The Tennessee Alliance for Progress has named its 2010 Long Haul and Young Leader awards.
The awards, which honor individuals and organizations that foster and promote TAP’s mission, to involve people in political and economic democracy and full participation in decisions that affect their lives, were handed out on May 22 at St. Ann’s Episcopal Church.
More than 39 nominees were submitted for consideration, and outgoing Tennessee Equality Project board chair Chris Sanders took home one of the honors.
“They packed the house, which is good because a lot of people don’t know who they are and they are good allies of ours,” Sanders said of TAP. “As for my winning, a lot of people have helped me and have helped TEP through the years, so I thanked all those allies in the community and in government.”
TEP’s efforts to broaden nondiscrimination policies in Nashville and Memphis, as well as its ongoing efforts around the state, are boosted by such organizations as TAP, he added.
“In Nashville there were 51 organizations as a part of that effort,” Sanders said. “We also had the support of wonderful council members and the mayor. A lot of people worked together, and that’s the kind of thing that I talked about.”
In addition to Sanders, other recipients included:
2010 TAP Lifetime Achievement Long Haul Awardees
- Don Beisswenger, peace activist
- Gordon Bonnyman, Tennessee Justice Center
- Jeannine Honicker, environmental activist
- Bonnie Spear, Blakemore Children's Center
2010 TAP Long Haul Awardees
- Katherine Esquivel, Justice for Our Neighbors
- Sizwe Herring, EarthMatters Tennessee
- Ralph Hutchison, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance (OREPA)
- Chris Sanders, Tennessee Equality Project
- Carol Westlake, Tennessee Disability Coalition
- Jennifer Willard, Community School of the Arts of Knoxville
2010 TAP Young Leader Awardees
- Shavaun Evans, Manna/Food Security Partners of Middle Tennessee
- Elias Feghali, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition
- Allison Glass, Mid-South Peace and Justice Center
- and a special TAP Youngest Leader Award to Cyrus Shick, Tennessee Young Democrats
For more information on the Tennessee Alliance for Progress and its activities, click here.