JWJ's Baris Finalist for Edna Award

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)DC Jobs with Justice lead organizer Mackenzie Baris (pictured below, right) has won a $1,000 prize as one of three finalists for the first-ever Berger-Marks Foundation’s $10,000 Edna Award for social justice. The Foundation received more than 400 nominations for the award from all over the U.S., Canada, and many other countries. The award is named for Edna Berger, first woman organizer for The Newspaper Guild and a long-time social justice activist. The competition was open to women age 35 or under – from labor unions, women’s groups, workers’ rights organizations, immigrant rights groups, and other areas of social justice – whose leadership is fueling social change. Ana Maria Archila, Co-Director of Make the Road New York (MRNY) was the Edna Award winner, announced at a special ceremony held Tuesday evening at the National Press Club. MRNY, a nonprofit organization hailed as the most dynamic grassroots advocacy organization in New York City, works to empower and bring economic justice to low-income Latino residents and other New Yorkers. “Supporters and advocates of social justice – here in the U.S. and abroad – should be immensely heartened and optimistic about a brighter future with this generation of strong young women leaders taking charge," said Foundation Chairperson Louise D. Walsh. - photo courtesy of the Berger-Marks Foundation