THE 2026
GREATER CLEVELAND ACTIVISM AWARDS
SUNDAY SeptEMBER 20th
The Agora theater
CIVIL RIGHTS • HEALTH ADVOCACY • ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT • VIOLENCE PREVENTION • COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
The Greater Cleveland Activism Awards (GCAAs) is a new annual celebration honoring the individuals and organizations working to strengthen communities across the Greater Cleveland region.
This red-carpet gala and concert brings together community activists, nonprofit leaders, civic leaders, corporate partners, youth organizations, and residents for an inspiring evening recognizing individuals and organizations who advocate for change, growth and equality in our communities.
The inaugural event will also support the development, opening, and sustainment of the new Greater Cleveland Activist Center, a future hub where grassroots leaders, community organizers, and residents can collaborate, mobilize, and address pressing community challenges.
The evening will combine community recognition with live entertainment, creating a vibrant celebration of activism and culture.
Fred David Gray (born December 14, 1930). Because of Segregation He attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland Ohio for law school. He is an American civil rights attorney, author, preacher, activist, and state legislator from Alabama.
During the Civil Rights Movement, Gray came to prominence working with Martin Luther King Jr. and E.D. Nixon, among others. In some of his first cases as a young Alabama attorney (and solo practitioner), Gray defended Claudette Colvin and later Rosa Parks, who were charged with disorderly conduct for refusing to seat themselves in the rear of segregated city buses.
He handled many prominent civil rights cases, such as Browder v. Gayle, and was elected to the Alabama House of Representatives in 1970, along with Thomas Reed, both from Tuskegee. He served as the president of the National Bar Association in 1985, and in 2001 was elected as the first African-American President of the Alabama State Bar.
The Inaugural Fred Gray Civil Rights & Justice Award will be awarded to an honoree!
Keynote Speaker: Attorney Fred Gray Sr.
Khalid Samad, a beloved Cleveland community leader and internationally recognized activist, died this year at the age of 73.
Samad co-founded the organization Peace in the Hood and helped establish the Coalition for a Better Life. He dedicated decades to preventing gang violence, mentoring youth, and bringing neighborhoods together.
He held several official roles in city administration during his career, including as an assistant to the public safety director for youth gang intervention under former Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell. Samad also served as a gang prevention and investigative specialist for the Cleveland Board of Education's Gang Task Force from 1991 through 2000.
In 2016, Samad was inducted into the Cleveland International Hall of Fame for his lifetime of service. He was inducted that night by current Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin.
We have Established the Khalid Samad Peace in the Hood Award.
The award will be given to an individual or organization who demonstrates extreme commitment to reducing violence and conflict in Cleveland. People who step into difficult and sometimes dangerous situations to protect others while promoting unity and lasting peace. The honoree will also have a direct impact in changing the next generation.
Special Tribute to:
Khalid Samad
11/13/1952 - 3/19/2026
2026 GCAA HONOREES
Margaret Wong
Immigrant Advocacy & Global Impact
Dr. Charles Modlin
Health Equity & Medical Impact
Lois Goodman
Community Stewardship Award
Phyllis "Seven" Harris
LGBTQ+ Community Leadership Award
Janice Cntreras
Multicultural Community Advocacy
Alfred Porter Jr.
Activism Through Music
Ted Ginn Sr.
Community Impact Through Sports
Black on Black Crime Inc.
GCAA Lifetime Achievement
for Activism
Delores Gray
Multi-Impact Activism
Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless
Housing Justice & Outreach
Greater Cleveland Food Bank
Hunger Relief Impact
Carrie Gibbons
Equality & Inclusion Advocacy
DAZE WHUN
Activism Through the Arts
Laura Cowan
Domestic Vilolence Advocacy
Shereen Naser
Cultural Unity & Justice Award
Khalid Samad
Peace in the Hood Award
Brandon Chrostowski
Re-Entry Advocasy
Blain Griffin
Fannie M. Lewis
Social Justice Award
Mike Polensek
Distinguished Voice of the Community
The Greater Cleveland Activist Center
The Greater Cleveland Activist Center will serve as a dynamic hub for change-makers across our region. It's a place where passion meets purpose and community becomes action. We are grateful to Black on Black Crime. Inc for allowing us to transform their current space that will house the center.
The Center will build on a legacy of grassroots impact while evolving into a modern headquarters for advocacy, collaboration, and leadership development. This space will bring together activists, organizations, and community leaders under one roof to share ideas, coordinate efforts, and drive meaningful change.
Through leadership training programs, workshops, strategy sessions, and community forums, the Center will equip the next generation of leaders with the tools they need to make a difference.
As it grows, plans include expanding into adjacent properties to create a full-scale campus dedicated to activism, innovation, and empowerment, making it a cornerstone for progress in Greater Cleveland.
Founding Partners
Uniting corporate leaders and community organizations to empower the next generation of Cleveland activists.
KeepItMovin LLC
VocieItRadio
ChurchHouse Rocks
Empower Economic Group
Unity Prevention Network
Cleveland Justice Alliance
Commnity Sponsors
Uniting corporate leaders and community organizations to empower the next generation of Cleveland activists.
KeepItMovin LLC
VocieItRadio
ChurchHouse Rocks
Empower Economic Group
Unity Prevention Network
Cleveland Justice Alliance
Supporting Sponsors
Uniting corporate leaders and community organizations to empower the next generation of Cleveland activists.