By Mary Lassen
Working in the progressive movement, we are confronted daily with some of our nation's most glaring and heart-wrenching issues.
From the separation of families through deportation, to sustained community disinvestment, disenfranchisement and poverty, we have chosen to devote our energy and mind space during the workweek, and often on nights and weekends as well, to organizing and problem-solving around these issues.
Life in the progressive movement can be arduous, which is why the Center for Community Change (CCC) takes one night of the year to lift up and celebrate some of the people and organizations that are leading the struggle toward justice in this country.
Too often, the work of these visionary leaders and organizations go unheralded as we move quickly from one victory to begin our next fight. The Community Change Champion Awards allows us to take a moment to step back and honor these often unsung heroes working behind the scenes to reshape the political landscape and challenge us to press forward toward a better world.
Since we started the awards 11 years ago, CCC has honored a range of social justice advocates, from then-Senator Barack Obama, to poet-activist Elizabeth Alexander, to then-11-year-old Marcelas Owens, a youth advocate for health care reform whose mother lost her life because she did not have access to health care.
This Thursday, we will lift up the lives and work of six amazing leaders, the organizations they help run, and the changes they've helped bring about in four key areas -- community organizing, labor partnership, community leadership and community activism.
Arnie Graf, Champion in Community Organizing
Veteran organizer Arnie Graf, who has been working in the movement for over 45 years, will be recognized as this year's Champion in Community Organizing. From playing an active role in the civil rights movement, to working with C.O.R.E. (Congress for Racial Equality), to serving as a volunteer in the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone, to working for the National Welfare Rights Organization in Appalachia, Arnie has a long history of fighting for racial and social justice. Arnie also served as the longtime Co-Director of Metro Industrial Areas Foundation where he helped lead the way in building lasting power in Baltimore, Boston, San Antonio, and Washington, DC.
CCC Executive Director Deepak Bhargava says that Arnie has been one of the most important people in his life.
"His way of being and working has inspired me, and his coaching and mentorship has brought out the best in me as a leader," he says.
Esther Lopez and Marc Perrone, Champion in Labor Partnership
The United Food and Commercial Workers Internal Union (UFCW) has long been leading the movement to bridge the fights for immigrant rights and labor rights. Under the leadership of this year's Champion in Labor Partnership International President Marc Perrone and Executive Vice President Esther Lopez, the UFCW is working to provide immigrant workers and their families a better life.
In addition to worker organizing, the UFCW advocates for the implementation of DAPA and expanded DACA, and the passage of comprehensive immigration reform. They also provide citizenship workshops to help immigrant families through the difficult process of applying for citizenship.
Speaking to a group of supporters, Esther says, "Labor unions are going to be there making sure immigrant workers understand that we've got their back because we've got every worker's back--not just immigrant workers. We're in this together."
Connie and Jonathan Heller, Champion in Community Leadership
We are honoring longtime philanthropists and racial and social justice advocates Connie and Jonathan Heller with this year's Champion in Community Leadership award. In Connie's work with Project Linked Fate, she designs workshops to address structural inequity and the political use of race, and she is also a textile artist with a focus on racial justice. Jonathan leads Human Impact Partners, which focuses on bringing the power of public health science to bear on issues of social justice. Jonathan is also a longtime member of the CCC Board.
As leaders in their community and the larger progressive movement, Jonathan and Connie say what excites them most is inclusive community organizing. "Our belief in using community organizing to build power motivates each of us individually," Connie wrote. "The strongest solutions arise when many voices are heard and when those who face inequities unite to overcome the overbearing interests of those currently in power."
Rashad Robinson, Champion in Community Activism
Lastly, Rashad Robinson, Executive Director of ColorOfChange, will be awarded the 2015 Champion in Community Activism. ColorofChange is the nation's largest online civil rights organization, which Fast Company recently named the 6th Most Innovate Company in the world "for creating a civil rights group for the 21st century."
Under Rashad's leadership, ColorofChange has worked to strengthen Black America's political voice by fighting for a range of issues, including justice for Michael Brown, Renisha McBride and Trayvon Martin; battling attempts to suppress the Black vote; and shaping a successful strategy in the fight to protect a free and open Internet, among others.
Follow #ChangeChampions on Twitter this Thursday, September 17th as we celebrate these outstanding leaders for the 11th annual Community Change Champion Awards.
Mary Lassen is the Managing Director of the Center for Community Change.