The Washington Historical Society recognized community leaders for their work in Washington D.C. neighborhoods and community outreach centers on Feb. 23.
Nineteen area community leaders, from various fields, were honored for their work and community activism.
The honorees were featured in “Upstanders: Profiles of Courage,” part of an exhibit created by the educational nonprofit Facing History and Ourselves.
District honorees include Friendship Public Charter School co-founder Donald Hense; Zainab Al-Suwaij, executive director of the American Islamic Congress; Darell Hammond, CEO of KaBOOM!; Maria Gomez, founder of Mary’s Center for Maternal and Child Care; Mark Hanis, co-founder of Genocide Intervention Network/Save Darfur Coalition; M. Charito Kruvant, co-founder of Creative Associates International; Amy Lazarus, executive director of Sustained Dialogue Campus Network; Jerry A. McCoy, special collections librarian at the D.C. Public Library; Earl O. Strimple, founder of People Animals Love; Mary Beth Tinker, educator and children’s rights activist and the volunteers at the Sitar Arts Center. Also honored was the Rev. Donald Robinson, president and founder of Beacon House.
