The Maria Leavey Tribute Award

The Legacy of Maria Leavey

Maria Leavey was the quintessential unsung progressive hero: an organizer with extraordinary talent, a behind-the-scenes force with an uncanny ability to connect rising young talent with Washington leaders, a tireless advocate who often worked without claiming credit or even compensation.

Since her death in 2006, we honor her legacy with the Maria Leavey Tribute Award, which goes to a person in the progressive movement whose behind-the-scenes work and selfless service embodies Maria's spirit and has made an invaluable contribution to social justice.

The award recipient will be an outstanding progressive who is:

A Convener who builds connections among diverse members of the progressive movement, cultivating networks of old and new leaders and activists;

A Persistent Advocate who overcomes obstacles and marches forward with an enduring commitment and passion for social justice;

A Selfless Organizer who works behind the scenes without seeking the limelight or credit for his or her efforts, while lending credit to others; and

An Idea Generator who pushes forward creative new ideas, a strong analysis of important issues, or helps build specific new capacities and infrastructure for the progressive movement.

Join us in honoring Maria's memory by heralding the work of those tireless organizers in our midst who light a fire under the rest of us.

Nominating Rules and Process

• Nominations must be received before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, April 10, 2009. Click here for the nomination form.
• The nomination form must address how the nominee has embodied each of the four characteristics of Maria Leavey's work as a convener, an advocate, an organizer and an idea generator. Nominee qualifications must be verifiable by Campaign for America's Future staff.
• A panel of Maria's family, friends and colleagues will review all nominations and select award finalists by mid-April 2009.
• The award winner will be selected and notified before the end of April. At that time, finalists will be asked to supply a photograph, and may be asked to provide additional background information or participate in a brief interview.
• Names of award finalists will be published on the Campaign for America's Future website, along with a brief nominating statement.
• The winning nominee must be available to attend the America's Future Now! conference in Washington from June 1 to 3 to accept his or her award. (Travel and accommodations will be provided.)
• Voting is open to all interested persons, except that staff members and board members of the Campaign for America's Future or Institute for America's Future, and their immediate families, can neither vote nor accept a nomination.