spaces."

Bolt aimed to green up the streets even more. And over the years, he's convinced other neighborhood residents to join him.

In 2007, Bolt helped get a community garden planted at the intersection of Bates Street and Arendes Drive.

Vegetables and flowers are grown on 4-by-12 plots on the three-quarters of an acre parcel.

"It's a really nice neighborhood garden," Bolt said. "A place where families, individuals or schools can raise vegetables or flowers or whatever. It's a great common space."

Bolt also helped with the installation of 200 large terra cotta pots in front of businesses on Grand Boulevard.

"In the spring, they are full of flowers," Bolt said.

All of it is part of Bolt's ongoing efforts to keep the neighborhood looking as beautiful as possible.

Bolt and other neighborhood volunteers work closely with Gateway Greening, a local group that promotes healthy urban living.

Grants from that organization have paid for some of the rosebushes and tulips you'll see planted in Holly Hills.

"The city cuts the grass and trims the trees, but it's nice to supplement that with flowers and anything else we can scrounge up," Bolt said.

You can find Bolt working to keep the neighborhood beautiful most Saturdays. He gets up early and works until noon.

And he's not alone.

"We've got a core group of about 10 or so," he said. "When I put the call out, people are willing to spend an hour or two. Every bit helps."

While Bolt logs many hours tending neighborhood green spaces, he said he's no master gardener.

"I'm not a professional," he said. "More of a labor-intensive guy."

And that labor is making a difference.

Bolt said the neighborhood is a "lot greener that it was."

"I encourage people to come out and get their hands dirty," he said. "It makes you feel better and makes your neighborhood look better."