Please nominate a 2025 “unsung hero” of the Lower East Side!
The LES Community Hero Awards were created in 2014 to celebrate and honor the everyday under-recognized heroes of the Lower East Side.
Too often, the folks who really make a difference in a community go without knowing how much they are appreciated and respected by their neighbors. The LES Community Hero Awards is an opportunity to honor those who have made a difference right here in our community.
All heroes are nominated, selected, and presented their awards by members of the Lower East Side community.
NOMINATION FORM LINKED HERE
Deadline for submissions: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
More details
When nominating, please write in some detail about your nominee – as the committee may not be familiar with them. Understanding why you believe your nominee deserves to be honored is central to the review process.
A panel of LES folks will make the final selection of up to five honorees. The selection panel considers the individual’s impact within the LES community and the degree to which their contribution has or has not been recognized to date.
Nominations may be submitted by individuals who reside in the Lower East Side, or by individuals who work with organizations which have been based in the Lower East Side for at least 2 years. We use the historic boundaries which include Loisaida, the East Village, Two Bridges, and part of Chinatown.
Recognized Heroes will be honored at an in person event as part of LES History Month celebrations on either Tuesday May 20th or Wednesday May 21st, 2025 — TBD based on honoree availability.
The award certificates will be presented to each hero by their nominators.
Past Community Hero Award recipients
2014: Ruth Taube, Mimi Stern-Wolfe, Jaime Hernandez, Robert Graf, Steve Cannon
2015: Joyce Mendelsohn, Paul Garrin, Nelson Valentine, Mateo Gomez & Nelson Landrieu, Chino Garcia
2016: Harriet Putterman, Thea Martinez, Mike Hoyos, Wendy Brawer, Ed Litvak and Traven Rice, Dr. Michael Zisser
2017: Elissa Sampson, Jimmy Fragosa, Corinne Jennings, Steve Zeitlin, Crystal Field, Neighbors to Save Rivington House
2018: Charles Krezell, Monique Flores, Robert “Bob” Humber, Family of Ricky Leung, Essex Market Vendors
2019: Michael Casiano, Libertad Guerra, Ayo Harrington, Jose Ortiz-Rivera, Sandra Strother, The Drag March
2020: Eric Diaz/Vision Urbana
2021: John Blasco, Jen Chantrtanapichate, Anthony Feliciano, Sam Jacques, Jan Lee, Larissa Lozada, Carolyn Ratcliffe
2022: Marlis Momber, Shawn Garcia, Kim Fong, Frank Avila-Goldman, Debra Jeffreys-Glass
2023: Jasmine Corchado, Andy Fontanez, Sabura Rashid, K.Webster, Artists Athletes Activists, Lilah Mejia, Camille Napoleon