When You Honor An Unsung Progressive Hero…

What does it mean for an unsung hero of the progressive movement to be recognized for his or her behind-the-scenes work with the annual Maria Leavey Tribute Award [1]?

The annual award will be presented at America's Future Now! convening June 1-3 [2]. While nominations remain open [1] for the Third Annual Maria Leavey Tribute Award, we asked our prior winners how the award has continued to inspire their work.

Our inaugural honoree Ari Lipman, of the Industrial Areas Foundation [3] and lead get-out-the-vote organizer for the Faith Vote Columbus [4] project, spoke of inspiration that kept him going:

Most days-in days-out, you're getting recognized by the vacant house in front of you. To get to step outside of that, and have people recognize your work, is really inspiring.

Last year's recipient Jim Gilliam, then of Brave New Films [5] and now of the participatory democracy effort White House 2 [6], discussed how the honor affected his outlook:

The award sort of made me … re-evaluate what it was that I was working on, because all of sudden it made it more important, what it was that I did. … It kind of forces you to think a little bit beyond yourself, what makes you most excited about your work.

Who do you know that toiled quietly away from the limelight to bring about progressive change in the past year? Click here to nominate an unsung progressive hero for the Third Annual Maria Leavey Tribute Award. [1]

Our prior award recipients continue to honor the legacy of the quintessential unsung progressive Maria Leavey.

Ari led the largest, independent volunteer get-out-the-vote operation in Ohio last year [4], assembling 650 volunteers from 30 religious congregations and community organizations to knock on 60,000 doors and help give voice to the otherwise disenfranchised.

While Ari knocks on doors, Jim is connecting citizens to their democracy online through White House 2, [6] where thousands are showing "how the White House might work if it was run completely democratically by thousands of people on the internet" and helping set the nation's priorities.

Who do you know that embodies the same spirit, connecting the progressive movement, smashing obstacles, generating fresh ideas and selflessly organizing to get it all done? Click here to nominate an unsung progressive hero for the Third Annual Maria Leavey Tribute Award. [1]

As both Ari and Jim reminded us, we need to inspire more in the next generation to follow Maria Leavey's legacy.

"There's no better feeling" than making a difference says Ari, so "this doesn't have to be something that you do for a couple years out of college … it's something that you can do for a lifetime and have a terrific career." Jim agrees: "[when] you're excited about the work that you're doing … it makes your life better."

Help us deliver that message by helping us recognize another unsung progressive hero. Nominations must be received before the newly extended deadline: 11:59 PM ET on April 10, 2009. Click here [1] to learn more about the rules and process, as well as about Maria's wonderful life and selfless service.

And we look forward to seeing you in Washington, DC from June 1 to 3 at America's Future Now! [2] when we announce this year's honoree.