The Community Leadership Award was established in 2001 to salute individuals, corporations, and/or community groups who have had a positive  influence on the development of youth and education. The candidate(s) of this award is chosen based on the fact they have achieved recognized success in their field of expertise, business,  profession, or other vocational undertaking. Recognized success is defined as performing a  major leadership role in one’s chosen career and community.

Past award recipients included: 
2001 - Honorable Peggy Cooper Cafritz 
2002 - Junior League of Washington 
2003 - Dr. Georgia Booker, Director of Guidance, and Counseling, DCPS 
2004 - Kelli Richardson Lawson, VP Marketing, BET 
2005 - Beacon House 
2006 - Council member Kwame R. Brown 
2007 - Mayor Adrian Fenty 
2008 - Councilmember Vincent Gray 
2009 - Abe & Irene Pollin 
2010 - Dr. Dorothy Height 
2011 - Debra Lee 
2012 - Lonnie Bunch 
2013 - First Lady Michelle Obama 
2014 - Richard Didden* 
2015 - DC Attorney General, Karl Racine  
2016 - Reginald Van Lee  
2017 - Cathy Hughes  
2018 - Peggy Cooper Cafritz*
2019 - Angela Alsobrooks
2020 - Many Hands
2021 - Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt
2023- Reverend Dr. Howard- John Wesley
2024- ​Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign



*posthumously ​