The Tribute to Change planning committee has selected a terrific group of honorees this year. We are pleased to introduce these world builders, disruptors, inventors, and creators.
2019 Tribute to Change Honorees
Francisco Cortes
Emerging Leader Award
Francisco Cortes is a Mexican immigrant and out gay Philadelphian. He intentionally and passionately advocates for immigrant and queer issues, and he currently serves as interim executive director of Galaei, a queer Latinx social justice organization.
Nancy Dung Nguyen
Trailblazer Award
Nancy Dung Nguyen is co-founder and executive director of VietLEAD, a grassroots group that organizes community and youth through a lens of social justice and anti-violence, health promotion and navigation, civic engagement, and community building projects.
Ron Whitehorne
Paul Robeson Lifetime Achievement Award
Ron Whitehorne advances education justice, workers’ rights, racial equity, and more through his commitment to groups like the Rainbow Coalition, Transport Workers Union, Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools, Youth United for Change, and 215 People’s Alliance.
Kara Tennis
Robin Hood Was Right Award
In 2016, Kara Tennis started on a journey of learning that redirected her focus to racial justice. Her work now includes paying direct reparations, fundraising for Bread & Roses, coaching other privileged people about white supremacy culture, and making and selling artwork through Justice Jewelry. She was a member of the 2018 Gender Justice Giving Project.
Philadelphia Coalition for Affordable Communities (PCAC)
Victory is Ours Award
PCAC is a citywide coalition of 65 community, disability, faith, labor, and urban agriculture groups that successfully organizes to win land and money for affordable, accessible housing, and green space.
Urban Creators
Victory is Ours Award
Urban Creators, a diverse group of young students, artists, activists, organizers, and entrepreneurs, transformed a 2-acre garbage dump in North Philadelphia into Life Do Grow urban farm, a sanctuary and platform for organizing and nourishment.
These determined, imaginative organizers and grassroots groups are leading the way towards our shared vision of an abundant, just, and equitable future. Learn more about the 2019 Tribute to Change here.
Kara Tennis became a donor after finding out about Bread & Roses from a neighbor, then wanted to get more involved. “I knew I really wanted to do a Giving Project just to challenge myself and to do that work in a group of people. My focus has always been about racial justice, but I did the gender justice one because it was the first one available, and I was so keen to do it,” she says. “As it went on, I realized it was the same work all along.”