The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh recognized its 2013 Racial Justice Award recipients at the 22nd Annual Racial Justice Awards Dinner held last month at the Westin Hotel, 1000 Penn Ave., Downtown Pittsburgh.
Award recipients included:
ARTS: Janera Solomon, executive director, Kelly Strayhorn Theater;
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Melanie R. Brown, education program officer, The Heinz Endowments;
EDUCATION: Marcus Rediker, PhD, distinguished professor of Atlantic history, University of Pittsburgh;
GOVERNMENT: The Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial and Ethnic Fairness;
FAITH: East Liberty Presbyterian Church;
LEGAL: Education Law Center, Western Pennsylvania Office; and
YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT: Alexis K. Marie Payne, writer/literary arts student, Pittsburgh CAPA Class of 2015.
“We are delighted to present the YWCA Racial Justice Award to these recipients in recognition of their efforts to promote equality and justice,” said Magdeline E. Jensen, chief executive officer of the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh. “Their outstanding initiative, dedication to eliminating racism, and the impact they’ve had on the community clearly stood out for the 2013 award.”
Robert Hill was this year’s Honorary Chair and WPXI-TV’s Vince Sims served as the master of ceremonies.
The annual Racial Justice Awards is a signature event of the YWCA Center for Race and Gender Equity. Through its Racial Justice Awards, the Center seeks to promote a society in which all people receive equal treatment and have equal access in the workplace, public services, justice system, classroom, and throughout the Greater Pittsburgh community. Over the past two decades, the YWCA has recognized more than 100 community leaders that have made a substantial commitment to racial equality.
(For more information about the YWCA’s programs and services, visit www.ywcapgh.org or call 412-391-5100.)
