2026 ILIA NOMINEES
Since 2017, RISE San Diego has honored local leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion through the annual Inclusive Leadership in Action (ILIA) Awards.
Each year, RISE seeks nominations from the community of individuals and organizations that are doing the work to make a real difference in the San Diego region. ILIA honorees are selected from these nominations and then announced and celebrated in October at the RISE ILIA Awards event. The awards recognize community members and organizations across eight award categories:
-
Honors an individual who has shown dedication and action to address and support a community’s ability to come together to combat or resist adverse circumstances. It recognizes the work of fostering adaptation, growth, and resiliency within communities to more readily respond to and recover from problems together.
-
Honors an individual who has shown dedication and action to make real, sustainable, and systemic change through the creation of innovative programs, policy, platforms, or partnerships. It recognizes the work of assisting the community’s ability to thrive in areas such as education, social enterprise, health and wellness, or advocacy.
-
Honors an individual who has shown dedication and action in shifting the culture of organizations and communities alike. It recognizes the effort of guiding groups to face a new challenge, disrupt outdated or harmful norms, and become more reflective and responsive to the needs of the communities they serve.
-
Honoring an individual between the ages of 16 and 25, it recognizes the voices of young adults who have shown dedication and action within their communities and are growing into their roles as action-driven thought leaders.
-
Honors an individual who has shown dedication and action in fostering spaces of healing and compassion for others. It recognizes the commitment to restorative practices delivered with grace, empathy, and a strong ethic of care in support of diverse community groups.
-
Honors an organization that has shown dedication and action to confronting challenges and spearheading opportunities to support and uplift San Diegans in meaningful and impactful ways. It recognizes the efforts of organizations and their teams to deliver exceptional programming and services for the communities they serve.
-
Honors an individual who has been an advocate and champion for under-served or marginalized communities. It recognizes advocacy in words and in action to bring about meaningful change for the people. The award is named in honor of the late Anthony M. Medina, a RISE Urban Leadership Fellow (‘18) and ILIA award recipient (‘19), who founded People’s Legal Services to provide free and low-cost legal support to underserved communities.
-
An internally nominated and selected award, this honors an individual or organization/group whose commitment to the community is represented in both its deeds and words. It recognizes those that actively and continuously support organizations and community groups leaning into the work of systemic change in communities across San Diego County. The award is named in honor of the Legler Benbough Foundation, which believed in RISE by providing seed funding to grow the organization and has continued to be one of its strongest supporters.
Sponsored By
2026 ILIA Official Media Partner
Support inclusive leadership in the San Diego region as a sponsor of the 2026 ILIA Awards
Email our team at events@risesandiego.org for more information.
2025 ILIA Awards
2025 ILIA HONOREES
TJ HARRIS
2025 COLLECTIVE RESILIENCE ADVOCATE AWARD
TJ Harris is an award-winning speaker, author, and visionary Founder of BLAC (Black Leadership Alliance Coalition). Named one of the Top 30 Under 30 and a Most Influential Black Leader of 2024, he was also recognized among the Faces of San Diego for his transformative community leadership. In 2025, TJ was honored as Man of the Year for Public Service and Civic Engagement by the California State Assembly. With over half a decade of impact, he leads bold initiatives that fuse cultural identity, mental health, and workforce development to uplift Black and underrepresented young professionals. His mission: shift perception, unlock potential, and build generational power. Each year, TJ’s leadership inspires hundreds to embrace their purpose and become catalysts for lasting change.
ALEX WATERS
2025 COMMUNITY CHANGE AGENT AWARD
Alex is an ecosystem builder who creates spaces where entrepreneurs and organizations can unlock their full potential. As Executive Director of The Program Labs, he is redefining how nonprofits design entrepreneurship programs. He was the chief architect and leader of San Diego's first City funded diversity-focused business accelerator program and advocates for more collaborative spaces where nonprofits, social entrepreneurs, and business leaders collaborate to benefit the community. Alex is on the board of the SDSU Research Foundation, BELL, and San Diego Neighborhood House Association where he pushes to challenge systems and create pathways for those who need them most.
MANUEL BELMONTE
2025 CULTURE SHIFTER AWARD
A dedicated land, water, and air protector, he co-founded the Center for Interdisciplinary Environmental Justice (CIEJ) and has worked in solidarity with Indigenous communities locally and transnationally to uphold Indigenous sovereignty, resist extractive mining projects, and challenge greenwashing narratives. Manuel is also a facilitator, educator and engineer, passionate about music, art, and the healing power of nature. When he is not in the ocean or the mountains, he can be found at concerts, protests, ceremonies and cultural gatherings, honoring his commitment to community, culture, Mother Earth and liberation.
NICOLE LILLIE
2025 NEXT-GEN INFLUENCER AWARD
Nicole Lillie is a 22-year-old organizer, scholar, and friend to all those practicing a better world in the present. They are a proud member of the queer community and the Executive Director of Our Time To Act, an entirely youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Her work focuses on fighting for intersectional housing justice in San Diego and beyond. They believe firmly in Our Time To Act's motto, "youth own the future, we're shaping it now" and that youth action is critical for achieving just change.
KENDALL EBERHEART
2025 RESTORATIVE PRACTITIONER AWARD
Kendall Eberheart is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and owner of Ray of Light Therapy. She is dedicated to making mental health services accessible through individual care, group therapy, and workshops. Kendall specializes in trauma, racial trauma, and supporting children and women. With a focus on cultural responsiveness, Kendall empowers clients to recognize their strengths and grow through healing and transformation.
Dr. Zachary Gabriel Green
2025 LEGLER BENBOUGH LEGACY AWARD
Dr. Zachary Green is a professor of practice in leadership studies at the University of San Diego and the lead faculty for the RISE Urban Leadership Fellows Program. As an organizational consultant, his clients have included multinational corporations, government agencies, university departments, religious institutions, and nonprofit organizations.
Dr. Novien Yarber
2025 ANTHONY M. MEDINA PEOPLE’S CHAMPION AWARD
Novien Yarber, known as “Dr. Novi,” is a visionary civic leader, educator, and creative artist based in San Diego. With a Ph.D. in Leadership Studies, he leads learning and impact assessment at the Prebys Foundation, where he advances equity-driven change through curiosity, reflection, and deliberative action. Bridging professional worlds—from commercial dance to academia—his work embodies an interdisciplinary commitment to transformative social impact.
The Karen Organization of San Diego
2025 ORGANIZATION FOR CHANGE AWARD
The Karen Organization of San Diego (KOSD) advances educational, civic, and economic opportunities for ethnic groups from Burma (Myanmar) while honoring cultural heritage. KOSD, founded in 2009 by refugees from Burma and their allies, is the only community-based organization in San Diego dedicated to serving refugees from Burma. Since 2007, more than 2,000 refugees fleeing ethnic and religious persecution have resettled in the region, often after decades in refugee camps with little education, resources, or opportunity. KOSD was created to be their bridge to stability and self-sufficiency while preserving the rich cultural traditions that define their identity.
THANK YOU TO OUR PREVIOUS ILIA SPONSORS
