Triangle MLK Committee Announces 2022 King Leader Award Application Period

The Triangle Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee (TMLKC) seeks applicants for the annual King Leader Award, which recognizes and supports leaders in our community whose work exemplifies Dr. King’s commitment for transformation and justice. The award includes a $5,000 stipend and networking support.

Criteria for the award include: 

  • Leadership of a group, organization or movement making a positive impact on the community in the areas of social justice, transformative relationship building, community empowerment, equity and/or inclusivity.
  • A minimum of 5 years working in your identified area of impact (exceptions may be considered for exemplary impact from a start-up entity).
  • Location in the greater Triangle and surrounding areas (e.g. Chatham, Durham, Franklin, Granville, Johnston, Orange, Vance and Wake counties) and/or having an impact on these geographic areas

Recipient and finalists will be featured in a panel program on April 7, 2022, designed to highlight their work and impact on our community. Finalists will receive $100 to support continued efforts.

Application Process 

  1. In 500 words, describe your work and how that reflects the vision of King’s Beloved Community. (Please submit text no smaller than 12-point font.)“Dr. King’s Beloved Community is a global vision, in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth. In the Beloved Community, poverty, hunger and homelessness will not be tolerated because international standards of human decency will not allow it. Racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood. In the Beloved Community, international disputes will be resolved by peaceful conflict-resolution and reconciliation of adversaries, instead of military power. Love and trust will triumph over fear and hatred. Peace with justice will prevail over war and military conflict.” (Excerpt taken from The King Center’s online article entitled “The Beloved Community”- https://thekingcenter.org/about-tkc/the king-philosophy/)
  2. Nominations must include a cover page that states:
    • Name of the leader
    • Organization name and a BRIEF synopsis of the mission and work of the organization
    • Link to the organization’s website
    • Names and contact information of 3 references for the organization’s work and impact
    • 990 or equivalent overview of organization’s activities, governance and detailed financial information MUST be provided in order to be considered.
  3. Optional: We welcome any documentation of your work — photographs, videos and/or links to news coverage, articles, websites, social media, etc. The Committee recognizes that all applicants may not have the same access to resources and therefore some may not have documentation to share. Documentation will be useful but is not a necessity for full consideration.
  4. Self-nomination and nomination of others will be accepted.
  5. Submissions should be made to: planner4trianglemlk@gmail.com; Subject Line: KLA Application.
  6. Completed applications must be received no LATER THAN March 18, 2022, for consideration.
  7. All monetary awards will be made to the King Leader’s and other finalists’ organizations.
  8. Finalists will be notified by March 24, 2022. All finalists must commit to the following:
    • Participate in a panel program highlight their work on April 7, 2022
    • Participate in the planning and preparation for the panel program at a time TBD between March 23 – April 6th which may include videos and promotion of the event
    • Allow name, image, application essay and organization information to be used at will, without compensation, by TMLKC on our website, social media, newsletters and other media.