2023 JBL Awards
This year’s JBL Awards will recognize Heroes of Youth Organizing: individuals who effectively address barriers to voting and organize youth voters around issues of consequence in their communities. While we have a particular interest in organizing around LGBTQI+ rights, we are open to people organizing around the issues most important to the youth vote in their communities.
We believe that honoring those who are on the ground activating the youth vote will lead to a healthy and more just democracy and civil society.
The 2023 Award recipient will be announced in the Fall.
About the Award
The Jane Bagley Lehman Awards “JBLs” seek to recognize individuals who have exhibited a deep commitment to the public interest and whose work demonstrates innovative approaches to social change.
An ideal nominee would be someone who has sought to share their experiences and findings with as wide an audience as possible, and who has worked to bridge the gap between those at the grassroots level and those who make policy. The nominees should be chosen for a body of work, rather than a specific accomplishment, and they should be respected not only by peers, but also by fellow workers and employees.
Jane Bagley Lehman was one of the founders of the Tides Foundation in 1976, and the Chair of the Board until her death in 1988. An unconventional philanthropist, her insatiable curiosity was matched by a willingness to take risks. Jane was most intrigued by the approaches and strategies of advocates and organizers and their willingness to challenge traditional assumptions. She also cared deeply that the results of these efforts be translated into the broader area of public policy.
It is in this spirit that the Jane Bagley Lehman Awards for Excellence in Public Advocacy were established. It is our hope that the awards will reflect Jane’s spirit as well as her commitment to issues of social justice.