NC Justice Center to honor the 2024 Defenders of Justice Awardees at sold-out ceremony in Durham

RALEIGH (September 17, 2023) – The North Carolina Justice Center will recognize six of the state’s outstanding community leaders at the Defenders of Justice Awards Gala on Sunday, September 22, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Durham’s Washington Duke Inn.  

The annual awards ceremony celebrates the inspirational work of North Carolinians dedicated to social justice. The awardees are on the frontlines of the movement to advance inclusive policies, eliminate poverty, and build a North Carolina where all people can thrive.  

About the awardees

This year’s awardees are: 

  • Grassroots Empowerment—Philip Cooper, Founder and Chief Change Agent of Operation Gateway, Inc., an organization working to decrease recidivism by addressing social determinants of health for North Carolinians reentering after a period of incarceration 
  • Grassroots Empowerment—Ricky Hurtado, Program Officer at Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and education advocate and co-founder LatinxEd, an organization working to advance education equity and Latine leadership 
  • Litigation—Emma Kinyanjui, Legal Director of Disability Rights North Carolina, whose work has focused on ending solitary confinement, securing fair housing, and ensuring equitable access to health care for disabled people, particularly those of color and with low incomes 
  • Policy Research and Advocacy—Yevonne Brannon, Director of the Center for Urban Affairs and Community Services at North Carolina State University, and a child and public education advocate and former Wake County Commissioner 
  • Lifetime Champion of Justice (Posthumous)—Phyllis Hardy, Matriarch and Inreach/Outreach Coordinator of the National Council of Incarcerated Women and Girls, and longtime leader in the clemency and reentry movements 
  • Lifetime Champion of Justice—Gene Nichol, author and distinguished professor of law at the University of North Carolina, and lifelong advocate for civil rights, social justice, and eradicating poverty 

“We are excited to honor these remarkable teachers, litigators, community leaders, and advocates for their tireless work on behalf of all North Carolinians,” said Reggie Shuford, Executive Director of the NC Justice Center. “Their work serves as an inspiration and a reminder of what is possible when we work together for a more fair and just world.” 

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