Lafayette Community Remembrance Project Annual Awards

The LCRP Annual Awards recognize individuals or groups whose work exemplifies the spirit and mission of the Lafayette Community Remembrance Project by advancing memory, justice, and collective healing. Each year, four honorees are selected, each representing one of the core areas that sustain remembrance and truth-telling work in Lafayette County and beyond. These awards serve as a celebration of those who work to remember what others have forgotten, to educate when others remain silent, to uncover truths hidden in plain sight, and to connect communities across divides.

Award Categories

  1. Tribute & Memorialization Award
    Honors those who create or steward meaningful spaces, rituals, or artistic expressions that pay tribute to lives lost to racial violence and keep memory alive in public life.

  2. Education & Advocacy Award
    Recognizes those who advance truth-telling through teaching, public programming, organizing, or advocacy that challenges historical erasure and inspires civic engagement.

  3. Research & History Award
    Celebrates those who conduct community-rooted historical research that sheds light on neglected narratives and contributes to a more honest understanding of the past.

  4. Community & Bridge Building Award
    Uplifts those who build relationships across generations, geographies, or identities to promote shared healing, justice, and transformation. Their work nurtures connection, belonging, and mutual care.

Eligibility

  • Nominees can be individuals, duos, or groups—living or posthumous.

  • Nominees should demonstrate a sustained contribution to remembrance, racial justice, or truth-telling in Mississippi and beyond.

  • Members of the LCRP Award Selection Committee are not eligible.

Nomination Process

  • Nominations open annually on April 1 and can be submitted through the nomination form.

  • Individuals, organizations, or self-nominations are welcome.

  • Each nomination must include:

    • Name and contact information of the nominee and the nominator

    • Selected award category

    • 500-word statement on the nominee’s contributions

    • How does the work align with the spirit of the award category

    • Optional: supporting materials (articles, media, testimonials)

Selection Process

  1. Committee Formation

    • 3–5 members, including LCRP leaders, previous awardees, and community partners

    • The committee reflects diverse perspectives and lived experiences

  2. Review & Deliberation

    • All submissions are reviewed using a shared rubric

    • Top nominees in each category are brought forward for final discussion and consensus

  3. Announcement

    • Awardees are notified prior to the public announcement

    • Honorees are recognized during the annual Memorialization Gathering