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three dancers at night

59th Annual NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner Denver, Colorado - July 3rd, 2026

From Merger to Movement: A 60 Year Legacy of Keeping Hope Alive. NEA’s tradition of honoring human and civil rights leaders is steeped in history. A tradition that began with the American Teachers Association.

The 59th Annual (2026) Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner is SOLD OUT! We look forward to seeing you next year in Indianapolis!

Join us in Denver, Colorado!

The annual NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards is inextricably linked to the 1966 merger of the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Teachers Association (ATA). ATA, which represented Black teachers in segregated schools in the South, traditionally honored leaders in the justice and civil rights movement at an annual awards dinner. This inspirational program was necessary to acknowledge progress in the movement towards justice nationwide, and to uplift positive impacts on the education of students of color. As a new merged Association, the NEA has proudly held to this tradition each year since 1967, celebrating leaders in racial justice, social justice, human and civil rights.

The 59th Annual (2026) Human and Civil Rights Awards Dinner is SOLD OUT! We look forward to seeing you next year in Indianapolis!

Meet our 2026 Winners!

Dr. O’Nae Chatman

Dr. O’nae Chatman - H. Councill Trenholm Memorial Award

Dr. Chatman’s goal is to instill confidence, leadership skills, and a sense of purpose.
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Brian Whitecalf

Brian Whitecalf - Reg Weaver Memorial Award for Human and Civil Rights

Brian Whitecalf knows that schools aren’t just buildings, they’re lifelines for society’s most vulnerable.
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Emanuel “Dupree” Jackson, Jr.

Emanuel “Dupree” Jackson, Jr. - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Award

Through the founding of his Emanuel Jackson Senior (EJS) Project, Dupree has made hands-on advocacy for youth in his hometown of Delray Beach, Florida, his life’s mission.
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HOPE-Esperanza

HOPE-Esperanza - George I. Sánchez Memorial Award

This nonprofit initiative, founded in 2021 by Executive Director TinaMaria Fernández, serves Lincoln County, Nebraska’s large Latino community, addressing issues marginalized groups face with access to with essential services.
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Girls Inc.

Girls Inc. - Mary Hatwood Futrell Award

Girls Inc. continues Futrell’s mission to strike down bias and stereotypes for women of all backgrounds.
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Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA)

Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (CIRA) - Acción y Compromiso Human and Civil Rights Award

The efforts of Cortes-Mills and CIRA are saving lives and continuing the glorious American tradition of organized labor.
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NUIHC

Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition (NUIHC) - Leo Reano Memorial Award

The perfect continuation of Reano’s legacy is the work of The Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition (NUIHC), created to give the Native population living in the greater Omaha and Lincoln metro areas access to quality health care.
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The Fairness Campaign - Virginia Uribe Memorial Award for Creative Leadership in Human Rights

Carrying the trailblazing torch that Uribe proudly held high, The Fairness Campaign, Kentucky’s oldest LGBTQ+ advocacy group, under the direction of Chris Hartman, is helping youth step out of the shadows, encouraging everyone to see the light of equality.
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Vital Immigrant Defense Advocacy and Services

Vital Immigrant Defense Advocacy and Services - Rosa Parks Memorial Award

This coalition of Latino activists, civic leaders, and attorneys was founded in 2014 to impact the crisis facing those who’ve come to the United States to make a way out of no way.
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Education Minnesota

Education Minnesota - NEA President's Award for Human and Civil Rights

For nearly three decades, Education Minnesota has been a leading voice for justice and excellence in public education across the state.
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About the Awards

NEA’s annual tradition of honoring human and civil rights champions is rooted and grounded in the historical legacy of the NEA-ATA merger.
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