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.
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.
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