The MLK Action Team of Nauset Interfaith Association has again been honored by the Barnstable County Human Rights Advisory Commission, this time awarded Chairperson, Karen Boujoukos with their Cornerstone Humanitarian Award. “The Cornerstone Award recognizes an individual and/or organizations whose work builds a strong foundation for human rights and civil rights protections in Barnstable County. This award is given to an individual who is recognized by their peers and community as someone who fosters, supports, and uplifts human rights ideals, and who has helped to impact change or to improve their community (for example: volunteer(s) or workers from private organizations, faith-based organizations, non-profits, etc).” In her thank you remarks, Karen said, in part, “It is a tremendous honor, but one that does not belong to me alone. I share this Cornerstone recognition with the members of my MLK Action Team and many members of our Nauset Interfaith group for supporting our racial justice work” with a special shout out to Angelina Raneo Chilaka her co-chair of the MLK Education Task Force and Rev. Wesley Williams, her predecessor as chair of the team. Several years ago, the full membership of MLK Action Team’s Conversations With Police Task Force received the Rosenthal Humanitarian Award for their work in building bridges of trust and understanding between our local police and our communities of color.
Jeanne Morrison, Chairperson of the BCHRAC and Leslie Dominguez-Santos, the commission’s coordinator kept the 2 hour event flowing.
Asha shared a beautiful song she had written only the night before the Breakfast, called “Rights”.
Marie Younger Blackburn gave the Keynote Address “All Human, All Equal: OUr Proclamation, Our Aspiration, Our Destination”.
Recognizing the importance of the voices of young adults, the program included a thoughtful speech from Mari Keleshian, a student representative to the Human Rights Academy and a powerful poem written and read by Molly Boston McLaughlin. The crowd embraced them both enthusiastically.
Ayanna Freedom, BCHRAC commissioner and longtime Barnstable County activist shared her thoughts on “Embodying Human Rights From Our Hearts to Our Minds”.
The three major awards were then presented. The Tim McCarthy Award was given to Harriet Jerusha Korim of Wellfleet, the Rosenthal Award to Antonia Stephens of Hyannis Public Library and to Cyndi Cotton of Osterville Public Library and the Cornerstone Award to Karen Boujoukos, MLK Action Team and posthumously to Janice Hank for her tireless work to end human trafficking on Cape Cod. Following those awards, the Unsung Heros who had created short videos to introduce themselves or their organization were shared. We’re proud to say that of the 13 individuals named as unsung heros, six were either members of MLK Action Team or colleagues we have collaborated with on various justice projects. (On a personal note, as an award recipient this year, it was tremendously humbling to have been a part of such an incredible cohort of people).
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Most of the wonderful group of MLK and NIA members who attended the 2025 Human Rights Breakfast. (Missing from the photo are attendees Wesley Williams and Carol Richardson).