The Chávez /Lorde Social Justice Award

Presented to students who have demonstrated a strong dedication to social change for the Ithaca College and local community through various platforms, projects, or initiatives.

Our Namesakes: César Chávez and Audre Lorde

César Chávez is best known for his civil activism surrounding labor rights and farm worker advocacy.  He co-founded the National Farm Worker’s Association, now called United Farm Workers with Dolores Huerta in 1962.  Chávez was well known for his use of collective nonviolent strategic actions, organizing strikes, boycotts, and fasts to negotiate better working conditions and wages.

Audre Lorde was a self-described “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet”.  Her radical feminism informed her poetry as well as her prose. Her extensive work on marginalization and the complexity of self-hood made her a foundational theorist for intersectional feminism.

Our 2024 Award Recipients

The 2024 Chavez-Lorde Social Justice Award recipients along with their majors, minors, and a small highlight of their involvement on campus.  Congratulations to all our awardees!

Manuella Asare

Manuella is posing for photo with another individual. Manuella is on the right side and is wearing a blue blazer and is smiling.

Major: Speech Language Pathology and Audiology with a minor in African Diaspora Studies

National Student Speech Language Hearing Association Member: Fall 2022 - Present | Sister2Sister Member: Fall 2022 - Fall 2023 | Student Leadership Institute Member: Fall 2021 - Present | African Student Association Director of Programming: Spring 2022 - Present | African Student Association Director of Programming: Fall 2020 - Spring 2022 | ASA Gala: Fall 2022 & Fall 2023 | Office of Access, Opportunity & Achievement CSTEP Scholar: Spring 2023 - Present | Ithaca Firsts Member: Fall 2023 - Present | First Gen Member: Fall 2020 - Present | Spring Welcome Member: Spring 2021 - Present | BOLD Women’s Leadership Network Scholar: Spring 2022 - Present | Island Fusion Dance Team Member: Fall 2021 - Spring 2022 | Student Accessibility Services Office Assistant, Proctor and Reader: Spring 2022 - Present | Dean's List : Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 | Office of Access, Opportunity & Achievement SOAR Conference: Fall 2023 | BOLD Women’s Showcase: Fall 2022 & Spring 2023 | BOLD Women’s Leadership Retreat: Fall 2022 & Fall 2023| MLK Celebration: Spring 2024

Olivia Celenza

Olivia is posing for photo in front of fountains. Olivia is wearing a green top. Olivia is side facing and looking over right shoulder at camera and is smiling.

Major: Writing for Film, Television and Emerging Media with minors in Journalism and Education Studies

President and Founder of Harmony Theatre Collective (Fall 2022-Present) | Ithaca College Television Scripted Director (Spring 2023-Present) | MLK Scholarship Cohort '24 (Fall 2020) | Present Exploratory Peer Advisor and Leader (Spring 2021-Present) | Social Media Manager for the Exploratory Program (May 2022-May 2023) | Newscast for WICB and VIC (Fall 2022) | Orientation Leader (August 2023) | ICTV Staff Writer (Fall 2022) | PresentIC Showchoir Co-President (Spring 2021-Fall 2022) | Member of Women in Communication (October 2022-Present) | Member of IC Mixed (February 2021-Present) | Buzzsaw Writer- (October 2021-Present) | Twisted Minds Founding Member and Performer (Spring 2023-Present)

Ashanti Ford

Ashanti Ford

Major: Sociology and Psychology with a minor in Counseling

SOCA President (Fall 2023-Spring 2024) | BIPOC Unity Center Peer Educator Special Events Manager at Conference & Event Services | Psychologists of Color Association | Ithaca Achievement Program | MLK Celebration | Recognized Women Leader at Ithaca College

Angela Russell

Angela is posed for a photo and is sidefacing with right arm draped across to hold left arm. Angela is wearing jeans and a short-sleeve top. Photo is black and white.

Major: Film, Photography, and Visual Arts with minors in Advertising, Public Relations, and Marketing Communications and Art History

Project Leader and Volunteer for Eco-Reps (2020-2021) | Marketing for BSU (2022) | Handwerker Gallery Employee (2022-2024) | Senior Show Curator (2024) | Group Curator and Visiting Student Cornell Johnson Museum (2023) | On Campus Photographer (2020-2024)