Recipients of the 2024 Founders and Firebrand Awards have been announced by The Fund for Santa Barbara Board of Directors executive committee.
The Founders Award honors a community member dedicated to fostering progressive change through social, political, economic, and environmental justice. The winner embodies a vision of optimism, problem-solving, and a sense of belonging.
The Firebrand Award recognizes emerging youth leaders who are driving social change within the community, celebrating their contributions to progressive movements.
Founders Award Recipients:
Jeanne Sparks and Ken Hough — a duo renowned for their dedication to community service and advocacy.
With nearly 40 years of experience, Sparks has led various initiatives focused on environmental sustainability and community livability, including the establishment of Santa Maria’s first dog park and significant contributions to public services in Cuyama Valley.
Hough brings some 30 years of expertise in transportation and regional planning, advocating for sustainable growth and agricultural land protection.
Together, their leadership at the Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN) highlights their commitment to fostering positive change throughout the region.
Firebrand Award Recipient:
Future for Lompoc Youth (FLY)
The Firebrand Award recognizes FLY for its exemplary work in engaging young people in civic activities over the past three years.
By collaborating with the UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, FLY successfully canvassed the Lompoc community, gathering more than 1,000 surveys to better understand youth needs post-pandemic.
The efforts have empowered young activists to advocate for a crucial school bond, marking a significant milestone for local education.
Both awardees will be celebrated at The Fund for Santa Barbara’s annual fundraiser, Bread & Roses, 2-6 p.m. Oct. 6 at Santa Barbara City College’s Great Meadow.
The event will feature food and beverages from local vendors, entertainment by local artist Terrill Carter, the street brass band The Brasscals, and DJ Suz.
Tickets are available online until Oct. 3.
The idea of Bread and Roses is part of a historical tradition that began with the Lawrence, Massachusetts, textile workers’ strike of 1912. Since then, “Bread and Roses” has served as a slogan for many progressive struggles in the U.S.
Generally, “Bread” has represented a living wage, and “Roses” has referred to workers’ desire for dignity and respect.
On Jan. 12, 1912 nearly 25,000 textile workers – mostly immigrant women – left the mills and poured into the streets of Lawrence, Massachusetts. After three months, the strike ended in a victory – with wage increases in mill towns throughout New England.
The strike changed the face of both the labor and feminist movements. It was the first major labor action in U.S. history that was led by women, and for the first time there was a conscious effort to unite workers of all nationalities. Every union meeting was translated into 25 different languages.
Since its inception in 1993, Fund for Santa Barbara’s Bread & Roses Community Celebration has become one of the region’s largest progressive gatherings.
For more about the awards and event details, visit https://fundforsantabarbara.org/bread-roses/.