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.

Nominations Open Soon
Do you know someone who deserves recognition for their commitment to racial equity and anti-racism efforts in Minnesota? Nominate that person for the 19th annual Facing Race Awards!
Award recipients can be self-nominated or nominated by the community. Up to four recipients will receive a grant to benefit a Minnesota nonprofit of their choice and be recognized by the Foundation later this year.
The nomination period will be open from April 28 to May 14 at 3 p.m. Nomination forms will be available in English, Hmong, Somali and Spanish. Before nominating, please read the criteria carefully to make your submission as strong as possible.
Nomination Criteria
The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation established the Facing Race Awards in 2007 to celebrate and honor individuals working to eliminate racism and its effects throughout the state of Minnesota. By highlighting the critical work of honorees, we intend to build on the discussion, dialogue and action taking place around the important issues of race and racism.
The Foundation is currently seeking nominations for our 2025 Facing Race Awards. Each recipient will receive a recognition grant to direct to the Minnesota nonprofit of their choice.
We invite you to submit a nomination in support of an adult or youth who is working to eliminate racism in Minnesota. To submit a nomination, please create a new account with Submittable or sign in to your account using the buttons at the bottom of the page.
Emailed or mailed nominations will not be accepted.
For more information or if you have any questions, please email FacingRace@spmcf.org.
All nominations must be received by May 14, 2025 at 3 p.m.
Eligibility criteria
Each adult or youth nominee should demonstrate one or more of the following criteria:
- Active engagement in creating a racially equitable community
- Bravery in the face of racism, violence and/or oppression
- Defense of the values of equity and justice
- A commitment to directly addressing issues of racism and/or tackling racial inequity
Eligibility Requirements
- Nominees must be Minnesota residents
- The efforts and/or work occurred in the state of Minnesota
- Get consent from the nominee or guardian prior to submission
- Former Facing Race Award recipients are ineligible
- Current Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation staff or board members are ineligible and cannot submit nominations
Selection Criteria
Nominees will be reviewed on the following criteria:
- How the nominee’s work helps to eliminate racism and its effects in the East Metro Area (Dakota, Ramsey or Washington counties) or in Minnesota
- The nominee’s recent accomplishments that have benefitted the East Metro or Minnesota, particularly those in the last year
**Nominators will receive confirmation that their nomination has been received, however, due to the typical volume of nominees, only those individuals selected for this year’s Facing Race Award will be notified of their award status.
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation creó los premios Facing Race Awards en 2007 para celebrar y rendir tributo a las personas que trabajan para erradicar el racismo y sus efectos en todo el estado de Minnesota. Al destacar el trabajo esencial de los galardonados, nuestro objetivo es contribuir al debate, el diálogo y las medidas que se llevan a cabo en torno a las cuestiones importantes de la raza y el racismo.
En este momento, la Fundación está buscando nominaciones para nuestros premios Facing Race Awards 2025. Cada destinatario recibirá una subvención de reconocimiento para donar a una organización sin fines de lucro de Minnesota de su elección.
Lo invitamos a presentar su nominación en apoyo a una persona adulta o joven que esté trabajando para erradicar el racismo en Minnesota. Para presentar una nominación, cree una nueva cuenta en Submittable o inicie sesión en su cuenta usando los botones que aparecen en la parte inferior de la página.
No se aceptarán las nominaciones enviadas por correo electrónico o correo postal.
Para obtener más información o si tiene alguna pregunta, envíe un correo electrónico a FacingRace@spmcf.org.
Todas las nominaciones deben recibirse a más tardar el 14 de mayo de 2025 a las 3 p.m.
Criterios de elegibilidad
Cada persona adulta o joven nominada debe demostrar que reúne uno o más de los siguientes criterios:
- Participación activa en la creación de una comunidad con igualdad racial
- Valentía ante el racismo, la violencia y/o la opresión
- Defensa de los valores de la igualdad y justicia
- Un compromiso con abordar de forma directa las cuestiones del racismo y/o afrontar la desigualdad racial
Requisitos de elegibilidad
- Las personas nominadas deben ser residentes de Minnesota
- Las iniciativas y/o la labor deben llevarse a cabo en el estado de Minnesota
- Obtener el consentimiento de la persona nominada o su tutor(a) antes de la presentación
- Los ganadores anteriores de los premios Facing Race Award no son elegibles
- El personal o los miembros de la junta directiva actuales de Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation no son elegibles y no pueden presentar nominaciones
Criterios de selección
Las personas nominadas serán evaluadas según los siguientes criterios:
- La manera en que la labor de la persona nominada ayuda a erradicar el racismo y sus efectos en el área metropolitana del este (condados de Dakota, Ramsey o Washington) o en Minnesota
- Los logros recientes de la persona nominada que han beneficiado al área metropolitana del este o Minnesota, en particular, los del último año
**Las personas que nominen recibirán una confirmación de que se ha recibido su nominación. No obstante, debido al volumen típico de personas nominadas, solo se notificará su estado a aquellos que se seleccionen para los premios Facing Race Award de este año.
Lub Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation tau teeb tsa Facing Race Awards nyob rau xyoo 2007 los ua kev zoo siab thiab hwm txog cov neeg uas ua hauj lwm los tshem tawm kev cais haiv neeg thiab nws muaj feem cuam tshuam thoob plaws lub xeev Minnesota. Nws yog ib txog hauj lwm uas muaj kev huab hwm heev, peb mob siab los tsim qhov kev sib tham, rooj sib tham thiab kev nqis tes los daws cov teeb meem tseem ceeb txog haiv neeg thiab kev cais haiv neeg.
Lub Foundation tab tom ua hauj lwm los nrhiav cov kev muab npe rau peb cov yuav tau txais 2025 Facing Race Awards.
Peb caw koj mus xa npe tus tsim yog yuav muab npe ntawm tus laus los sis tus hluas uas yog tus ua hauj lwm los rhuav tshem kev cais haiv neeg nyob hauv Minnesota. Los xa tus tsim nyog muab npe, thov tsim ib tug as khauj tshiab uas muaj qhov Submittable los sis nkag mus rau hauv koj tus as khauj uas yog kev siv cov pob nias nyob hauv qab kawg ntawm nplooj ntawv.
Sau email los sis sau ntawv xa cov ntsim nyog muab npe yuav tsis raug lees txais.
Rau kev paub ntxiv los sis yog tias koj muaj lus nug dab tsi, thov sau email rau FacingRace@spmcf.org.
Txhua tus tsim nyog muab npe yuav tsum tau txais tsis pub dhau Tsib 14, 2025 thaum 3 teev tsaus ntuj.
Txoj Cai Txog Kev Muab Npe
Txhua tej tus neeg laus los sis tus hluas uas yuav muab npe tsim nyog muaj li ib los sis ntau cov kev muaj cai hauv qab no:
- Tseem rau siab tsim kev muaj vaj huam sib luag txog haiv neeg hauv lub zej zog
- Siab tawv tuaj yeem tawm tsam kev cais haiv neeg, kev thab sib plaub thiab/los sis kev tsim txom
- Pov thaiv qhov muaj nqis ntawm kev muaj vaj huam siab luag thiab kev ncaj ncees
- Cog lus yuav los hais daws cov teeb meem txog kev cais haiv neeg thiab/los sis kev tawm tsam qhov coj tsis ncaj rau haiv neeg
Cov Yuav Tsum Muaj
- Cov neeg yuav muab npe yuav tsum yog pej xeem neeg nyob hauv Minnesota
- Cov kev rau siab no thiab/los sis kev ua hauj lwm tau tshwm sim nyob hauv xeev Minnesota
- Tau txais kev tso cai los ntawm tus yuav muab npe los sis tus saib xyuas me nyuam ua ntej xa
- Tus uas twb yeej tau txais Facing Race Awards los lawm yuav tsis muaj cai lawm
- Cov uas yog neeg ua hauj lwm los sis cov thawj coj nyob hauv Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation yuav tsis muaj cai thiab yuav tsis pub xa cov kev muab npe
Txoj Cai Xaiv
Cov neeg yuav muab npe yuav raug tshab xyuas nyob rau txoj cai hauv qab no:
- Txoj hauv kev tus neeg yuav muab npe los ua hauj lwm pab tshem tawm kev cais haiv neeg thiab nws muaj feem cuam tshuam nyob rau Cheeb Tsam Nroog Sab Hnub Tuaj (Dakota, Ramsey los sis Washington khauj tim) los sis nyob hauv Minnesota
- Cov yuav muab npe nyuam qhuav ua tau qhov muaj txiaj ntsig rau Lub Nroog Sab Hnub Tuaj los sis Minnesota, feem ntau lawm yog xyoo dhau los
**Cov neeg uas muab npe tuaj yuav tau txais daim ntawv lees paub tias tau txais lawv lub npe lawm, txawm li cas los xij, vim yog cov muab npe tuaj coob heev, tsuas yog cov neeg uas raug xaiv rau lub Facing Race Award xyoo no xwb thiaj yuav tau txais kev ceeb toom txog lawv qhov xwm txheej nuj sua plig.
Ururka Saint Paul & Minnesota waxay Facing Race Awards aasaastay sanadkii 2007 si loogu dabaaldago ashkhaasta sharafta mudan ee ka shaqaynaya ciribtirka cunsuriyadda iyo saamaynadeeda ayada oo laga ciribtiraayo guud ahaan gobolka Minnesota. Ayada oo hoosa laga xariiqayo shaqada muhiimka ah ee ay hayaan dadkaas sharafta mudan, waxaan doonaynaa in aan ku dul-dhiso wadaxaajoodka, doodad iyo waxqabadka socda arimaha muhiimka ah ee isirka iyo cunsuriyadda.
Ururku waxa uu hadda raadinayaa magacaabidda Facing Race Awards ee 2025.
Waxaan kugu casuumaynaa in aad soo gudbiso magacaabis adiga oo taageero ka helaya qof weyn ama mid dhalinyaro ah kaasoo ka shaqeeya ciribtirka cunsuriyadda kajirta Minnesota. Si aad magacaabis usoo gudbiso, fadlan ka samayso ciwaan cusub Submittable ama gal ciwaankaaga adiga oo isticmaalaya batoomada kujira bogga qaybtiisa hoose.
Magacaabidyada iimeelka ama boostada lagu diraayo lama aqbali doono.
Si aad u hesho macluumaad dheeraad ah ama haddii aad qabto su`aalo dheeraad ah, fadlan iimayl udir FacingRace@spmcf.org.
Dhammaan magacaabista waa in la helaa May 14, 2025 saacada 3:00 galabnimo.
shuruudaha u-qalmitaanka
Qof kasta oo magacaaban oo ah qof weyn ama dhalinyaro waa in uu muujiyaa ha lama wax ka badan oo ah shuruudaha soo socda:
- Shaqo socota oo ku saabsan abuurista bulsho isir ahaan siman
- Geesinimo uu kala hortago cunsuriyadda, xadgudubka/ama dhibaataynta
- Difaacidda qiimaha sinaanta iyo caddaaladda
- Dadaal ku saabsan in uu si toos ah wax uga qabto arimaha cunsuriyadda iyo/ama ka hortagga sinnaan la`aanta cunsurinimada ah
Shuruudaha
- Qofka la magacaabayo waa in uu noqdaa mid degen Minnesota
- In dadaaladu iyo/ama shaqadu ay ka dhacday gobolka Minnesota
- Fasax ka soo qaado magacaabanaha ama mas`uulka kahor inta aadan soo gudbin
- Dadkii horey u qaatay Facing Race Award ma soo gali karaan
- Shaqaalaha hadda ka shaqeeya Ururka Saint Paul & Minnesota ama xubnaha guddigu ma soo gali karaan mana soo gudbin karaan magacaabis
Hanaanka Xulashada
Magacaabane yaasha waxaa laga fiirin doonaa hanaanada soo socda:
- Sida shaqada magacaabanuhu gacan uga gaysatay ciribtirka cunsuriyadda iyo saamaynadeeda gudaha Aagga Bari ee Magaalada (East Metro Area) (Degmooyinka Dakota, Ramsey ama Washington) ama gudaha Minnesota
- Guulihii ugu danbeeyay ee magacaabanaha taasoo faaido u leh East Metro ama Minnesota, khaasatan kuwii sanadkii lasoo dhaafay ahaa
**Dadka la magacaabo ayaa heli doona xaqiijin sheegaysa in magacaabistooda la helay, hase yeeshee, cadadka caadiga ah ee dadka la magacaabo, keliya dadka loo xushay Abaalmarinta sanadkaan ee Facing Race Award ayaa loo sheegi doonaa xaalada
Watch the 2024 Facing Race Awards
We are pleased to honor last 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.

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
2022 Award Recipients
- Classie Dudley
- Angela Hooks
- Txongpao Lee
- Lulete Mola
2021 Award Recipients
- Victoria McWane-Creek
- KingDemetrius Pendleton
- Valerie Shirley
- Wokie Weah
2020 Award Recipients
- Valerie Castile
- Resmaa Menakem
- Alex Miles
- Leslie Redmond
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