{"id":2424,"date":"2025-05-15T14:25:46","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T18:25:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdusmp.org\/conference2025\/?page_id=2424"},"modified":"2025-06-05T23:00:03","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T03:00:03","slug":"service-award-winners","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sdusmp.org\/conference2025\/service-award-winners\/","title":{"rendered":"Service Award Winners"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"SDUSMP\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Service Award\u00a0<\/p>

Winners<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Frederick Douglass <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Leadership Award<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Harriet Tubman\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Leadership Award<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

William Wells Brown<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Leadership Award<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Ida B. Wells<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Leadership Award<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Chairperson’s Award<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Certificate of Special Recognition<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

FREDERICK DOUGLASS LEADERSHIP AWARD<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Joseph D. Feaster, Jr., <\/b>Chair, Task Force on Reparations<\/p>

\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Attorney <\/span>Joseph <\/span>D. <\/span>Feaster, <\/span>Jr.<\/span> is <\/span>a <\/span>distinguished <\/span>legal <\/span>and <\/span>civic <\/span>leader <\/span>with <\/span>over <\/span>45 <\/span>years <\/span>of <\/span>experience <\/span>practicing <\/span>law. <\/span>Appointed <\/span>by <\/span>Mayor <\/span>Michelle <\/span>Wu <\/span>to <\/span>serve <\/span>on <\/span>Boston\u2019s <\/span>Task <\/span>Force <\/span>on <\/span>Reparations, <\/span>Attorney <\/span>Feaster <\/span>brings <\/span>decades <\/span>of <\/span>expertise <\/span>in <\/span>corporate, <\/span>real <\/span>estate, <\/span>employment, <\/span>and <\/span>public-<\/span>sector <\/span>law, <\/span>as <\/span>well <\/span>as <\/span>deep <\/span>experience <\/span>in <\/span>community <\/span>engagement <\/span>and <\/span>public <\/span>administration.<\/span><\/p>

He <\/span>has <\/span>held <\/span>leadership <\/span>roles <\/span>across <\/span>city <\/span>and <\/span>state <\/span>government, <\/span>civil <\/span>rights <\/span>organizations, <\/span>and <\/span>community <\/span>health <\/span>initiatives. <\/span>His <\/span>longstanding <\/span>commitment <\/span>to <\/span>justice <\/span>and <\/span>equity <\/span>makes <\/span>him <\/span>a <\/span>vital <\/span>voice <\/span>in <\/span>shaping <\/span>reparative <\/span>solutions <\/span>for <\/span>Boston\u2019s <\/span>Black <\/span>residents.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

HARRIET TUBMAN LEADERSHIP AWARD<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Steve Williams<\/b>, <\/b>Juneteenth <\/span>Advocate <\/span>and <\/span>Multitalented <\/span>Changemaker<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Steve Williams is the President of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, the chief advocate and subject matter expert of the National Juneteenth Independence Day legislation. Board member Project 1619, Chairman of the National Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Program, Past President of Internet Society of Washington DC, Father, Technology Engineer Director of IT Services at NetSecurity Corporation, Principal Consultant at Micro Information Services\u2014and, wait for it, trumpeter leader of the Funkativity the Wave of Freedom Band.<\/span><\/p>

He <\/span>has <\/span>held <\/span>leadership <\/span>roles <\/span>across <\/span>city <\/span>and <\/span>state <\/span>government, <\/span>civil <\/span>rights <\/span>organizations, <\/span>and <\/span>community <\/span>health <\/span>initiatives. <\/span>His <\/span>longstanding <\/span>commitment <\/span>to <\/span>justice <\/span>and <\/span>equity <\/span>makes <\/span>him <\/span>a <\/span>vital <\/span>voice <\/span>in <\/span>shaping <\/span>reparative <\/span>solutions <\/span>for <\/span>Boston\u2019s <\/span>Black <\/span>residents.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

WILLIAM WELLS BROWN LEADERSHIP AWARD<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Bryan Sheffey<\/b>, <\/b>Genealogist, <\/span>Historian, <\/span>and <\/span>Cultural <\/span>Storyteller<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Brian <\/span>Sheffey<\/span><\/strong> is <\/span>a <\/span>nationally <\/span>recognized <\/span>genealogist, <\/span>author, <\/span>and <\/span>television <\/span>host <\/span>dedicated <\/span>to <\/span>uncovering <\/span>African <\/span>American <\/span>family <\/span>histories. <\/span>As <\/span>Director <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Center <\/span>for <\/span>Family <\/span>History <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>International <\/span>African <\/span>American <\/span>History <\/span>Museum, <\/span>he <\/span>leads <\/span>groundbreaking <\/span>research <\/span>on <\/span>enslaved <\/span>communities <\/span>and <\/span>their <\/span>descendants, <\/span>with <\/span>a <\/span>focus <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>early <\/span>British <\/span>American <\/span>colonial <\/span>period.<\/span><\/p>

He <\/span>is <\/span>also <\/span>the <\/span>co-<\/span>host <\/span>of <\/span>Genealogy <\/span>Adventures<\/span><\/em>, <\/span>a <\/span>popular <\/span>show <\/span>exploring <\/span>African <\/span>American <\/span>genealogy <\/span>and <\/span>culture. <\/span>His <\/span>work <\/span>has <\/span>supported <\/span>institutions <\/span>like <\/span>the <\/span>University <\/span>of <\/span>Virginia <\/span>Foundation <\/span>and <\/span>has <\/span>made <\/span>a <\/span>lasting <\/span>impact <\/span>through <\/span>his <\/span>bestselling <\/span>books <\/span>and <\/span>public <\/span>scholarship.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

IDA B. WELLS LEADERSHIP AWARD<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Dr. Cheryl LaRoche<\/b>, <\/b>Voice <\/span>for <\/span>Freedom <\/span>through <\/span>History <\/span>and <\/span>Preservation<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Dr. <\/span>Cheryl <\/span>Janifer <\/span>LaRoche<\/span><\/strong> is <\/span>a <\/span>renowned <\/span>historical <\/span>archaeologist, <\/span>author, <\/span>and <\/span>scholar <\/span>whose <\/span>work <\/span>centers <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>Underground <\/span>Railroad, <\/span>escape <\/span>from <\/span>slavery, <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>legacy <\/span>of <\/span>free <\/span>Black <\/span>communities. <\/span>She <\/span>began <\/span>her <\/span>career <\/span>preserving <\/span>artifacts <\/span>from <\/span>the <\/span>African <\/span>Burial <\/span>Ground <\/span>in <\/span>New <\/span>York <\/span>City <\/span>and <\/span>has <\/span>since <\/span>contributed <\/span>to <\/span>major <\/span>institutions, <\/span>including <\/span>the <\/span>Smithsonian <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>National <\/span>Park <\/span>Service.<\/span><\/p>

An <\/span>associate <\/span>research <\/span>professor <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>University <\/span>of <\/span>Maryland, <\/span>Dr. <\/span>LaRoche <\/span>is <\/span>also <\/span>the <\/span>author <\/span>of <\/span>Free <\/span>Black <\/span>Communities <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>Underground <\/span>Railroad<\/span><\/em> and <\/span>the <\/span>newly <\/span>released <\/span>Apostle <\/span>of <\/span>Liberation<\/span><\/em>. <\/span>Her <\/span>career <\/span>reflects <\/span>a <\/span>deep <\/span>commitment <\/span>to <\/span>uncovering <\/span>and <\/span>preserving <\/span>Black <\/span>history <\/span>through <\/span>archaeology, <\/span>scholarship, <\/span>and <\/span>storytelling.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

CHAIRPERSON’S\u00a0AWARD<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Judge Anita Laster Mays,<\/b> Voice <\/span>of <\/span>Legacy <\/span>and <\/span>Legal <\/span>Leadership<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Judge <\/span>Anita <\/span>Laster <\/span>Mays<\/span><\/strong> is <\/span>a <\/span>trailblazing <\/span>jurist, <\/span>genealogist, <\/span>and <\/span>community <\/span>leader <\/span>dedicated <\/span>to <\/span>honoring <\/span>the <\/span>legacy <\/span>of <\/span>her <\/span>ancestors. <\/span>A <\/span>judge <\/span>on <\/span>Ohio\u2019s <\/span>8th <\/span>District <\/span>Court <\/span>of <\/span>Appeals, <\/span>she <\/span>has <\/span>spent <\/span>decades <\/span>uncovering <\/span>her <\/span>family <\/span>history, <\/span>inspired <\/span>by <\/span>stories <\/span>from <\/span>her <\/span>grandmother <\/span>and <\/span>great-<\/span>uncle, <\/span>and <\/span>driven <\/span>by <\/span>a <\/span>deep <\/span>desire <\/span>to <\/span>preserve <\/span>and <\/span>share <\/span>her <\/span>lineage.<\/span><\/p>

Judge <\/span>Laster <\/span>Mays <\/span>regularly <\/span>speaks <\/span>to <\/span>youth <\/span>and <\/span>community <\/span>groups <\/span>about <\/span>the <\/span>importance <\/span>of <\/span>ancestry, <\/span>representation, <\/span>and <\/span>resilience. <\/span>Through <\/span>her <\/span>public <\/span>service, <\/span>storytelling, <\/span>and <\/span>advocacy, <\/span>she <\/span>uplifts <\/span>the <\/span>history <\/span>of <\/span>enslaved <\/span>people <\/span>and <\/span>instills <\/span>pride <\/span>in <\/span>their <\/span>descendants.<\/span><\/p>

An <\/span>associate <\/span>research <\/span>professor <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>University <\/span>of <\/span>Maryland, <\/span>Dr. <\/span>LaRoche <\/span>is <\/span>also <\/span>the <\/span>author <\/span>of <\/span>Free <\/span>Black <\/span>Communities <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>Underground <\/span>Railroad<\/span><\/em> and <\/span>the <\/span>newly <\/span>released <\/span>Apostle <\/span>of <\/span>Liberation<\/span><\/em>. <\/span>Her <\/span>career <\/span>reflects <\/span>a <\/span>deep <\/span>commitment <\/span>to <\/span>uncovering <\/span>and <\/span>preserving <\/span>Black <\/span>history <\/span>through <\/span>archaeology, <\/span>scholarship, <\/span>and <\/span>storytelling.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Certificate of Special Recognition<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Assemblyman Reuben D’Silva, <\/b>Educator, Legislator, and Advocate for Equity<\/p>

\u00a0<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Assemblyman Reuben D’Silva <\/b>represents Nevada\u2019s 28th District, covering parts of East and North Las Vegas. Born in Mumbai, India, and raised in North Las Vegas, he is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who earned a Purple Heart after being wounded in Iraq. Following his service, D’Silva pursued education at the College of Southern Nevada, UNLV, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University, earning multiple degrees in history, globalization studies, and religion and politics.<\/span><\/p>

A former history teacher at Rancho High School, D’Silva was elected to the Nevada Assembly in 2022, becoming the first Indian-American to serve in the state legislature. He is Vice Chair of the Education Committee and serves on the Government Affairs and Revenue Committees.<\/span><\/p>

In 2025, D’Silva introduced Assembly Bill 328 to create a commission to study the impacts of slavery, Jim Crow laws, and racial discrimination in Nevada, and to explore reparations for descendants of enslaved people. Emphasizing the importance of public education and social justice, he called the moment right for such a study despite national backlash against diversity efforts. His work reflects a deep commitment to equity, education, and service.<\/span><\/p>

Judge <\/span>Laster <\/span>Mays <\/span>regularly <\/span>speaks <\/span>to <\/span>youth <\/span>and <\/span>community <\/span>groups <\/span>about <\/span>the <\/span>importance <\/span>of <\/span>ancestry, <\/span>representation, <\/span>and <\/span>resilience. <\/span>Through <\/span>her <\/span>public <\/span>service, <\/span>storytelling, <\/span>and <\/span>advocacy, <\/span>she <\/span>uplifts <\/span>the <\/span>history <\/span>of <\/span>enslaved <\/span>people <\/span>and <\/span>instills <\/span>pride <\/span>in <\/span>their <\/span>descendants.<\/span><\/p>

An <\/span>associate <\/span>research <\/span>professor <\/span>at <\/span>the <\/span>University <\/span>of <\/span>Maryland, <\/span>Dr. <\/span>LaRoche <\/span>is <\/span>also <\/span>the <\/span>author <\/span>of <\/span>Free <\/span>Black <\/span>Communities <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>Underground <\/span>Railroad<\/span><\/em> and <\/span>the <\/span>newly <\/span>released <\/span>Apostle <\/span>of <\/span>Liberation<\/span><\/em>. <\/span>Her <\/span>career <\/span>reflects <\/span>a <\/span>deep <\/span>commitment <\/span>to <\/span>uncovering <\/span>and <\/span>preserving <\/span>Black <\/span>history <\/span>through <\/span>archaeology, <\/span>scholarship, <\/span>and <\/span>storytelling.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Service Award\u00a0 Winners Frederick Douglass  Leadership Award Harriet Tubman\u00a0 Leadership Award William Wells Brown Leadership Award Ida B. Wells Leadership Award Chairperson’s Award Certificate of Special Recognition FREDERICK DOUGLASS LEADERSHIP […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","passster_activate_protection":false,"passster_protect_child_pages":"","passster_protection_type":"password","passster_password":"","passster_activate_overwrite_defaults":"","passster_headline":"","passster_instruction":"","passster_placeholder":"","passster_button":"","passster_id":"","passster_activate_misc_settings":"","passster_redirect_url":"","passster_hide":"no","passster_area_shortcode":"","site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"enabled","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":""},"class_list":["post-2424","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"forcedam","author_link":"https:\/\/sdusmp.org\/conference2025\/author\/forcedam\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Service Award\u00a0 Winners Frederick Douglass  Leadership Award Harriet Tubman\u00a0 Leadership Award William Wells Brown Leadership Award Ida B. Wells Leadership Award Chairperson’s Award Certificate of Special Recognition FREDERICK DOUGLASS LEADERSHIP […]","ticketed":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdusmp.org\/conference2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdusmp.org\/conference2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdusmp.org\/conference2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdusmp.org\/conference2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sdusmp.org\/conference2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2424"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/sdusmp.org\/conference2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2424\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2936,"href":"https:\/\/sdusmp.org\/conference2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2424\/revisions\/2936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sdusmp.org\/conference2025\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}