Facing Race Awards
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.
As we mark the 20th anniversary of the Facing Race Awards, we are taking a thoughtful pause this year and will not be opening a nominations process. This milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on the program’s impact and consider how it can continue to evolve in ways that deepen our commitment to racial equity and support the community leaders advancing this work.
Advocating for equity remains a key strategy at the Foundation. We are also leaning into our value centering community as our compass and gathering input from community members and partners to inform the next chapter of our Facing Race program.
We look forward to sharing more later this year, and in the meantime invite you to save the date for October 28 when we will host our 20th Anniversary Facing Race Celebration to honor our past recipients and honorees.
Save the Date: October 28, 2026
Join us in celebrating 20 years of the Facing Race Awards. Registration opens Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Sign up to receive our emails to be the first to hear about this and other upcoming events from the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.
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 to increase inclusion and belonging, and how you can join us.
KingDemetrius Pendleton
Past Facing Race Award Honorees
2025 Award Recipients
- Alexs Pate
- Nate Smith
- Kathy Sublett
- Sai Thao
- Patricia Torres Ray
2024 Award Recipients
- Ma Elena Gutierrez
- Tish Jones
- Jametta Raspberry
- Larry Tucker
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
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
Valerie Castile
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
Resmaa Menakem
Alex Miles
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
Leslie Redmond
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