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2020 NEW PERSON OF
THE YEAR AWARD

Each year, the Thomas Merton Center honors local change makers engaged in the movements for transformative justice. We are thrilled to present the 2020 New Person Award to Nia Arrington and Chrissy Carter.

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Watch this live, free broadcast at 7 PM on Sunday, November 29th streaming on this web page or on our TMC Facebook page.

No tickets, no RSVP, just tune in! On Facebook, you can join the live discussion in the comments. Email info@thomasmertoncenter.org with any questions

 

In addition to hearing transformative words from Nia & Chrissy, the LIVE Broadcast will include local yet globally-talented activists Brittani Murray as Emcee and Miracle Jones introducing our awardees, and soul-swelling music from Kelsey Robinson.

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Chrissy Carter, left; Nia Arrington, right

Nia and Chrissy have been heading up Pittsburgh youth activism-- leading school walk-outs and filling busses to D.C. for the March for Our Lives, advocating for students against Betsy DeVos' and Pittsburgh Public School's racist and discriminatory policies, organizing and sounding off during the Antwon Rose II protests, shutting down Jail Board meetings on behalf of LGBTQ+ inmates, and jointly founding the Youth Power Collective-- winning them the 2018 YWCA's Racial Justice Award.

Brittani Murray, EmCee Extraordinaire​

Brittani Murray is a passionate Pittsburgh activist and organizer, having participated in #blacklivesmatter and #translivesmatter protests and rallies, as well as leading community-oriented healing events over the years. Considered a “movement aunty” by some, she is a staunch anti-capitalist and proud hood femme. She is a member of the Allegheny County Black Activist/Organizer Collective which recently delivered a list of demands for police reform to the Pittsburgh mayor, she is Co-Founder of OKRA Ethics, a grassroots Black and Indigenous collaborative, she served on the board of SisTersPGH, and she was part of the Black Brilliance Community Cohort. Brittani hails from a long lineage of union workers, and carries that torch by being a member of the USW LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee and acting as LU 3657 Treasurer. Her commitment to her community and all working people is immeasurable.  

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Miracle Jones, Introductory Speaker

Miracle Jones is a community organizer and queer activist who works in the Pittsburgh area to advocate for equity along the intersections of gender, race, and class. She currently serves as the director of policy and advocacy at 1Hood Media. She received her Juris Doctor degree (J.D.)  and Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) from the University of Pittsburgh. Her work focuses on implementing abolition based principles and transformative justice through writing, policy, and advocacy.  Prior to coming to 1Hood, she gained experience at the Innocence Project, Allegheny County Public Defender’s Office, Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Pennsylvania, The Women and Girl's Foundation, and the Abolitionist Law Center.

SPECIAL THANKS TO ALONE/TOGETHER/PITTSBURGH FOR TECHNICAL PRODUCTION!

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SPONSORS

We want to extend a warm thank you to our sponsors for the 2020 New Person of the Year Award-- without you, this award would not be possible! They are listed below (click to access their webpages):

 

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