In honor of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s recognition that local engagement is essential to the struggle for equality, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Symposium on Social Change Executive Planning Committee of the University of Pennsylvania announces the 2024 Community Involvement Recognition Awardees. The awards honor members of the Philadelphia community whose active service to others best exemplifies the ideals Dr. King espoused.

The 2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Involvement Recognition Awardees were honored at the annual MLK Interfaith Program and Awards Commemoration.

The winners are:

Judith Rodin Community Education Award

Regina Bynum, Director of Teaching and Learning, Penn’s Netter Center for Community Partnerships

Community Involvement Recognition Award-Community Member

Akhenaton Mikell, founder and executive director, Imani Star Development

Community Involvement Recognition Award-Penn Faculty or Staff

Sonja Ogden, manager and executive support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Penn Medicine

Student Award-Graduate

Talayah Johnson, bioengineering PhD student in Penn Engineering

Student Award–Undergraduate

Om Manghani, C’24