Difference Makers
Each year, the MLK Celebration Committee awards a few local leaders, businessmen and women, pastors, and other people in the community that are making a difference in Sacramento.
The following are the criteria for the different categories:
Service and Advocacy: Those who have provided voice to the marginalized. We encourage nominations for individuals who provide services and/or advocacy for basic human rights or those marginalized by poverty, ethnicity, national origin, gender or age.
Programs for Children: Those who stand for children. We seek nominations for those individuals who invest their resources for the wellbeing of children – our future.
Innovation for Change: Those who have the courage to innovate and change the status quo. We encourage nominations of individuals who apply innovation and creative approaches for addressing societal issues. Our aim is to address persistent challenges in the lives of the marginalized.
Historical and Cultural Preservation: Those who help to preserve history for future generations. The lessons from the past provide direction for the future; thus, we are seeking nominees whose focus is on preservation of the past as an avenue for community building.
Unity of the Church: Those who have created pathways for bringing the church together as one. Jesus never approached anyone with caution or suspicion. We are looking for nominees who have demonstrated a Christ-like approach to ministry by living a life of inclusion and acceptance.
Mentoring and Coaching: Those who are helping others achieve their business and career goals. We are looking for nominees who are engaged in intentional one-to-one relationships that are designed to empower others to grow and succeed in corporate America.
If you know someone in the greater Sacramento area that is deserving of one of these awards, please fill out the application at this link and return to us via email or usps:
Past Recipients
2023
Judge Myrlys Stockdale – Service and Advocacy
Jackie Turner – Innovation for Change
Jim Wells – Unity of the Church
Pastor Rick Cole – Sherwood Carthen Lifetime Achievement Award
2022
Patricia Dansby – Service and Advocacy
Tecoy Porter College Prep, a Fortune School – Programs for Children
2020:
Pastor Tamara Bennett – Service and Advocacy
Jane Paul, Ph.D., BCBA-D – Advocacy for Children
Pastor Bob Balian – Unity of the Church
Mark Haney – Mentoring and Coaching
2019:
Les Simmons – Innovation for Change
Ann Meyer – Unity of the Church
Pastor Dann Bryant – Coaching and Mentoring
Jackie Rose – Programs for Children
Rev. Dr. Samuel Gordon – Sherwood Carthen Lifetime Achievement Award
2018:
Stephanie R. McLemore-Bray – Service and Advocacy
Perseus Poku – Coaching and Mentoring
Loren and Rachelle Ditmore – Innovation for Change
Dr. Natalie Woods-Andrews – Programs for Children
Chaplain Mark O’Sullivan – Unity of the Church
Ted Rose – Sherwood Carthen Lifetime Achievement Award
*This award for the late Ted Rose is posthumous
2017:
Christopher Johnson- Innovation for Change
Chief Lee Seale- Innovation for Change
Dr. John Jackson- Service and Advocacy
Amaya Weiss- Service and Advocacy
Jeff Kreiser- Unity of the Church
Jerry Manuel- Programs for Children
Gary Fox- Sherwood Carthen Lifetime Achievement Award
2016:
Leah Albright- Mentoring and Coaching
Michael Blair- Service and Advocacy
Pleshette Robertson- Service and Advocacy
Jenna Abbott- Innovation for Change
Ralph Diaz- Innovation for Change
Spencer Stone and Anthony Sadler- Courage
Pastor Cole Zick – Innovation for Change
City Councilman Rick Jennings – Service and Advocacy
Reverend Ted Rose – Unity of the Church
Jackie Guzman – Mentoring and Coaching
Doug Britton – Mentoring and Coaching
Judge Bunmi Awoniyi – Programs for Children
Sam Starks – Historical and Cultural Preservation
Bishop Francis Quinn – Unity of the Church
Chief Sam Somers – Innovation for Change
Raed Awabeh – Service and Advocacy
Ken Cross – Innovation for Change
Leanne Cameron – Service and Advocacy
Judge Stacy Boulware Eurie – Service and Advocacy
Chief Daniel Hahn – Innovation for Change
Sacramento Ceasefire Task Force – Innovation for Change
Michelle Raby – Service and Advocacy
Ed Manansala – Programs for Children
Scott Syphax – Mentoring and Coaching
CC Yin – Historical and Cultural Preservation
Dr. Bryce Jessup – Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Barbara Smith-Nash
Pastor Glen Cole- Lifetime Achievement Award
Bill Coibion
Jason Harper
Sam Harris
Pastor Scott Hagan
Greg Perkins
Lucy Oback
Susan Coslo
Debbra Otto Kent – Service and Advocacy
Michelle Karnes and Alton Nelson – Programs for Children
Mindi Russell – Innovation for Change
Anita Johnson and Rob Brown – Mentoring and Coaching
Jeff Johnson – Unity of the Church
Michele Steeb – Difference Maker
Dr. Henry Wells – Lifetime Achievement
Honorable Troy Nunley
DeWayne Norris
Derrell and Tina Roberts
Kevin Eastway
Pastor Samuel Gordon
Dr. Richard Ikeda
Chaplain Dan Thompson
Steve Lewis
Laura Reed
James Shelby
Clarence Caesar
Ida Otani
Bishop Sherwood Carthen
Phil Oates
Kevin Johnson
Dr. Ephraim Williams- Lifetime Achievement Award
Dorothy Montgomery
Kacie Stratton
Jan Schori
Professor Wayne Maeda
Pastor Jim Jessup
Omar Turner
Dr. William Lee