2025 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards Overview

Описание: We are excited to announce the recipients of our 2025 Leadership Awards—a remarkable group of innovators dedicated to improving lives, creating opportunity, and contributing to a better California.

Selected from hundreds of nominations, these leaders are tackling critical issues such as Indigenous science and food sovereignty, Latina civic leadership, environmental justice, Black maternal health, equity in library services, and representation in entertainment.

Shantay R. Davies-Balch, CEO of BLACK Wellness & Prosperity Center, for improving Black maternal health by training doulas and promoting culturally competent care.

Nayamin Martinez, Executive Director of Central California Environmental Justice Network, for fighting for justice and resiliency for those most impacted by pollution and extreme heat.

Skye Patrick, County Librarian and CEO of LA County Library, for redefining the role of libraries as hubs of inclusion, innovation, and impact.

Cutcha Risling Baldy and Kaitlin Reed, Co-Directors of Rou Dalagurr: Food Sovereignty Lab and Traditional Ecological Knowledges Institute, for improving community well-being through Indigenous knowledges and food sovereignty.

Stacy L. Smith, Founder and Director of Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, for championing representation in entertainment through actionable research and advocacy.

Helen Iris Torres, CEO of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), for advancing democracy and strengthening communities through Latina civic leadership