By Marcus Osborne, shades Magazine

When globally recognized, award-winning human rights pioneer Van Jones help create the Ella Baker Center For Human Rights, he certainly could not have predicted that more than a decade later the center would bloom from what was essentially closet space into an organization occupying its own building.

Touting itself as “not your parents’ civil rights organization” and making its mark initially by winning an improbable dismissal of a controversial police officer, the Ella Baker Center – located in Oakland, Calif. – has gone on to achieve recognition and acclaim for its continued efforts in bringing awareness and attention to the power of community organization.

And on Sept. 22, as it has every year since 1996, the center will celebrate its ability to survive and thrive for 15 years with the Ella Baker Awards Celebration and Awards Ceremony – an event that’s become affectionately known as “The Ellas.”

This year’s Ellas will feature a community reception, art exhibit of works by Favianna Rodriguez, an awards dinner, the announcement of the 2011 Van Jones Scholarship winner and more.

“As an organization with a strong belief in the power of people and community, we felt that a recognition of some kind that honored the work of those visionary leaders was the right way to celebrate their important work,” explained Abel Habtegeorgis, media relations manager for the center.

The significance of reaching the 15-year mark isn’t lost on Habtegeorgis either.

“It’s really amazing that an organization that started out of a closet 15 years [ago] would now house a staff of more than 20 human rights activists pushing for some of the boldest and creative solutions to the problems of urban America,” he said. “It’s been amazing to see these ideas born right here in Oakland receive nationwide acclaim over the years. It’s a testament to the tireless spirit of the Ella Baker Center, one that is unrelenting, bold and rooted in great feelings of love.”

This year’s 2011 Ella Award winners are:

Favianna Rodriguez, President, TUMIS and Interim Executive Director, Presente.org – Rodriguez is a celebrated printmaker and digital artist who uses art to spark civic engagement and social change. She has co-founded incredible groups such as Presente.org, the Taller Tupac Amaru printing studio, EastSide Arts Alliance and Tumis Design Studio. Favianna continues the long legacy of leaders who use art to fuel grassroots activism.

Akaya Windwood, President, Rockwood Leadership institute – Akaya Windwood is the Windwood leads the nonprofit with the simple goal of changing the world by helping (through leadership development) the people who want to change the world. At the age of 7, she was one of two African-American youth sent to desegregate a previously all-white school in Southern California. Ever since, she has been committed to cross-sector work to promote social and economic justice as well as to bring joy and laughter into the work of social change.

Asian Pacific Environmental Network – APEN – seeks to empower low-income Asian Pacific Islander communities to achieve environmental and social justice. Through direct organizing, alliance building and creating a network of API organizations, APEN is a champion of Asian community health, leadership and political strength.

If You Go

The 2011 Ella Baker Anniversary Celebration and Awards Ceremony

When: 6 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22

Where: Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway, Oakland

Details: ellabakercenter.org

Originally published at myshadesmagazine.net.