For the seventh year, the State Fair of Texas and the Friends of Juanita Craft Civil Rights House & Museum are proud to announce the recipients of the Juanita Craft Humanitarian Awards. Juanita Craft tirelessly fought for civil rights and played a crucial role in integrating many Dallas establishments, including the State Fair of Texas. In honor of her efforts, achievements, and impact, the State Fair and the Friends of Juanita Craft Civil Rights House & Museum commend the following individuals who continue her legacy as advocates for positive change in our community. They will be recognized at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 13, at the Briscoe Carpenter Livestock Center in the ballroom during the 2024 State Fair of Texas.
The Friends of Juanita Craft Civil Rights House & Museum established and executed the award selection process as part of their civil rights education and awareness initiative. Nominations were evaluated based on impact, active involvement in the community, commitment to social justice through notable efforts, evidence of time and resources used to address issues in the community and the quality of the submission. In partnership with Friends of Juanita Craft Civil Rights House & Museum, the State Fair of Texas brings the community together to celebrate the Humanitarian Award recipients.
Spark Award
First awarded in 2019, the Spark Award is designed to recognize a young person between the ages of 14-21 that is making an impact in their schools, neighborhood, or local community by contributing to making our world an even better place now and in the future.
Spark Award Recipient – Genesis Diaz
Genesis Diaz is a 15-year-old high school student who excels both academically and athletically. Enrolled in an Early College program, Genesis is passionate about advancing her education while balancing her love for sports, including volleyball and basketball. Despite facing a significant challenge in the form of a torn ACL last year, Genesis showed remarkable resilience and determination in her recovery, allowing her to return to the activities she enjoys.
In addition to her athletic pursuits, Genesis is an accomplished debater, placing in the top 12 of the district World School Debate competition. Her dedication to community service is evident through her various projects, including receiving a $300 seed grant from a nonprofit organization to create a meaningful impact in her community. Furthermore, during her eighth-grade year, Genesis demonstrated leadership and advocacy skills by delivering a presentation on suicide prevention, aiming to raise mental health awareness among her peers. Outside of academics and sports, Genesis has a passion for writing and enjoys watching documentaries that expand her understanding of the world. Her diverse interests, dedication to personal growth, and commitment to making a difference reflect her drive to positively impact her school and community.
Spark Award Honorable Mention – Estrella Cortez-Pedroza
Estrella Cortez-Pedroza is a Dallas native who attended Irma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School. She is a first-generation student and is now attending Texas A&M University at College Station where she is majoring in animal science while pursuing an equine certification. She hopes to attend veterinary school and ultimately become an equine veterinarian. It is her goal to save and care for future generations of horses.
Catalyst Award
Individuals under the age of 40 who are making an impact on civil and human rights in the city of Dallas by creating new initiatives and opportunities.
Catalyst Award Recipient – Jesse Acosta and Alejandra Zendejas, Pasos for Oak Cliff
Jesse Acosta was born in Dallas, Texas, and raised in the neighborhood of Oak Cliff. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2017 with a double major in Radio-Television-Film BS and History BA with a minor in Government. His passion for education led him to join Teach for America in 2018 and to serve as Deputy Director for Youth for North Texas League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) District 3 from 2020-2021. He served as a teacher at his alma mater, Justin F. Kimball High School, from 2018 – 2024. Currently, he serves as Executive Director of Pasos for Oak Cliff, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fighting educational inequities, which he co-founded in August of 2020.
Alejandra Zendejas was born in Leon, Guanajuato Mexico, but raised in Dallas (Oak Cliff), Texas. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Mathematics and a Business Foundations Certificate in 2017. During her last year at the university, she presided as president of Longhorn LULAC. After graduating, Alejandra returned to Dallas and became a consultant under It’s Not Complicated (INC) Tutoring for all levels of math and test prep. Alejandra served as Director of North Texas LULAC District 3 from 2019-2020. In August 2020, she co-founded Pasos for Oak Cliff.
Under Jesse and Alejandra’s leadership, Pasos has been featured in The Drew Barrymore Show, Live with Kelly and Ryan, The Heirloom Jordan Campaign, and Netflix. In addition, Pasos won D-CEO Magazine Micro Nonprofit of the Year in 2022 and Cosign Magazine Nonprofit of the Year in 2023.
Visionary Award
Designed to recognize individuals whose contributions are currently creating a positive effect on civil rights and community transformation in Dallas. This individual has committed their personal time, resources, and passion to take on a challenge that addresses equity and fairness presently.
Visionary Award Recipient – Rev. Danielle Ayers
Rev. Danielle Ayers, a scholarvisit, policy and program strategist, national consultant, international justice advocate, author, content creator, and ordained clergy, holds a significant role as the Pastor of Justice at Friendship-West in Dallas, Texas, a position of leadership and influence in the community, pastored by Rev. Dr. Frederick D. Haynes, III.
Rev. Ayers leads the church’s public policy efforts, legislative agenda, and justice initiatives. Through spiritual formation, Christian education, and various trainings, she prepares the congregation and community to mobilize and organize around critical issues of economic justice, food justice, gender justice, and environmental justice. Ayers also gives leadership to Fort Worth’s Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP) legal clinic, racial justice work, various civic engagement initiatives, and the immigration/southern Texas border crisis. Ayers provides advocacy and organizing training, preparing the congregation to live their faith in public life to address systemic racism in institutions and social structures, and is also the host and content creator of Fannie Lou’s Classroom, a podcast dedicated to facilitating conversations at the intersection of race, theology, and justice. Additionally, Ayers specializes in developing comprehensive justice initiatives to foster inclusivity and equity, conducts racial justice workshops and leads cohorts in creating and implementing actions that transform relationships across racial lines that lead to social change, and offers strategic planning for faith-based organizations and churches, helping them to align their missions with justice-oriented goals.
As the Pastor of Justice, Ayers builds strong coalitions and develops partnerships with like-minded individuals and organizations seeking a just and equitable society. Rev. Ayers serves as the Co-convener of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc., and a delegate to the Transatlantic Roundtable on Religion and Race. Ayers also serves as a board member on the following boards: Texas Impact, Faith Cooperative Federal Credit Union, Faith In Texas, and Southern Sector Rising. She is a former board member of the Board of Directors for President Jimmy Carter’s New Baptist Covenant. Rev. Ayers holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from The University of Memphis, a Master of Divinity from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, and is pursuing her Doctorate of Ministry at Southern Methodist University – Perkins School of Theology as a Baugh Scholar and serving as a Better Together Fellow at the King Center in Atlanta, Georgia. Rev. Ayers is the co-author of To Serve This Present Age: Social Justice Ministries in the Black Church and Reimagining the Bible Belt and is the author of several publications.
Visionary Award Honorable Mention – Rhetta Andrews Bowers
Rhetta Andrews Bowers, the first African American to represent Texas House District 113, is a trailblazing advocate for children and education. Transitioning from broadcast journalism, she champions causes like girls in STEM and criminal justice reform, demonstrating her commitment to marginalized communities. Notable achievements include authoring the Texas Girls in STEM Day bill and securing the passage of the Texas CROWN Act against hairstyle discrimination. Bowers has earned accolades, including the Roy Wilkins Civil Rights – 2022 NAACP Image Award. Serving on key House Committees, she received the President Joseph R. Biden Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023. Proudly rooted in Rowlett for over 20 years, her unwavering dedication reflects her deep community connection.
Legacy Award
A lifetime achievement award for individuals, families, or organizations that have made important and sustained contributions to the understanding and promotion of civil rights.
Legacy Award Recipient – Dr. Harryette B. Ehrhardt
Dr. Harryette Ehrhardt has graced Dallas with a compassionate heart and an immovable moral compass. As an educator, preservationist, school board member, gay rights champion, Texas state legislator, and social justice activist, she has embraced Juanita Craft’s admonition that “times can change, but you have to make them change.” Harryette Ehrhardt and Juanita Craft shared a passion for civil rights and many personal traits: charm, accessibility, a never-say-never spirit, unorthodoxy, creativity, toughness, graciousness, and grit. And like Mrs. Craft, her guiding light has been that our shared humanity far exceeds our differences. Dr. Ehrhardt served as principal of Arlington Park Elementary, a historic African American neighborhood school; a founder of Preservation Dallas which has preserved numerous African American, Latino, and other historic neighborhoods in Dallas; DISD trustee battling alongside Kathlyn Gilliam and councilperson Juanita Craft for educational equity for African American, Latino and economically disadvantaged Anglo children while dismantling a vicious program targeting gay DISD teachers and staff; Texas House legislator advocating for minority community programs, anti-hate laws and spearheading legislation providing affordable healthcare for Texas public-school employees; founder of the Dallas Women’s Foundation (now Texas Women’s Foundation), The Dallas Women’s Political Caucus and the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas. Over the last two decades, she has vigorously continued her work in many organizations she helped establish as a trailblazer. The library at Zan Wesley Holmes Jr. Middle School was named in her honor in 2013. Dallas is a markedly different city because of her efforts.
Legacy Award Honorable Mention – Dr. Sharon Middlebrooks
Dr. Sharon Middlebrooks, Broker/Owner Middlebrooks Realty LLC, began her Corporate Real Estate career in 1983 as a property manager working with housing units secured by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 221D3, 221D4, and BMIR programs. Dr. Middlebrooks is a licensed Real Estate Broker, Certified Housing Manager, Certified Occupancy Specialist, Certified Manager of Housing, Accredited Buyers Representative, Freddie Mac’s CreditSmart Instructors’ Instructor, and was the youngest African American to receive a 2530 Clearance in North Texas from HUD in 1995.
Dr. Middlebrooks is the current President of Dallas NAACP Branch 6169-B and also serves as a Board of Governor and past National President of Women’s Council of National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB). Dr. Middlebrooks is past president of the Texas Association of Real Estate Brokers (TAREB) and Women’s Council of Dallas Association of Real Estate Brokers (DAREB). She served as MetroTex Realtors Federal Political Coordinator (FPC) to Honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson and Chair of MetroTex Realtors Diversity & Inclusion Committee.
In addition to being an active member of her church and the organizations mentioned above, Dr. Middlebrooks served 11 years as the Executive Assistant to the Office of the Sovereign Grand Commander of the United Supreme Council for the Southern Jurisdiction, PHA and an additional 15 years in the Convention Department of the United Supreme Council, PHA, Southern Jurisdiction. She is a Gold Life and WIN Member of the NAACP and has received numerous awards and accolades for her civic work and philanthropic contributions. She is a recipient of the Dallas Lawyers Magazine prestigious MLK Legacy Award, a noted Business Person of the Year, Women of Wisdom, 21st Century Most Promising Leaders, Special Congressional, and Texas State Representative Recognitions and the Elite News Woman of Excellence Award to name a few.
About the State Fair of Texas
Since its inception in 1886, the State Fair of Texas has celebrated all things Texan by promoting agriculture, education, and community involvement through quality entertainment in a family-friendly environment. The State Fair of Texas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with proceeds helping to preserve and improve our home, Fair Park; underwrite museums, community initiatives, and scholarship programs to support students throughout the Lone Star State pursuing higher education; and help improve State Fair operations. The 2024 exposition runs from September 27 through October 20 in Fair Park. Visit BigTex.com for more information.
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