EAPD confers 2 main annual awards along with an occasional special recognition.
Heart and Soul Award Winners
2025
Ceci Dominguez, leader for environmental justice, civic engagement & good governance, healthcare access, & housing affordability.
Sharon Stricker & former L.A. School Board President Jackie Goldberg, trailblazers for public education, women’s rights, & LGBTQ+ freedom & family recognition; co-founders of renowned after-school program.
Attorney General Rob Bonta, catalyst for effective legal pushback vs. lawless cruelty & anti-democratic power-grabs; partner in breaking chokehold of plastic polluters on Californians.
2024
Adel Hagekhakil, Engineer, Infrastructure Expert, & Public Servant.
Nicolle Fefferman, Teacher & Public-Education Advocate.
2023
Reverend Richard Estrada, Clergy Leader for Immigrant Rights & Youth Empowerment.
Cerise Castle, Journalist.
Alicia Harris, Teacher.
2022
Elen Asatryan, Glendale City Councilmember.
Carlos M. Montes, Eastside Leader for Justice Reform, Youth Empowerment, & Public Education.
Tracy Abbott Cook, Storyteller, Policy Advocate, & Stellar Community Organizer for Public Education.
2021
Barbara Ferrer
Al Ballesteros
Member of Congress Karen Bass
2020
East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice (EYCEJ)
Member of Congress Judy Chu
Malcolm Johnson
2019
Dr. George McKenna, L.A. School Board Member.
State Senator Anthony Portantino
Ana Guerrero
2018
Angélica Salas
Former California Supreme Court Justice Carlos Moreno, Esq.
Member of Congress Adam Schiff
2016
Mitch O’Farrell, L.A. City Councilmember
Irma Muñoz
Bret Graham, Esq.
Educator of the Year Award Winners
2026
Duoshellg Esparza, Spanish teacher & International Newcomer coach at Santee High School and advocate for student safety & academic freedom.
Dr. Dave Metz, NBCT theatre teacher at Santee High School, previous winner of LAUSD "Teacher of the Year" recognition, advocate for civic engagement, & leader for local community service on his Neighborhood Council.
2025
Dr. Theresa Montaño, Professor of Chicana/o Studies, Advocate for Academic Freedom, & Member of the L.A. County Board of Education.
2024
Fidencio Gallardo, high-school language arts and English teacher, Bell.
2023
Alicia Romero Pérez, elementary teacher, City Terrace.
2022
Cheryl Ortega, bilingual educator, Los Feliz and Echo Park, along with other Eastside neighborhoods.
2021
Julie McManus, high-school teacher, Eagle Rock, and Downtown L.A.
2020
Andrea García, librarian, Glassell Park.
2019
Koreen Cea, elementary teacher, Eagle Rock, and Cypress Park.
Special Recognition
Force of Nature Award (2019)
Hans Johnson
Good Trouble-Maker Award (2014)
Jackie Goldberg
