NYC Community Organizer Wins First-Ever Berger-Marks' Edna Award

Honored by the Berger-Marks Foundation for their social justice work are, from left Edna Award runners-up Laurie Kennington, and Mackenzie Baris, winner Ana Maria Archila and top-10 finalist Elizabeth Wilkins.

Chosen from more than 400 inspiring nominations, the co-director of a dynamic New York City grassroots advocacy organization has been named the first-ever winner of the Berger-Marks Foundation's Edna Award.

Ana Maria Archila leads Make the Road New York, which promotes economic justice, equity and opportunity for low-income Latinos and all New Yorkers through community and electoral organizing, policy advocacy, leadership development, youth and adult education, and legal and support services.

The Edna Award honors women 35 and younger who are leaders in the social justice movement. It is named for Edna Berger, the first woman organizer for The Newspaper Guild-CWA and an energetic social justice activist. Financial bequests from Berger and her husband created the Berger-Marks Foundation, which provides financial assistance and other support for women involved in union organizing.

Foundation leaders and judges said they were overwhelmed by the energy, passion and accomplishments of the young women who vied for the award. "The range of activities of the applicants to further social justice was remarkable — from union organizers and leaders to programs to end inner-city violence to immigrant rights advocacy and fundraising to help African children orphaned by AIDS," said Foundation President Linda Foley.

Archila, 32, and finalists for the Edna Award were honored Wednesday night at a ceremony at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Archila immigrated to the United States from Colombia when she was 17. Under her leadership, MRNY initiatives are engaging students and parents in school policies and funding; empowering young, low-income, and immigrant voters; and providing job training and placement services. MRNY also was at the forefront of the fight to win comprehensive legislation that cracked down on dangerous housing conditions in New York City.

Archila's award comes with $10,000 from Berger-Marks. Three finalists received $1,000. They are Emily Arnold-Fernandez, 34, who founded Asylum Access to advance the rights of refugees; Mackenzie Baris, 32, the lead organizer of Jobs with Justice in Washington, D.C.; and Laurie Kennington, 33, who has led highly successful organizing drives and won an historic contract at Yale University as president of UNITE HERE Local 34.

TNG-CWA Secretary-Treasurer Carol Rothman was one of the five Edna Award judges. The others were SEIU President Mary Kay Henry, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Shuler, NOW President Terry O'Neill, and Valerie Ervin, president of the Montgomery County (Maryland) Council.

Read more about the Edna Award winners and the other work of the Berger-Marks Foundation at www.bergermarks.org.