We at Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Services see the evidence of injustice daily. It can be seen through the social disparities that ravage the lives of those we serve be it through the direct impact on their health care, the food insecurities they wrestle with continually, the restricted access to quality educational systems, and the restriction on their family’s ability to achieve financial security, each limiting their lives far too much.

The challenges and strategies are many and complex, it requires each of us to commit to doing something to advance the aspirations of Rev Dr. King’s vision he presented in his “I have a Dream” speech.

MLKFS is a Dr. King legacy organization in the City of Springfield, committed to addressing in part some of the community’s most pressing needs. The MLKFS Social Justice Awards were established in 2017 to recognize individuals and institutions that have a history of demonstrating a sustained commitment to addressing in part some of the social justice issues and concerns that plague the City of Springfield and beyond.

The Social Justice Awards are presented in the areas of:

1. Education
2. Public Health
3. Economic Development
4. Entrepreneurship
5. Faith
6. Arts & Culture
7. Race Relations
8. Lifetime Achievement (Committed over twenty years to their cause)

Criteria:

The criteria used in selecting awardees for the annual award include:

• Length of service
• Volunteer vs paid work
• Not often recognized for the good that they do, unsung heroes
• Demonstration of success in the field of their interest and commitment
• The community will be enthusiastic regarding the selection of the awardee
• An overwhelming majority of the SJA Committee is in favor of the nomination
• The MLKFS Board of Directors cast a final vote on the slate of awardees presented to the BOD by the selection committee

2022 winners