Every year on the weekend of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, St. Andrew presents its annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Social Justice Awards at 9:30 Mass. These awards are given to people whose service embodies the values of Dr. King, who used nonviolence, civil disobedience, and Christian teaching to advance the cause of civil rights in America.
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Please help us with the selection process by submitting a nomination for the awards.2026 Recipients The 2026 award for Community Service was presented to Randal Wyatt and Taking OwnershipPDX. Randal worked professionally as a counselor and youth mentor, and was passionate about economic justice in Portland and particularly helping Black Portlanders maintain home ownership in challenging economic times. Taking OwnershipPDX organizes financing and volunteer help for repairs to local homes, when the owners can’t afford these repairs themselves. Many who they help are senior who have lived in the neighborhood their entire lives. To date, they have facilitated 1.5 million dollars in home improvements and Black-owned business grants, and over 125 homes have received assistance to maintain healthy homeownership. The parish award recognizes Joy Wallace, who has worked for years in the parish in a variety of roles, including LGBTQ+ Ministry, Senior Ministry, and as an altar server. Joy joined St. Andrew Parish in 1997 and has worked on a variety of projects in the parish as well as activities in the wider community, such as the Oregon Safe Schools and Communities Coalition. |
Previous Award Recipients
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Year |
Community Service Award |
St Andrew Parishioner |
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2002 |
Portland Firefighter Rick Fizer filed discrimination suit against the city and won |
Jim Francesconi Fr. Robert Krueger |
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2003 |
Archdiocese of Portland, African-American Affairs Coordinator – Sam Jackson, Jr. |
Mary Anderson |
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2004 |
New Seasons Market, diverse workforce – Founder Brian Rother |
Sr. Kathleen Stupfel, SNJM Dr. Robert Hughley |
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2005 |
|
Jim Anderson |
|
2006 |
No award |
No award |
|
2007 |
Oregon State Senate – Avel Gordly |
Gary Kasper |
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2008 |
The Skanner Newspaper |
Msgr. Charles Leinert |
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2009 |
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2010 |
Nativity School – Scott Powers Precision Castparts CEO, Mark Donegan – Support of Catholic education |
Posthumously: Lou Boston and Amanda Jackson |
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2011 |
18th Avenue Peace House: Ann & Bruce Huntwork Capital Campaign Steering Committee: Jerry Bitz, Trish Bradley, Isabel Camacho, Gordon Dickey, Lisa Hatten, Martina Murray, Paul Olson John Soisson |
Maggie Gibson, Barbara Willer, Fr. Robert Krueger |
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2012 |
St Andrew Legal Clinic – Keith Raines and Tom Caruso |
Jerry & Carol Bitz |
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2013 |
Better People – Clariner Boston |
Msgr. Charles Lienert |
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2014 |
Oregon Labor Movement – Jean Eilers |
Edna Hicks |
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2015 |
Jobs with Justice |
Bobbie Foster |
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2016 |
St Mary’s Academy – Angela Sivers |
Dr. Robert Hughley |
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2017 |
Veterans for Peace |
Dr. Ann Turner & Catherine Bax |
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2018 |
St Andrew Nativity School – Lela Roberts |
Alejandro Bautista |
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2019 |
Northwest Pilot Project – Bobby Weinstock & Susan Emmons |
Louise Kasper |
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2020 |
Ann Schneider |
Fr. David Zegar |
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2021 |
cameron whitten |
Trish Bradley |
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2022 |
Neighbors Helping Neighbors – Terrance Moses |
Tony Jones |
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2023 |
Lift Every Voice Oregon (LEVO), Pastor Mark Knutson accepting |
Lucinda Tate (posthumously), Mary Nemmers |
|
2024 |
Ron Herndon |
David Fikstad (9:30), Martina Murray (12:30) |
|
2025 |
Paul Knauls |
Bev Logan |
|
2026 |
Randal Wyatt and Taking Ownership PDX |
Joy Wallace |