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

Cerise Castle, Journalist

Alicia Harris, Teacher

2022

Elen Asatryan, Glendale City Councilmember

Carlos M. Montes

Tracy Abbott Cook

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

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