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This week, Davidson graduate and trustee Paul Leonard ’62 was awarded the Charlotte Coalition for Social Justice’s annual Humanitarian Award. The 38th awards ceremony took place last Tuesday in Charlotte at the Westin Hotel.
The awards, which are now annual, were inaugurated in 1957 with the recognition of Judge John R. Parker, a North Carolina judge who exercised a long career in state, federal and international law.
The awards recognize individuals working in Mecklenburg County who have “made significant contributions to improving the quality of life for members of the community by challenging discrimination and/or advocating for equity and inclusion.”
The coalition honors work in racial equity, religious expression, diversity education and a host of other fields. The Coalition also maintains a commitment to supporting youth activism by reserving one award for a local young humanitarian, an activist who once participated in the Coalition’s youth education program, has served the organization through their volunteer work and has continued to branch out, developing initiatives and efforts of their own to promote social justice.
Leonard is being honored for his work in fair housing, where he has spent decades advocating for equal opportunity in the struggle to end homelessness and sub-standard housing. This year’s awards also recognized Franklin E. McCain, a Charlotte civil rights leader, and Maria Suarez, a local humanitarian.
Recent recipients have included John Crosland, Jr.., Rabbi Judith Schindler and Theresa Clark Elder. Recipients for the award are nominated by community members (nominations can be made in person or through the organization’s web site) and chosen by the Coalition for Social Justice’s staff.
Leonard graduated from Davidson in 1962 with a degree in history before completing divinity studies at the University of Chicago and a master’s program in business at Emory University.
He has returned to Davidson, where he lives and serves on the College’s board. Leonard served as the chair of the presidential search committee during the nomination and selection of President Tom Ross and is also on the Board of Trustees at Pfeiffer University.
After working as the president of John Crosland real estate company and vice president of Centex Real Estate Corporation, Leonard worked at Habitat for Humanity International for over 15 years, where he served as treasurer, chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, chair of the U.S./Canada Committee and the U.S. Council and director of the Board. In 2005 he was named Managing Director and interim CEO of Habitat for Humanity International.
The Charlotte Coalition for Social Justice is an independent non-profit organization that aims to improve communities by educating the youth who will soon be its leaders. The organization provides “high quality, year-round leadership development programming and outreach that will equip and empower youth and adults to address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in our community,” according to their web site.
The wide variety of programs offered by the organization include “Anytown,” an interactive diversity workshop and “Bring It On!,” an educational program designed to prepare students for the social and emotional pressures of high school, as well as an annual three-day civil rights conference and a bi-monthly Youth Empowerment Council. The Coalition also sponsors Native Voices, a student spoken word group that performs regularly in Charlotte.
More information about CCSJ can be found at www.charlottecoalition.org.
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