Marguerite Casey Foundation introduces the 2019 Sargent Shriver Youth Warriors Against Poverty awardees, honored for their vision, passion, and dedication to improving the lives of families in their communities.
SEATTLE – Marguerite Casey Foundation presented 20 young community leaders with the Sargent Shriver Youth Warriors Against Poverty Leadership Award, in honor of their vision, passion and dedication to improving the lives of families in their communities. Each of the honorees received an award of $5,000 in recognition of their leadership.
This is the eighth year that Marguerite Casey Foundation has presented the Sargent Shriver Youth Warriors Against Poverty awards. The award is named for Sargent Shriver, who worked throughout his life to provide opportunities for people to lift themselves out of poverty. Shriver is the architect of the War on Poverty and visionary leader of Head Start, Peace Corps, Job Corps and VISTA.
Each of the 20 Sargent Shriver Youth Warriors has shown resolve and courage in standing up for those who are often neglected by society: the homeless, immigrant families, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and students and youth, among others. This year’s honorees are proactive in their efforts to encourage youth civic engagement, reform juvenile justice, education and healthcare systems, advocate for environmental justice, organize for immigrant and undocumented communities and more.
Luz Vega-Marquis, CEO and President of Marguerite Casey Foundation, said of the honorees: “This year’s Youth Warriors prove to us all that you can make a difference in your community at any age. We are so inspired by these organizers and their willingness to make change in the areas that affect them personally and affect their families. These are young people who come from what are sometimes difficult circumstances and bloom into active leaders in their community, helping to reshape those communities and our society overall. We’re so proud to see the legacy of Sargent Shriver continue on in each of them.”
Quincy Walker, 17
Nominated by Native Voice Network
Quincy Walker, a junior at Native American Community Academy (NACA) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is dedicated to serving his multi-faceted community and representing his Black, Japanese and Mexican-Irish cultures with pride. Quincy lives in Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico, and he has interned with several local, regional and national organizations, including NACA’s Hiyupo Alliance and Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance (MBKA). He supports many nonprofit and community-led organizations and is an active member of the ongoing MBKA Youth Advisory Council. He also supports the City of Albuquerque’s work to provide resources for boys and young men of color. Quincy has a personal passion for fighting domestic poverty through community service and organizing. He recently organized an initiative in his community to provide water to those experiencing homelessness, and he plans to expand his “Hydrating the Homeless” project to include new partners, as well as additional resources and provisions including fresh fruit.
For a full list of awardees please visit -
