The National MultiCultural Institute’s Leading Lights Diversity Awards For Nonprofit Diversity Leadership

About the Awards

The Leading Lights Diversity Awards celebrate exemplary leaders in the nonprofit sector whose demonstrated courage, innovation and commitment to diversity light a path to a more inclusive society.

Non-profit organizations not only provide critical health and human services within our communities, they also help define and give character to our society at large. From enriching our lives through arts and culture to providing for basic human needs like food, clothing and housing; from great social movements like voting rights for women and African-Americans to protection of the environment, non-profits have often led the way to a more civil society. It is in recognition of their pivotal leadership roles in our communities that NMCI is proud to recognize non-profit organizations for leadership in the area of diversity with the Leading Lights of Diversity Awards.

Annually, three (3) awards are presented to organizations that serve as role models for enhancing diversity and encouraging respect and inclusion within their organizations and with the diverse communities they serve. Individuals through their work in and on behalf of non-profit organizations are also eligible for recognition. Award recipients are selected from the following non-profit sectors:

• Education
• Human Services
• Health Care
• Arts & Culture

A fourth award, recognizing an individual or organization that has been at the forefront of addressing an emerging critical issue related to multiculturalism, will be periodically awarded.

Eligibility

• Nonprofit organization- 501(c) (3)
• Initiative implementation within last three years
• Belong to one of four sectors: Education, Social Services, Health Care, or the Arts.

Criteria

• Initiative builds diversity and inclusion in the organization and with the multicultural communities the organization serves
• Senior-Level Commitment to Initiative
• Sustainability of Initiative
• Communication of Initiative within organization and to communities served
• Demonstrable impact of Initiative
• Originality of Initiative
• Ability of Initiative to be replicated by other organizations in the field

Application

Deadline for Applications: April 14, 2006

Announcement of Awards: May 1, 2006

Awards Ceremony: May 18, 2006 at NMCI’s Annual Conference in Washington, DC

Please submit all application forms to:

The National MultiCultural Institute
Attn: Maria Morukian
3000 Connecticut Avenue, NW; Suite 438
Washington, DC 20008-2556

2005 Nonprofit Diversity Leader Awards

Sponsored By:

Sodexho , USA


Duane Morris, LLC

NMCI congratulates its 2005 Nonprofit Diversity Leader Award winners and nominees!

At its Annual National Conference on May 19, 2005, NMCI held the Nonprofit Diversity Leader Awards Ceremony, to recognize the achievements of four distinguished nonprofit organizations in the Washington, DC metro area for their role as leaders in community diversity and multicultural inclusion.

The honorees, representing the four core sectors of Education, Social Services, Health Care, and the Arts, have implemented innovative outreach initiatives that serve as models for enhancing diversity and encouraging respect and inclusion in the communities they serve:

Computer C.O.R.E. (Community OutReach and Education)
Computer CORE has taken innovative steps to help low-income adults in Alexandria, Virginia build technical and life skills to attain their career aspirations. The program attracts a diverse group of students, many of whom are new to the country. Computer CORE’s classes offer basic computer skills training, as well as workforce preparation courses like résumé and interviewing skills building.

The Patricia M. Sitar Center for the Arts
The Patricia M. Sitar Center for the Arts is a community arts center located in the Adams Morgan neighborhood in Washington, DC. The Center provides a safe, inclusive and creative environment for over 300 neighborhood youth and family members to engage and develop their artistic talents and overall appreciation for the arts.

Multicultural Community Service
Multicultural Community Service (MCS) offers community programs to foster effective communication among culturally diverse groups. Among its programs, MCS offers interpretation and translation services and dialogue facilitation; encourages Washington, DC youth to become educators and conflict resolution advocates; and works with predominantly Latino immigrant parents to help them become involved in their children’s education.

African American Health Alliance
Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Coalition (REHDC)
Led by the African American Health Alliance, which is steadfastly dedicated to the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities in health and healthcare, REHDC is a multicultural working group of national and local organizations committed to improving minority health. The Coalition supports, promotes, and provides input to legislation, policy and budget initiatives that help to close healthcare gaps in communities of color.

Honorable Mention Nominees:

Suited for Change

Bowie State University

CentroNía

International Center on Child Labor and Education

Institute for the Advancement of Multicultural & Minority Medicine