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three dancers at night

56th Annual NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner Speaking The Truth, Standing In Our Power

NEA’s tradition of honoring human and civil rights leaders is steeped in history. A tradition that began with the American Teachers Association.

The 2024 NEA HUMAN AND CIVIL RIGHTS AWARDS Nomination Cycle has begun!

GET INVOLVED!

Do your part to identify, uplift and nominate exemplary individuals, organizations, and affiliates to honor at the 2024 NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards in Philadelphia, PA! Submit a nomination!

The official 2024 HCR Awards Online Nomination application and step-by-step submission instructions are available now! 

Submit a Nomination Form

Deadline for online submission of your nomination is Friday, December 8, 2023 at 11:59 pm PST. For additional information about the NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards or questions, please view this website or email [email protected].

Biographies of the 2023 HCR award winners are available below.

The 2024 HCR Award Categories featured this year for nominations are:

Meet the 2023 HCR Award Winners

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Winners

Learn more about the 2023 winners!
Latino Center of the Midlands

Latino Center of the Midlands - George I. Sánchez Memorial Award

The Latino Center of the Midlands was organized in 1971 to address concerns about the education of Chicano youth
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Alex Red Corn

Alex Red Corn - Wilma Mankiller Memorial Award

Dr. Alex Red Corn is an enrolled citizen of the Osage Nation who works as an activist, advocate, and university educator in Kansas.
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Arlene Inouye

Arlene Inouye - Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Award

An educator, labor leader, activist, and keeper of culture, Arlene Inouye has spent most of her life uplifting the plight and contributions of Asians and Pacific Islanders to American society.
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Cartier Scott

Cartier Scott - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Award

A Suncoast Community High School math teacher in Riviera Beach, Florida, and a track coach at Keiser University, Mr. Scott is also an active member of the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association and the Florida Education Association.
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Dirk Andrews

Dirk Andrews - Virginia Uribe Memorial Award for Creative Leadership in Human Rights

A passionate NEA director and local union president, Dirk Andrews advocates for a better world for the LGBTQ+ community in Wyoming and across the country daily.
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Jeanette Arellano

Jeanette Arellano - César Chávez Acción y Compromiso Human and Civil Rights Award

Jeanette Arellano—educator, artist, organizer, and activist—uses her artistic talent to organize groups across racial and ethnic backgrounds to support and empower workers and their families.
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Derron C. Cook

Derron C. Cook - Carter G. Woodson Memorial Award

Described as a griot in his community, Derron C. Cook is an art and media educator, local association president, and Black history enthusiast in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana who leads student and community talks in the search and knowledge of Black history.
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Grace Mayer

Grace Mayer - Mary Hatwood Futrell Award

Educator and president of NEA-Santa Fe, New Mexico, Grace Mayer is a relentless fighter and effective organizer.
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Hope Restores

Hope Restores - Reg Weaver Human and Civil Rights Award

The community-based non-profit Hope Restores works to improve the economic health and wellbeing of community members to improve lives with dignity.
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Arthur Tanderup

Arthur Tanderup - H. Councill Trenholm Memorial Award

Arthur “Art” Tanderup retired as a dedicated educator and union representative and is driving change through social justice and political action.
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HCR gala

About the Awards

NEA’s annual tradition of honoring human and civil rights champions is rooted and grounded in the historical legacy of the NEA-ATA merger.

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National Education Association

Great public schools for every student

The National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education. NEA's 3 million members work at every level of education—from pre-school to university graduate programs. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.
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