Community Power and Community Change at the #ChangeChampion Awards

The AFL-CIO headquarters was filled to the brim with community activists last Thursday night as people came together to honor and celebrate the achievements of the recipients of the Community Change Champion Awards, an annual event that honors individuals and organizations who are dedicated to social justice.

The awards, hosted by the Center for Community Change, emphasized the importance of grassroots activism, advocacy and community engagement. Honorees included:

• Actress Sonja Sohn, Champion in Community Action
• Husband and wife anti-poverty fighting team Paulette Meyer and David Friedman, Champion in Community Leadership
• The Communications Workers of America, Champion in Labor Partnership
• The Ohio Organizing  Collaborative, Champion in Community Organizing

Sohn, best known for her role as Detective Kima Greggs on “The Wire”, spoke eloquently about the importance of building localized support for all communities. She was honored as a Champion in Community Activism for her work empowering youth, families and communities through her Baltimore based nonprofit “ReWired for Change.”

Congrats to all of the award recipients and thanks for your important community work!