The State Fair of Texas and the Juanita J. Craft Civil Rights House & Steering Committee are proud to announce that nominations for the third annual Juanita Craft Humanitarian Awards are now open on BigTex.com/JuanitaCraft. The awards recognize past, present, and future leaders who are following in Ms. Craft’s footsteps by making an impact on civil rights in the city of Dallas. Recognizing the efforts of activists fighting for civil and human rights in the Dallas area matters now more than ever.
Hosted by the State Fair of Texas and the Juanita J. Craft Civil Rights House & Steering Committee, the Juanita Craft Humanitarian Awards were created in 2018 to honor Ms. Craft’s lasting legacy in North Texas and beyond as an influential activist during the civil rights movement. Ms. Craft played a crucial role in integrating the State Fair of Texas, among other universities, restaurants, and theaters around Dallas.
The award categories include:
- The Spark Award, which recognizes emerging leaders between the ages of 14 and 21 years old who are making a difference in their school, neighborhood, or community;
- The Legacy Award, which is a lifetime achievement award for individuals, families, or organizations that have made sustained contributions to the understanding and promotion of civil rights;
- The Visionary Award, which recognizes individuals whose work is currently creating a positive impact on civil rights in Dallas;
- The Catalyst Award, which recognizes individuals under 40 years old, who are making an impact in civil and human rights in Dallas by creating new initiatives and opportunities.
Nominees will be evaluated through the following criteria: impact on the community and active involvement, a strong commitment to social justice issues through notable efforts, quality of submission, and evidence of time and resources used to address these issues.
The deadline to submit a nominee packet is Friday, September 18 by 5 p.m. To download a nomination packet, please visit BigTex.com/JuanitaCraft. This year, the 2020 Juanita Craft awards will take place virtually on Sunday, October 11, starting at 2 p.m. Dr. Michael Waters, founder and lead pastor of Abundant Life African Methodist Episcopal Church, will be the speaker for the ceremony. Members of the public are encouraged to attend. If you are interested in attending, please contact community@bigtex.com for more information.
The work Juanita Craft did for the city of Dallas, the State Fair, and the rest of the community is one to be remembered and shared with generations to come. The State Fair of Texas, in partnership with Big Thought, developed a curriculum for grades 4-12 that explored Ms. Craft’s life. The curriculum is available online at BigTex.com/JuanitaCraft.
In addition to the curriculum, the State Fair of Texas compiled an anti-racism resource guide, which is available at BigTex.com/Anti-Racism. The guide includes opportunities for involvement, a listing of locally owned businesses, active anti-racism educational resources, and resources to use when talking to your children about race.
For more information on the awards ceremony and to see previous winners, please visit BigTex.com/JuanitaCraft.