About the Barbara Jordan Leadership Award

Barbara Jordan, co-founder of People For the American Way Foundation, was a true visionary and public servant. Serving as the first African-American woman in the Texas State Legislature, and the first African-American US Congresswoman from the Deep South, she championed voting rights and the causes of the poor, the disadvantaged, and people of color. While serving on the Judiciary Committee during the Watergate hearings, she rose to national prominence with her impassioned speeches about the Constitution, stating, “My faith in the Constitution is whole, it is complete, it is total.”

To honor Congresswoman Jordan’s dedication to public service and our country, each year the YEO Network recognizes an outstanding young elected official who is following in her footsteps. The Barbara Jordan Leadership Award will be given to a young elected official who has shown dedication and support to the YEO Network and has a distinguished record of public service to their community and the progressive movement at large.

Based on the above criteria, the YEO Network has nominated five outstanding YEOs for the 2011 award: City Council Member Melvin Carter, State Senator Jamie Eldridge, Town Council Member Angela Garretson, County Legislator Nathan Shinagawa, and County Commissioner Dave Woodward.

The winner will be presented at the 2011 YEO National Convening in June. In the spirit of a convening for YEOs by YEOs, this award will be given to the nominee voted for by YEO Network members. We ask you to please take a few minutes to look over the nominee biographies and cast your vote for the young elected official you feel best deserves to be the 2011 Barbara Jordan Leadership Award recipient. Voting ends Friday, May 13, 2011.