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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.

Nominations Open

Do you know someone who deserves recognition for their commitment to racial equity and anti-racism efforts in Minnesota? Nominate that person for the 18th annual Facing Race Awards!

Award recipients can be self-nominated or nominated by the community. Up to four recipients will receive a grant to benefit a Minnesota nonprofit of their choice and be recognized at an award show later this year.

The nomination period will be open from March 11 to March 29 at 5 p.m. Nomination forms are available in English, Hmong, Somali and Spanish. Before nominating, please read the criteria carefully to make your submission as strong as possible.

Nomination Criteria

The Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation established the Facing Race Awards in 2007 to celebrate and honor individuals working to eliminate racism and its effects throughout the state of Minnesota. By highlighting the critical work of honorees, we intend to build on the discussion, dialogue and action taking place around the important issues of race and racism.

The Foundation is currently seeking nominations for our 2024 Facing Race Awards. Each recipient will receive a recognition grant of $7,500 to direct to the Minnesota nonprofit of their choice.

We invite you to submit a nomination in support of an adult or youth who is working to eliminate racism in Minnesota. To submit a nomination, please create a new account with Submittable or sign in to your account using the buttons at the bottom of the page.

Emailed or mailed nominations will not be accepted.

For more information or if you have any questions, please email FacingRace@spmcf.org.

All nominations must be received by March 29, 2024 at 5 p.m.

Nominating criteria

Each adult or youth nominee should demonstrate one or more of the following criteria:

  • Active engagement in creating a racially equitable community
  • Bravery in the face of racism, violence and/or oppression
  • Defense of the values of equity and justice
  • A commitment to directly addressing issues of racism and/or tackling racial inequity

Requirements

  • Nominees must be Minnesota residents
  • The efforts and/or work occurred in the state of Minnesota
  • Get consent from the nominee or guardian prior to submission
  • Former Facing Race Award recipients are ineligible
  • Current Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation staff or board members are ineligible and cannot submit nominations

Selection Criteria

Nominees will be reviewed on the following criteria:

  • How the nominee’s work helps to eliminate racism and its effects in the East Metro Area (Dakota, Ramsey or Washington counties) or in Minnesota
  • The nominee’s recent accomplishments that have benefitted the East Metro or Minnesota, particularly those in the last year

**Nominators will receive confirmation that their nomination has been received, however, due to the typical volume of nominees, only those individuals selected for this year’s Facing Race Award will be notified of their award status.

Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation creó los premios Facing Race Awards en 2007 para celebrar y rendir tributo a las personas que trabajan para erradicar el racismo y sus efectos en todo el estado de Minnesota. Al destacar el trabajo esencial de los galardonados, nuestro objetivo es contribuir al debate, el diálogo y las medidas que se llevan a cabo en torno a las cuestiones importantes de la raza y el racismo.

En este momento, la Fundación está buscando nominaciones para nuestros premios Facing Race Awards 2024. Cada uno de los destinatarios recibirá un subsidio a modo de reconocimiento de $7500 para donar a la organización sin fines de lucro de Minnesota que ellos prefieran.

Lo invitamos a presentar su nominación en apoyo a una persona adulta o joven que esté trabajando para erradicar el racismo en Minnesota. Para presentar una nominación, cree una nueva cuenta en Submittable o inicie sesión en su cuenta usando los botones que aparecen en la parte inferior de la página.

No se aceptarán las nominaciones enviadas por correo electrónico o correo postal.

Para obtener más información o si tiene alguna pregunta, envíe un correo electrónico a FacingRace@spmcf.org.

Todas las nominaciones deben recibirse a más tardar el 29 de marzo de 2024 a las 5 p.m.

Criterios de nominación

Cada persona adulta o joven nominada debe demostrar que reúne uno o más de los siguientes criterios:

  • Participación activa en la creación de una comunidad con igualdad racial
  • Valentía ante el racismo, la violencia y/o la opresión
  • Defensa de los valores de la igualdad y justicia
  • Un compromiso con abordar de forma directa las cuestiones del racismo y/o afrontar la desigualdad racial

Requisitos

  • Las personas nominadas deben ser residentes de Minnesota
  • Las iniciativas y/o la labor deben llevarse a cabo en el estado de Minnesota
  • Obtener el consentimiento de la persona nominada o su tutor(a) antes de la presentación
  • Los ganadores anteriores de los premios Facing Race Award no son elegibles
  • El personal o los miembros de la junta directiva actuales de Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation no son elegibles y no pueden presentar nominaciones

Criterios de selección

Las personas nominadas serán evaluadas según los siguientes criterios:

  • La manera en que la labor de la persona nominada ayuda a erradicar el racismo y sus efectos en el área metropolitana del este (condados de Dakota, Ramsey o Washington) o en Minnesota
  • Los logros recientes de la persona nominada que han beneficiado al área metropolitana del este o Minnesota, en particular, los del último año

**Las personas que nominen recibirán una confirmación de que se ha recibido su nominación. No obstante, debido al volumen típico de personas nominadas, solo se notificará su estado a aquellos que se seleccionen para los premios Facing Race Award de este año.

Lub Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation tau teeb tsa Facing Race Awards nyob rau xyoo 2007 los ua kev zoo siab thiab hwm txog cov neeg uas ua hauj lwm los tshem tawm kev cais haiv neeg thiab nws muaj feem cuam tshuam thoob plaws lub xeev Minnesota. Nws yog ib txog hauj lwm uas muaj kev huab hwm heev, peb mob siab los tsim qhov kev sib tham, rooj sib tham thiab kev nqis tes los daws cov teeb meem tseem ceeb txog haiv neeg thiab kev cais haiv neeg.

Lub Foundation tab tom ua hauj lwm los nrhiav cov kev muab npe rau peb cov yuav tau txais 2024 Facing Race Awards. Txhua tus neeg uas tau txais yuav tau txais qhov nyiaj pab ntawm $7500 kev nco txog ncaj nraim mus rau Minnesota lub chaw ua hauj lwm tsis vam txiaj ntsig ntawm qhov lawv xaiv.

Peb caw koj mus xa npe tus tsim yog yuav muab npe ntawm tus laus los sis tus hluas uas yog tus ua hauj lwm los rhuav tshem kev cais haiv neeg nyob hauv Minnesota. Los xa tus tsim nyog muab npe, thov tsim ib tug as khauj tshiab uas muaj qhov Submittable los sis nkag mus rau hauv koj tus as khauj uas yog kev siv cov pob nias nyob hauv qab kawg ntawm nplooj ntawv.

Sau email los sis sau ntawv xa cov ntsim nyog muab npe yuav tsis raug lees txais.

Rau kev paub ntxiv los sis yog tias koj muaj lus nug dab tsi, thov sau email rau FacingRace@spmcf.org.

Txhua tus tsim nyog muab npe yuav tsum tau txais tsis pub dhau Lub Peb Hlis Ntuj 29, 2024 thaum 5 teev tsaus ntuj.

Txoj Cai Txog Kev Muab Npe

Txhua tej tus neeg laus los sis tus hluas uas yuav muab npe tsim nyog muaj li ib los sis ntau cov kev muaj cai hauv qab no:

  • Tseem rau siab tsim kev muaj vaj huam sib luag txog haiv neeg hauv lub zej zog
  • Siab tawv tuaj yeem tawm tsam kev cais haiv neeg, kev thab sib plaub thiab/los sis kev tsim txom
  • Pov thaiv qhov muaj nqis ntawm kev muaj vaj huam siab luag thiab kev ncaj ncees
  • Cog lus yuav los hais daws cov teeb meem txog kev cais haiv neeg thiab/los sis kev tawm tsam qhov coj tsis ncaj rau haiv neeg

Cov Yuav Tsum Muaj

  • Cov neeg yuav muab npe yuav tsum yog pej xeem neeg nyob hauv Minnesota
  • Cov kev rau siab no thiab/los sis kev ua hauj lwm tau tshwm sim nyob hauv xeev Minnesota
  • Tau txais kev tso cai los ntawm tus yuav muab npe los sis tus saib xyuas me nyuam ua ntej xa
  • Tus uas twb yeej tau txais Facing Race Awards los lawm yuav tsis muaj cai lawm
  • Cov uas yog neeg ua hauj lwm los sis cov thawj coj nyob hauv Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation yuav tsis muaj cai thiab yuav tsis pub xa cov kev muab npe

Txoj Cai Xaiv

Cov neeg yuav muab npe yuav raug tshab xyuas nyob rau txoj cai hauv qab no:

  • Txoj hauv kev tus neeg yuav muab npe los ua hauj lwm pab tshem tawm kev cais haiv neeg thiab nws muaj feem cuam tshuam nyob rau Cheeb Tsam Nroog Sab Hnub Tuaj (Dakota, Ramsey los sis Washington khauj tim) los sis nyob hauv Minnesota
  • Cov yuav muab npe nyuam qhuav ua tau qhov muaj txiaj ntsig rau Lub Nroog Sab Hnub Tuaj los sis Minnesota, feem ntau lawm yog xyoo dhau los

**Cov neeg uas muab npe tuaj yuav tau txais daim ntawv lees paub tias tau txais lawv lub npe lawm, txawm li cas los xij, vim yog cov muab npe tuaj coob heev, tsuas yog cov neeg uas raug xaiv rau lub Facing Race Award xyoo no xwb thiaj yuav tau txais kev ceeb toom txog lawv qhov xwm txheej nuj sua plig.

Ururka Saint Paul & Minnesota waxay Facing Race Awards aasaastay sanadkii 2007 si loogu dabaaldago ashkhaasta sharafta mudan ee ka shaqaynaya ciribtirka cunsuriyadda iyo saamaynadeeda ayada oo laga ciribtiraayo guud ahaan gobolka Minnesota. Ayada oo hoosa laga xariiqayo shaqada muhiimka ah ee ay hayaan dadkaas sharafta mudan, waxaan doonaynaa in aan ku dul-dhiso wadaxaajoodka, doodad iyo waxqabadka socda arimaha muhiimka ah ee isirka iyo cunsuriyadda.

Ururku waxa uu hadda raadinayaa magacaabidda Facing Race Awards ee 2024. Qof kasta oo abaal marinta helaaya ayaa heli doona deeqda abaal marinta oo dhan $7500 si uu ugu deeqo ururka khayriga ah ee Minnesota oo asagu uu dooranaayo.

Waxaan kugu casuumaynaa in aad soo gudbiso magacaabis adiga oo taageero ka helaya qof weyn ama mid dhalinyaro ah kaasoo ka shaqeeya ciribtirka cunsuriyadda kajirta Minnesota. Si aad magacaabis usoo gudbiso, fadlan ka samayso ciwaan cusub Submittable ama gal ciwaankaaga adiga oo isticmaalaya batoomada kujira bogga qaybtiisa hoose.

Magacaabidyada iimeelka ama boostada lagu diraayo lama aqbali doono.

Si aad u hesho macluumaad dheeraad ah ama haddii aad qabto su`aalo dheeraad ah, fadlan iimayl udir FacingRace@spmcf.org.

Dhammaan magacaabisyada waa in la helaa marka la gaaro Socod 29, 2024 saacadduna tahay 5:00 galabnimo.

Shuruudaha magacaabista

Qof kasta oo magacaaban oo ah qof weyn ama dhalinyaro waa in uu muujiyaa ha lama wax ka badan oo ah shuruudaha soo socda:

  • Shaqo socota oo ku saabsan abuurista bulsho isir ahaan siman
  • Geesinimo uu kala hortago cunsuriyadda, xadgudubka/ama dhibaataynta
  • Difaacidda qiimaha sinaanta iyo caddaaladda
  • Dadaal ku saabsan in uu si toos ah wax uga qabto arimaha cunsuriyadda iyo/ama ka hortagga sinnaan la`aanta cunsurinimada ah

Shuruudaha

  • Qofka la magacaabayo waa in uu noqdaa mid degen Minnesota
  • In dadaaladu iyo/ama shaqadu ay ka dhacday gobolka Minnesota
  • Fasax ka soo qaado magacaabanaha ama mas`uulka kahor inta aadan soo gudbin
  • Dadkii horey u qaatay Facing Race Award ma soo gali karaan
  • Shaqaalaha hadda ka shaqeeya Ururka Saint Paul & Minnesota ama xubnaha guddigu ma soo gali karaan mana soo gudbin karaan magacaabis

Hanaanka Xulashada

Magacaabane yaasha waxaa laga fiirin doonaa hanaanada soo socda:

  • Sida shaqada magacaabanuhu gacan uga gaysatay ciribtirka cunsuriyadda iyo saamaynadeeda gudaha Aagga Bari ee Magaalada (East Metro Area) (Degmooyinka Dakota, Ramsey ama Washington) ama gudaha Minnesota
  • Guulihii ugu danbeeyay ee magacaabanaha taasoo faaido u leh East Metro ama Minnesota, khaasatan kuwii sanadkii lasoo dhaafay ahaa

**Dadka la magacaabo ayaa heli doona xaqiijin sheegaysa in magacaabistooda la helay, hase yeeshee, cadadka caadiga ah ee dadka la magacaabo, keliya dadka loo xushay Abaalmarinta sanadkaan ee Facing Race Award ayaa loo sheegi doonaa xaalada

Watch the 2023 Facing Race Awards

We are excited to honor the 2023 four Facing Race Award recipients: Trahern Crews, Rayona Kardell, Rose McGee and Asha Shoffner! Watch their stories by streaming the 2023 Facing Race Awards Show right here.

video poster

Meet the 2023 Recipients

Join us in celebrating this year’s recipients and the impact they’re making in our community.

Trahern Crews

Trahern Crews is the co-founder and lead organizer of Black Lives Matter Minnesota – one of the nation’s most active chapters. As a reparationist, social justice advocate and grassroots organizer, the Saint Paul resident strives to make Minnesota a more equitable state.

Over the course of his career in activism, Trahern has led the Saint Paul Recovery Act Community Reparations Commission and worked on the Minnesota Migration Act. He has also run for public office as a member of the Green Party and is currently working with other leaders to put together a textbook on how to create social change in an effort to pass down their strategies and techniques to the next generations.

Trahern Crews holding his hand up in a fist

Trahern Crews

Rayona Kardell headshot

Rayona Kardell

Rayona Kardell

Rayona Kardell is one of two client advocates at Breaking Free, a nonprofit that assists clients who have experienced sex trafficking or sexual exploitation. She is passionate about helping her clients overcome the barriers they face and achieve the goals they’ve felt they would never reach.

“Rayona goes out of her way to bring clients food and hygiene items at their homes or treatment facilities after already putting in her eight hours for the day,” said her coworker and nominator. She has helped women, both young and old, break generational curses and find purpose, using her life experiences to provide clients with love and inspiration when they need it the most.

Rose McGee

Rose McGee is an activist who uses an unlikely tool to advocate for justice – sweet potato pies. Since 2014, after the murder of Michael Brown, Jr. in Ferguson, Missouri, Rose has been delivering comfort to those impacted by racial trauma with what she calls ‘the sacred dessert of Black culture.’ Since then she has expanded her concept to Sweet Potato Comfort Pie®, an organization that serves as a catalyst for caring and building community.

With the help of volunteers, Rose has baked and delivered over 4,000 pies across the country in response to racially driven events in Charleston, South Carolina; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Standing Rock and our very own Twin Cities.

Rose McGee in her kitchen

Rose McGee

Asha Shoffner sitting in a wooded area

Asha Shoffner

Asha Shoffner

Asha Shoffner is her most authentic self when she’s surrounded by nature. She leads Saint Paul Parks and Recreation’s outdoor and environmental education work. She has initiated and managed groundbreaking programs to create opportunities for Black, Indigenous and People of Color in the Twin Cities to enjoy the outdoors. In the past year, Asha has organized 45 BIPOC-specific events, reaching over 500 people.

She is the founder and creator of BIPOC Outdoors Twin Cities, a safe and welcoming space for BIPOC and queer folks to experience the excitement of fishing (including ice fishing) workshops, cross-country skiing and snowboarding lessons, Indigenous plant medicine hikes, camping/canoeing trips and more.

Advocating for Equity

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.

The Facing Race Awards, established in 2007, are just one way the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation advocates for equity. Learn more about our narrative change and anti-racism efforts, and how you can join us.

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