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Honoring Minnesota's Anti-racism Advocates since 2007

The Facing Race Awards recognize anti-racism advocates in Minnesota who challenge absent and harmful narratives on race, build solutions that unite instead of divide, and push for justice and equity. Through these Awards, we celebrate and learn from those leading the way forward.

Watch the 2024 Facing Race Awards

We are pleased to honor this year's Facing Race Award recipients: Ma Elena Gutierrez, Tish Jones, Jametta Raspberry and Larry Tucker! Watch their stories by streaming the 2024 Facing Race Awards Show right here.

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Meet the 2024 Recipients

Join us in celebrating this year’s recipients and the impact they’re making in our community.

Ma Elena Gutierrez

Ma Elena Gutierrez is the executive director of Fe y Justicia – a faith-based Latinx led organization striving to make Central Minnesota a just and safe place for Latinx refugees and immigrants. As a trusted community leader, she advocates to lessen the equity gaps facing low-income Latinx individuals.

In her role she has been instrumental in passing the Earned Sick and Safe Time law, which ensures all workers receive sick time and a lawsuit against wage theft and abusive practices toward agricultural workers. Ma Elena also organizes community health clinics where she connects residents with medical care and immigration options.

Tish Jones

Tish Jones is a community organizer and activist dedicated to improving the health and wellness of Black people in her community. She believes in multi-generational problem solving, anchored by transparency and process, justice and equity.

Tish is the executive director and founder of TruArtSpeaks, an organization that cultivates literacy, leadership, and social justice by studying spoken word and Hip-Hop culture. She has a gift for connecting, whether that’s Black artists to economic justice, youth to opportunity, people to health and wellness, or artists to equity.

Jametta Raspberry

Jametta Raspberry is a visionary chef, founder of House of Gristle and community leader renowned for her innovative approach to culinary arts and her commitment to social impact. As the executive director of Roots for the Home Team, she mentors and empowers young Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities in food production and sustainable business management.

Recognizing that more than 80% of Black and Brown folks will work in a food-related job during their lifetime, Jametta is driven to create pathways to well-paying food careers and generate wealth for a new generation of leaders.

Larry Tucker

Larry Tucker is a marriage and family therapist who believes we all hold the tools for success. He is also the co-founder and executive director of Kente Circle, an African American-owned clinic in Minneapolis that offers culturally responsive therapy to children and over 600 families annually.

Recognizing the need for a workforce equipped to address the mental health needs of underrepresented communities and communities of color, Larry founded the Kente Circle Training Center (KCTI). For 25 years, this center has provided much-needed education to mental health providers, social workers and community partners on how to best support the racialized trauma needs of diverse communities.

Advocating for Equity

The Facing Race Awards, established in 2007, are just one way the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation advocates for equity. Learn more about our anti-racism efforts and initiatives, and how you can join us.

Past Facing Race Award Honorees

2023 Award Recipients

  • Trahern Crews
  • Rayona Kardell
  • Rose McGee
  • Asha Shoffner

View 2023 Facing Race Awards

2022 Award Recipients

  • Classie Dudley
  • Angela Hooks
  • Txongpao Lee
  • Lulete Mola

View 2022 Facing Race Awards

2021 Award Recipients

  • Victoria McWane-Creek
  • KingDemetrius Pendleton
  • Valerie Shirley
  • Wokie Weah

View 2021 Facing Race Awards

2020 Award Recipients

  • Valerie Castile
  • Resmaa Menakem
  • Alex Miles
  • Leslie Redmond

View 2020 Facing Race Awards

Facing Race Recipients 2007-2019

R. James Addington

Rev. Carolyn Arnett

Susan Ault

Russel and Sarah Balenger

Lou Bellamy

Mary K. Murray Boyd

Elizabeth A. Campbell

Satveer S. Chaudhary

Robert L. Crawford

Ouida Crozier

Joann daSilva

Lucila Dominguez

Mahmoud El-Kati

Dwayne Gibbs

Metric M. Giles, I

Jennifer Godinez

Donna Hauer

Bukata Hayes

James H. Heck, Ph.D.

Delores Henderson

Barbara Corti Herrmann

Ange Hwang

Taneeza Islam

Pamela James

Dr. Josie Johnson

Eric J. Jolly, Ph.D.

Joanne Jones-Rizzi

Angelique Kedem

Nathaniel Abdul Khaliq

Helen Kivnick

Velma J. Korbel

Gary W. Y. Kwong

Dr. Ghafar Lakanwal

Nekima Levy-Pounds

Jan Mandell

Monty Martin

Dr. Cecilia Martinez

Corinth Matera

Jada Sherrie Mitchell

Rajean P. Moone, Ph.D.

Ellen O'Neill

Margery K. Otto, J.D.

Oluwaseyi Daniel Oyinloye

Tuleah Palmer

Steve Pederson

Herbert (Okogyeamon) A. Perkins, Ph.D.

Thien-bao Thuc Phi

Lawrence T. Potter, Jr., Ph.D.

Nieeta L. Presley

Jack Reuler

Gloria Roach Thomas

A. Lori Saroya

Lupe R. Serrano

Dr. Nadarajan Sethuraju

Rev. Paul Slack

T. Gregory Stavrou

Mihailo Temali

Justin Terrell

Dai Thao

Dr. Anton Treuer

Bo Thao-Urabe

Michelle A. Villanueva

Hamse Warfa

Chaun Webster

Alfonso Tomás Wenker

Paul Williams

Hli Xyooj

Otis Zanders

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