Lydia Abune

Student Advocate for Language Access, Coolidge Senior High School

A student at Coolidge Senior High School in Washington, DC, Lidya is a bridge-builder among the student body, inspiring them to speak up for their rights and administrators to address language barriers. Having come to the United States from Ethiopia just over a year ago, Lidya has taken a lead role in assisting her family, friends and other newcomers as a mediator and translator. As a participant in the Many Languages One Voice afterschool program for limited and non-English proficient students, Lidya builds relationships with students of all cultures and languages to discuss common ideals, struggles and solutions. She understands that language and culture are powerful tools that connect us all and motivates the Coolidge student body to discuss and embrace language through plays, posters and YouTube videos. Lidya was instrumental in securing more accurate food labeling for students following strict dietary restrictions.. Lidya is not afraid to tackle the status quo by speaking up against injustice, challenging her peers and school administrators to follow her lead.

Julia Irving

Community Outreach Coordinator, Metropolitan Police Department, Sixth District

An outreach coordinator in the Washington, D.C. who serves as a liaison between the community and the Metropolitan Police Department in Wards 6 and 7, Julia Irving has been described as “a perpetual ball of energy.” She helped develop a youth baseball league in Northeast, lining up resources to get the field built and collecting equipment and that’s just the beginning. In the past year, she pulled together two Christmas parties that provided 300 kids with clothing and toys, organized a boxing event, a Valentine’s Day dance for seniors and helped with a prom dress giveaway event. The list goes on and on. Although her job does not require her to engage with youth, Julia worked with the US Attorney's Office to bring a Youth Court to the Sixth District and continues to facilitate the program in which youth juries have the power to impose a sentence on non-violent youth offenders and non-violent youth offenders can avoid formal prosecution by carrying out the sentence imposed by their peers. In order to make sure events are a success, she develops partnerships with nonprofit groups and local businesses, lining up in-kind donations and volunteers. Julia has a clear vision for what a community should look like – engaged citizens, safe neighborhoods, and opportunities for work and growth for all residents. She encourages community members to build this community, identifies goals and outcomes and the resources needed to get the job done right. Then she begins thinking about what’s next!

Catalina Sol

Chief Program Officer, La Clínica del Pueblo

When Catalina speaks, people listen. A native of El Salvador, she has dedicated her life to making a difference in the community by promoting the health needs of underinsured and underserved populations. Her innovative actions have made La Clínica del Pueblo, a health center in Columbia Heights, a valued partner in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the District’s Latino communities. Catalina has dedicated her life to creating an inclusive community focused on holistic self-care for all people. She has an incredible passion for the underdog and is dedicated to serving populations that are stigmatized or “not popular.” She understands firsthand, for instance, the challenges that newcomers have navigating systems, particularly the healthcare system. She espoused the culturally sensitive promotora model at La Clínica – providing peer-to-peer connections to culturally sensitive health services. She has graciously led the Latino community in overcoming social taboos and embracing and providing services to gay, transgendered and other stigmatized groups. Her innovative programs have an equity lens for all, particularly women and the LGBTQ community. When first launched, the transgender programs she helped to create were not popular, but Catalina did not back down. She led her organization in creating a safe space for these at-risk Latinas, through love and understanding. Catalina brings an important perspective to HIV/AIDS programs in the city because she is Latino and a woman, recognizing that it is short-sighted to treat women’s health separately from domestic violence and economic concerns, and bringing together partners to determine a holistic approach. She encourages dozens in the community to follow La Clínica’s motto, making healthcare a human right.

Maceo Thomas

Board Member, Mentoring Today

Maceo Thomas is a mover and shaker, but not in the traditional sense. A native of the Washington area, he has made Ward 7 his home and is genuinely committed to organizing social change in creative and unique ways that educate and engage the entire East of the River community. A natural community builder, Maceo brings people together across geographic boundaries and causes – relentlessly connecting people to people and resources to communities. There are infinite examples of this work, which seems to happen organically, but is, undoubtedly, deliberate and grows from his love for this city and his desire to empower the people who live here. He has created countless gatherings, networks and neighborhood traditions such as the Capital Hip-Hop Soul Festival in Marvin Gaye Park in Northeast; a book club in that same park that meets after work during the summers; Canvases for a Cause, a monthly gathering that showcases a local artist and nonprofit at his Capitol Hill Long & Foster office which is transformed into an art gallery. Maceo's Memorial Day potluck BBQ, held in his backyard and back alley, is legendary, attracting some 200 people including former Peace Corps volunteers, nonprofit executives, City Council members, teachers, artists, neighborhood teens, grandparents and other “Maceo groupies.” As a Mentoring Today board member, Maceo offers a community perspective to the board and helps the organization connect with other community members. When one of the only sit-down restaurants in Ward 7 was robbed recently, Maceo tweeted and called his network to stage an “eat-in” there the next afternoon, to show support for the business. Quite simply, Maceo is a one-man "hub" of D.C.