LA County 48th John Anson Ford Awards
Recognized Arturo Ybarra with the 'Courage Award,'
Honored Five Supervisorial District Awardees
and Presented the Inaugural Human Rights Award
LA County Human Relations Awards Recognized the Late Organizer and Activist Arturo Ybarra with the 'Courage Award,' Honored Supervisorial Awardees for Contributions to Human Relations, and Presented the Inaugural Human Rights Award to "CEDAW Collective."
 The late Arturo Ybarra, Founder and Executive Director of the Watts Century Latino Organization, stands in front of his likeness at the “Unity Under the Sun” mural reveal at the Watts Historic Train Station on Saturday, March 4, 2023.
LOS ANGELES – March 24, 2025 – The late Arturo Ybarra, a legendary activist and organizer, was honored at the 48th John Anson Ford (JAF) Human Relations Awards, hosted by the LA County Human Relations Commission on Thursday, March 20. The event was held at the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration building in downtown Los Angeles. The JAF Awards have identified and honored human relations champions throughout LA County since 1972. Robin Toma, Executive Director of LA County Commission on Human Relations, provided opening remarks on the challenges hindering human relations initiatives and shared:
“Many of you are aware that we are facing historic efforts to reverse our progress in this work, so we need all hands on deck,” Toma said. The guests and awardees acknowledged Mr. Toma's call for vigilance.
 Front row from left, Dr. Regina Smith, Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, Third District, and LA County Commission on Human Relations Commissioners: Dr. Gay Yuen, First District; Preeti Kulkarni, Third District Vice President; Kevork Keushkerian, Fifth District Vice President; Dr. Guadalupe Montaño, Third District and Jeanette Ellis-Royston, First District gathered together with awardees, representatives and guests at the John Anson Ford Awards on Thursday, March 20 in downtown Los Angeles.
During his lifetime, Arturo Ybarra served as the Founder and Executive Director of the Watts Century Latino Organization, also known as “WLCO.” WLCO was established as the only Latino multicultural nonprofit organization dedicated to serving Latinos and African Americans in South LA. Mr. Ybarra was a tireless organizer and activist who engaged with a wide range of issues and needs, including housing, violence prevention and response, education reform, environmental justice, and police-community relations. He was honored with the Yvonne B. Burke Courage Award from the LA County Commission on Human Relations. The prestigious award is presented to an individual for their bold and dauntless actions in advancing human relations. Mr. Ybarra’s daughter, Autumn Ybarra, accepted the award on his behalf.
“My father was a relentless fighter, ally, advocate, and a voice for his community . . . I am incredibly proud to be receiving this honor on his behalf. He was an incredible man and a wonderful father, and his legacy continues,” said Autumn Ybarra.
 From left, Autumn Ybarra accepts the ‘Courage Award’ on behalf of her late father, Arturo Ybarra, alongside LA County Commission on Human Relations, Committee Chair IIan Davidson at the 48th John Anson Ford Awards at the Los Angeles Hall of Administration on March 20.
Five other awardees were recognized for their outstanding human relations projects and programs throughout the county — one for each of the five LA County Districts.
In District 1, represented by Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, Chair Pro Tem, Mural Workforce Academy of Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory was recognized for creating a workforce specially trained in mural work, which uses the art of muralism to build community and better human relations through intergroup-interethnic workshops with youth and young adults that focus on learning the history, culture, and wellness tools for Black, Brown, Asian, and Indigenous peoples in the Los Angeles area and the Americas.
“I am proud to recognize the Mural Workforce Academy of the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory with this year’s John Anson Ford Award for the First District,” said Hilda L. Solis, Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and Supervisor for the First District. “Through muralism, the Academy not only connects young people to their culture and history but also sparks meaningful conversations that bring together people from diverse backgrounds. These exchanges foster cross-cultural learning, building empathy, understanding, and creativity. The Academy’s work inspires future generations of artists and leaders, and it is an honor to present this award in recognition of their profound impact on Los Angeles County.”
 From left, First District Awardee representatives Isabella VanRanzow and Frank Acevedo (third from left), First District, Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, Chair Pro Tem (center), along with awardee representatives Omar G. Ramírez, Kylie Amigon Mojica, and Maddie Silva from Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory on March 20, at the 48th John Anson Ford Awards in Los Angeles.
In District 2, represented by Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Combatting Anti-Blackness Training of Quilombos Capacity Builders, Diving Within, and the Building Healthy Communities Resident Engagement Committee, South Los Angeles. This culminating project was recognized for building healthy communities, informed by input from over 30 community organizations and institutions, as well as 125 resident leaders. This guidance helps participants understand the roots, history, and impacts of anti-Blackness, both nationally and locally, to help dismantle anti-Blackness and foster rapport between Black and Brown communities in Los Angeles.
 From left, Second District Awardee representatives Guillermo Alvarez, Beth Peterson, Rob McGowan, Wayne Woods, and Lizette Hernandez from Combatting Anti-Blackness Training of Quilombos Capacity Builders, Diving Within, and the Building Healthy Communities Resident Engagement Committee of South Los Angeles, and Second District Deputy Marina Escobedo at the 48th John Anson Ford Awards in Los Angeles on March 20, 2025.
In District 3, represented by Lindsey P. Horvath, Community Building Programs of JQ International were recognized for offering opportunities for participants to connect with other LGBTQ+ Jews and allies through Shabbat dinners, holiday celebrations, and other identity-enriching activities, providing space for vulnerability while combatting adversity and promoting leadership.
“I’m thrilled to celebrate this year’s incredible honorees, whose dedication to equity, inclusion, and justice has made a lasting impact across Los Angeles County. The Third District is proud to recognize JQ International for their unwavering commitment to supporting and uplifting LGBTQ+ Jewish communities, not only in Los Angeles but throughout the world,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “We are also honored to celebrate Arturo Ybarra for his decades of leadership building cross-racial solidarity, and the CEDAW Collective for their tireless advocacy for gender equity. Their work is changing lives, and we are incredibly grateful for their contributions.”
 From left, Third District Awardee Asher Gellis from JQ International and Third District Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath on March 20, at the 48th John Anson Ford Awards in Los Angeles.
In District 4, represented by Supervisor Janice Hahn, the Resilience and Intergroup Solidarity Education program of Narbonne High School (R.I.S.E.) was honored for coordinating numerous school-wide events that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and civil rights among students. Led by LAUSD psychiatric social worker Cheryl Y. Kono, the R.I.S.E program guides students through experimental exercises and eye-opening discussions on identity, communities and cultures, prejudice and implicit bias, systemic oppression, bullying, human trafficking, healthy relationships, and conflict resolution.
 From left, Fourth District Awardee representatives Emily Ponce, Robert Lindsay, and Micah Novilla, Fourth District Deputy Nick Holden, along with awardee representatives Cheryl Y. Kono and Emmanuel Nwalozie from Narbonne High School, at the John Anson Ford Awards in downtown Los Angeles on March 20.
In District 5, represented by Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Inclusive Pathways to Employment and Arts Engagement of Tierra del Sol Foundation was recognized as a pioneering initiative that promotes inclusion and fosters full engagement of individuals with disabilities in employment, education, and the arts. The Tierra Del Sol Foundation collaborates with local businesses, works closely with local colleges, and supports career artists with disabilities to challenge stereotypes, break down barriers, and ensure excluded populations are fully engaged with opportunities and needed services.
 From left, Fifth District Awardee representatives Cathy Galarneau and Jen Hurst, Fifth District Deputy Monica Banken, along with awardee representatives Vicente Hernandez, Rebecca Lienhard, Janice Estrada, and Lauren Romero from Tierra del Sol, at the 48th John Anson Ford Awards in Los Angeles.
The award ceremony concluded with a special presentation of the inaugural LA County Human Rights Award by the Executive Director of LA County Human Relations Commission, Robin Toma. This year's award went to ten women who worked towards implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women in Los Angeles County. The ten women are known as "The CEDAW Collective": Mary Hansel, Abbe Land, Dr. Regina Smith, Dr. Guadalupe Montaño, Fesia Davenport, Alisa Williams, Chanel Smith, Liliana Campos and Wendy Sha, and Caroline Torén.
“Our Human Rights Award is new, but we have been championing human rights since our Commission was first created in the 1940s,” said Robin Toma, Executive Director of LA County Commission on Human Relations. “Honoring the LA County CEDAW Collective is not only our chance to thank the extraordinary group of expert consultants and county staff who are making this women’s bill of rights real for the people of LA County; it is a reminder that international human rights are a powerful guiding principle for all governments and communities.”
Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell, Second District, provided taped acknowledgments to recognize the Second District awardees and offered warm remarks to "The CEDAW Collective" for receiving the LA County Human Rights Award. To view Supervisor Mitchell’s remarks, you can click here.
 First row from left, Chanel Smith, Wendy Sha, Abbe Land, Dr. Regina Smith, Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, Third District, Dr. Guadalupe Montaño, and Robin Toma, Executive Director LA County Commission on Human Relations. In the second row from the left, Caroline Torén, Alisa Williams, Angela Park, and Laura Quiñonez stood together during the presentation of the Inaugural LA County Human Rights Award.
The award ceremony was led by the LA County Human Relations Commission and included a presentation of JAF awardees by LA County Board Supervisors and their representatives, along with a reception for awardees, guests, friends, civil leaders and community partners.
About the LA County Commission on Human Relations
The Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations is dedicated to securing human rights to strengthen healthy relations throughout our richly diverse, multicultural county, encompassing all five Supervisorial Districts. The Commission works to develop programs that proactively address racism, homophobia, religious prejudice, linguistic bias, anti-immigrant sentiment, and other divisive attitudes that can lead to intercultural tension, hate crimes, and related violence.
For more information about LA County’s Commission on Human Relations, click here.
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