DES MOINES–Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate presented the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award to two groups of Iowans who have demonstrated meaningful commitment to addressing civil rights issues and bringing about authentic change in their communities. Nominations for the John Lewis Youth Leadership Award were open to Iowa residents aged 25 years or under.
This year’s honorees are:
- Elijah Smith and LaTreyal Oliver, students at Waterloo East and Waterloo West High School. Smith and Oliver are being recognized for their efforts in ensuring access to transportation for after-school activities for their fellow students. The two young men were recently selected to participate in a national initiative through the National Youth Leadership Council on distracted driving. The two are the only representatives from Iowa.
- Iowa City West High School’s Black Student Union Executive Board (Co-Presidents Neema Ash, Alicia Austin, Rawan Babiker, Corte Beal, and Vanessa Shannon), a student-led organization that supports the Black student population at West High School, but their influence has grown to support the larger Johnson County community as well. The Black Student Union regularly hosts open discussions and panel sessions, including recent events regarding the conditions in Sudan, a Black-owned business fair, and a field trip to the African American Museum in Cedar Rapids. The group attended the local Black History Ball and received Black History Month Proclamations on behalf of Iowa City and Johnson County earlier this year.
"The young leaders we're recognizing embody the spirit of civic engagement and commitment to positive change that Congressman John Lewis represented throughout his life,” said Secretary Pate. “These recipients have stepped up to address real challenges in their communities – from ensuring all students have access to after-school activities to fostering important conversations about civil rights and voting. Their dedication to service and their willingness to lead by example give me tremendous confidence in this generation of civic leaders."
“This award doesn't just validate the work we do, it puts the rest of the world on notice,” said Corte Beal, Co-President of the Black Student Union. “Black Leaders United is the next chapter.”
“The opportunity to be here and get this award shows that we put in a lot of work, but this is not where I stop,” said Elijah Smith. “I am ready to continue to do the work and help bring even more change to my community.”
“It is an honor to be recognized for our hard work with this award. It is evident that what we are doing makes a difference,” said LaTreyal Oliver. Small changes mean a lot in the long run, and we’re not done yet.”
The John Lewis Youth Leadership Award was established in 2021 by the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) as a way for every state to honor the extraordinary accomplishments of Congressman John Lewis. Secretaries of State across the nation are encouraged to recognize gifted, civic-minded young people with demonstrated leadership abilities with the award each year.
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