Des Moines, Iowa — The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Iowa is pleased to announce that Natalie Andrade, age 17 of Marshalltown, and Waverly Zhao, age 18 of Johnston, are the winners of its Robert Mannheimer Youth Advocacy Award.
Natalie is being honored for starting a Latina feminist organization called M.U.J.E.R.E.S. at her high school. The organization empowers Latinas in a culture that is too often permeated with toxic masculinity, she said. To read more about Natalie, click here.
Waverly is being honored for leading student protests and school board advocacy efforts for Johnston Community of Racial Equity (CORE). She is a strong proponent of equity and inclusion. To read more about Waverly, click here.
The ACLU of Iowa Robert Mannheimer Youth Advocacy Award is a $500 cash prize given to a young Iowan aged 14 to 19 who has demonstrated a passion and advocacy for civil liberties. It is named as a memorial to Des Moines attorney and civil liberties advocate Robert Mannheimer.
Mark Stringer, ACLU of Iowa Executive Director said, "We're delighted to be able to recognize young Iowans who are making a difference to promote civil liberties in our state. The Mannheimer Award allows us to celebrate the creative, inspiring ways students are making their communities and our state a better place, and Natalie and Waverly are certainly doing that."
For more information on the Robert Mannheimer award, click here.
For photos of Natalie and Waverly, click here.