AWARDEES
Outstanding Community Leader Award
The Outstanding Community Leader Awards are nominated and voted on by our members, to recognize individuals who have done essential work in representing and supporting their communities and centers.
2024
Billy Ocasio
National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture
Dr. Ramón García
Dominican American Midwest Association
2023
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2022
Melodi Serna
American Indian Center
Byoung Sug Kim
Korean Cultural Center of Chicago
2021
Fritzie Fritzshall
Illinois Holocaust Museum
Sherry Williams
Bronzeville Historical Society
2020
Soo Lon Moy
Chinese American Museum of Chicago
Kathleen McDonald
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
2019
Ron Salazar
Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago
Emil Aldaddah
Muslim American Leadership Alliance
2018
Jean Mishima
Chicago Japanese American Historical Society
Lydia Tkaczuk
Ukrainian National Museum
2017
Ruben Salazar
Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago
Kwangmin Jang
Korean Cultural Center of Chicago
2016
Jan Lorys
Polish Museum of America
Dorothis Shah
Indo-American Heritage Museum
Dr. Erku Yimer
Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago
2015
Marie Ciesla
Polish Museum of America
Hector Duarte
Casa Michoacán
2014
Jose Lopez
Puerto Rican Cultural Center
Joe Yazzie
Trickster Cultural Center
2013
Kerstin Lane
Swedish American Museum of Chicago
Rasmea Yousef
Arab American Action Network
2012
Jose Luis Gutierrez
Casa Michoacán
Raymond Lee
Chinese American Museum of Chicago
2011
Lakshmi Menon
Indo-American Heritage Center
Alex Gonzales
Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago
2010
Angie DeCorah
American Indian Center
Frank Gleeson
Irish American Heritage Center
Cultural Champion Award
This annual award is given to individuals selected by the Chicago Cultural Alliance Board to recognize for their remarkable activism and support of Chicago’s diverse communities and cultural heritages.
2023
Gary Johnson
2022
Joseph Seliga & Vanessa Vergara
2021
Claire Rice
2020
Angel Ysaguirre
2019
Michelle Boone
2018
Rosa Cabrera and Alaka Wali
2017
Amina Dickerson
2016
Elissa Efroymson & Adnaan Hamid
2015
Ra & Falona Joy
2014
Janet Carl Smith
2013
Martin Castro
2012
Sunny Fischer
Cultural Investment Award
Each year, the Chicago Cultural Alliance Board of Directors selects an organization to recognize for its investments and support of Chicago’s communities and cultures.
2023
Choose Chicago
2021
Belmont Bank & Trust
2020
The Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
2019
Allstate Insurance