Please join us for the JUANITA CRAFT HUMANITARIAN AWARDS ceremony on October 11, 2020: this year, the awards ceremony will be held virtually. We will honor the legacy of Mrs. Craft by awarding past, present, and up-and-coming leaders who are continuing her vision. The Juanita Craft Humanitarian Awards will be an annual event held during the State Fair of Texas to recognize the work of Mrs. Craft and help uplift those who are committed to issues of justice and community transformation. Downloaded a 2020 Nomination Application packet soon that includes forms to nominate individuals and organizations/businesses for the award. Your financial support is also needed to help with the restoration of the home.
Juanita Craft was an NAACP leader, former Democratic Precinct Chair, and the first black woman in Texas history to be deputized as a poll tax collector. Craft was a tireless advocate for desegregation, equal pay, equality in health care, and other civil rights issues. She moved to this Warren Avenue home during the 1950s when racial tension in the neighborhood was high. There were 11 bombings in the surrounding area from 1950 to 1951 alone. Despite this, her home became a meeting place for African American youth, whom Craft educated on civil rights issues and she believed would shape the future of the civil rights struggle. Civil rights leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. and politicians such as Lyndon B. Johnson also visited Craft’s home. The house, built in 1930, is a typical example of the Craftsman Bungalow style and retains much of its original historic features. Mrs. Craft also played a crucial role integrating the State Fair of Texas among other universities, restaurants, and theaters around Dallas — due to her tireless efforts and this significant achievement, we would like to honor her legacy.
2019 Winners
Catalyst Award Recipient – Taylor Toynes
Legacy Award Recipient – Linda Lydia
Spark Award Recipient – William Menifee
Visionary Award Recipient – Rev. Richie Butler
Catalyst Award Honorable Mention – Rev. Dr. Michael Waters and Attorney Yulise Reaves Waters
Legacy Award Honorable Mention – Jaqueline Mixon
Visionary Award Honorable Mention – Kimberly Neil
2018 Winners
CATALYST AWARD—Candace Thompson
VISIONARY AWARD—Robert Edison
LEGACY AWARD—Willie Mae Coleman
2018 Honorable Mentions
CATALYST AWARD – Young Leaders, Strong City
VISIONARY AWARD–Dona Gassaway Mitchell
LEGACY AWARD–Rev. Peter Johnson