Seats are limited so be sure to RSVP below by September 5th.
About the Kelsy Beshears Racial Justice Award
Kelsy B. Beshears is recognized as one of the most influential figures in the Civil Rights Movement in St. Joseph. A former educator and trailblazer, she was the first elected president of the St. Joseph NAACP Branch. Throughout her life, Beshears was a dedicated advocate for racial justice, organizing boycotts and community efforts to challenge inequality. She achieved several historic milestones, including becoming the first Black woman to serve on a criminal jury in Buchanan County and the founder of the St. Joseph Human Rights Commission. Celebrated as an "Unsung Hero," Beshears lived to be 100 years old, leaving behind a powerful legacy of courage, leadership, and community impact.
Now, we honor her legacy by recognizing individuals and groups that demonstrate exceptional commitment and action towards achieving racial equality and justice. The 2025 award will be presented during the 29th Annual Day of Commitment to Eliminate Racism Breakfast.
Past Kelsy Beshears Racial Justice Award Recipients
1997- Rev. A.B. Brown and Rev. Sanford D. “Sandy” Hull
1998 - John Yates
1999 - MWSC Unity Services Office
2000 - Cleo L. Crouch, Sr.
2001 - Margaret “Peggy” Juda
2002 - William & Loes Hedge
2003 - Dave Howery
2004 - Hispanic Outreach of St. Joseph
2005 - Alonzo D. Weston, Sr.
2006 - Dorathea Polsky
2007 - Sharon Sonner
2008 - Bryan Alford
2009 - Rev. Roger Lenander
2010 - Leo J. Blakley
2011 - Charles Mujihad Triplett
2012 - Drew Brown
2013 - Sharon G. Kosek
2014 - LaDawndra Robbs
2015 - Helen and Ramadhan Washington
2016 - Chief Chris Connally
2017 - Joyce Starr
2018 - Pastor R. Robert Warren, Jr., MS Ed. and Kimberly Y. Warren, MS Ed.
2019 - Mike Veale and Persisterhood St. Joseph
2020 - Dr. Melinda Kovacs and Our Revolution
2021 - Bishop James P. Foster and The Lloyd Warner Community Remembrance Coalition
2022 - Brittany Boggess and The Black Archives Committee
2023 - Petronilla Sylvester and Association of Latin American Students
2024 - Jasmine Knight, Kirsten Stokes, Chris Fortune, Jenna Wilson, and Josepher Williams