There are times in an activist's life when he or she wants to paint a square on the wall with the words "Bang head here."
Activism and civic participation can be rewarding, but they are also time-consuming, thankless and even dangerous. Since 1983, the Indy's Citizen Awards have honored those rabblerousersmany mild-mannered, others outspoken, but all largely unsungfor their work. Some honorees have tackled overarching issues such as human rights, while others have focused on improving their communitiesa smaller but no less important scale.
There is no limit to the number of issues in the Triangle worth the time and struggle. Please join the Indy in applauding the five award-winners for fighting the good fight. Lisa Sorg
This year's winners | ||||
 |  |  |  |  |
| Committee to Save the Lakewood Y More than a gym | The Haw River Assembly Protecting a waterway for a quarter-century | El Futuro Helping to heal minds, building confianza with Latinos | Stop Torture Now Extraordinary rendition requires extraordinary activism | Al McSurely Fighting racismand winningwith real-life consequences |
A tradition of giving thanks
2007 El Futuro, Stop Torture Now, Committee to Save the Lakewood Y, Haw River Assembly, Al McSurely
2006 Lanya Shapiro and Traction, the Pesticide Education Project, Margie Ellison, Chad Johnston and Andrew Pearson
2005 Bernice Wade and Barbara Stiles, Band Together, Code Pink, Chuck and Laura Richardson, Dr. Evelyn Schmidt, Thomas Savage
2004 Pete MacDowell, Peggy Misch, NCCU Civic Engagement Task Force, El Pueblo, Blaise Strenn
2003 Delores Bailey, Janet Colm, Earl Matlock, Marcia Owen, Lewis Pitts, SeeSaw Studio
2002 Ashley Forte, Ann Akland, Gene Galin, Caleb Southern, The Anti-Warriors
2001 Bill Padgett, Daniella Cook, DeWarren Langley, Gail Phares, Empowerment Inc. and Mark Chilton
2000 Bill Towe of Peace Action, Internationalist Books, The Hispanic Credit Union, Rural Advancement Foundation International (RAFI), Bertie Howard of the Africa News
1999 Alex Charns, Kamau and Mawiyah Kambon, Jo Sanders, Sidney Brodie, Louise Davis, Ken Rose and The Center for Death Penalty Litigation
1998 Rick Dove, Coalition for the Public Trust, Linda Wilson and Candles of Hope, Jimmy Leach, Myra Fuller and Rhondette Jones, Old West Durham Neighborhood Association
1997 Florence Siman-Zablah, N.C. Farmworkers' Project, Luis Alvarenga, Jovenes Lideres en Acción and Youth for Social Change, Lizette Cruz-Watko
1996 Helping Hands Center of Siler City, Chris Fitzsimon, Patrick O'Neill and Mary Rider, UNC Housekeepers Association, Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers (TROSA)
1995 Joe and Lucy Straley, Quinton Baker, Ron Mace, Cy King, Margaret Brown, Christine Strudwick
1994 Joe Neff, Falcon's Cry, Waltye Rasulala, Jim Baxter, Terry Grunwald, Sam Reed
1993 Roz Savitt, Northampton Citizens Against Pollution, Grace Higgs, Lynice Williams, Gretchen Durham
1992 Rev. Linda Jordan, Rev. Mahan Siler, Cash Michaels, Linda Mabry, Dietrich von Haugwitz, N.C. Community Land Trustees
1991 Sister Evelyn Mattern, Rev. Jim Lewis, Lisa Madry, Clay Thorp, Shirley McLain, Juanita McNeil, The Center for Peace Education
1990 John Bartlett, Rebecca Clark, Louise Kessel, Roy Gorman, Those Who Speak Out, NARAL-NC
1989 Jim Clark, Michael Bleyman, Dave Owens, Shiloh Coalition, Common Ground, Billie Rogers, Margaret Pollard
1988 Saladin Muhammad, Catherine Vicks, Julia Taylor, Center for Community Self-Help
1987 Phail Wynn Jr., Malcolm Potts, Center for Women's Economic Alternatives, Bill Holman, Jacques Menache
1986 Janet Hoyle, Mary Talbert, Mandy Carter, David Stanford, C.A.S.H. Volunteers
1985 Ann Shephard, Eddie Davis, The Lesbian and Gay Health Project, Rev. Wilson Lee, Melinda Lawrence
1984 Carolyn Allen, Lightning Brown, Bob Hall, Kenneth Duane Johnson, Joe Herzenberg, Jimmy Little, Gloria McCrae
1983 Carolina Interfaith Task Force on Central America, Deep River Citizens Coalition
