The Berger-Marks Foundation has announced a competition for The Edna Award - an award that will honor a young woman leader in the social justice movement who has made an extraordinary contribution early in her career, and whose achievements indicate that her work will continue to significantly improve the lives of working women and men.

It seems like there are dozens of people in Oakland who would be great nominees for the Edna - who would you nominate? (And why don't you?)

According to the foundation, the $10,000 award is named after Edna Berger, the foundation’s namesake and an early organizer at The Newspaper Guild-CWA. Women can apply for the award themselves or be nominated by others.

"With the Edna Award, the Berger-Marks Foundation is expanding its commitment to young women," Linda Foley, president of the foundation said. "We want to spotlight their important contributions to social justice. Women are organizing unions; women are leading campaigns for universal health care; and women are demonstrating to young people what social justice means."

"The Berger-Marks Foundation and the Edna Award honor the vision of a social justice movement where all workers have an opportunity to lead," noted AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Liz Shuler, who encouraged "all young women to apply for this award and become involved in shaping a just future."

The Edna Award follows up on the findings of the "Stepping Up, Stepping Back: Women Activists ‘Talk Union’ Across Generations" report the foundation published last summer. It "demonstrates the Berger-Marks Foundation’s commitment to further engaging the next generation of social justice women leaders by creating a special honor just for them," Louise D. Walsh, chairperson of the foundation explained.

How to apply

Fill out the online application. It also calls for a resumé and two letters of recommendation. Nominees must be 35 years or younger on Dec. 31, 2011. Applications will be accepted through July 15, and the award will be presented in the fall. Young women from labor unions, women’s groups, workers’ rights groups and other areas of social justice are encouraged to apply.

Click here to see the form and apply online.