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  1:03 p.m. August 27, 2014
Knoxville man is 2014 Sargent Shriver Youth Warriors Against Poverty Award Winner


KNOXVILLE – Alejandro Guizar of Knoxville has been named as one of 15 recipients of the Sargent Shriver Youth Warriors Against Poverty Leadership Award. Mr. Guizar will receive $5,000 in recognition of his vision, passion and dedication to improving the lives of families in his community.

This is the third year that Marguerite Casey Foundation has presented the Sargent Shriver Youth Warriors Against Poverty awards. The award is named for Sargent Shriver, architect of the War on Poverty and visionary leader of Head Start, Peace Corps, Job Corps and VISTA, who worked throughout his life to provide opportunities for people to lift themselves out of poverty.

Mr. Guizar, 21, was nominated by Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition. His path in social justice began when he was targeted at age 19 for deportation proceedings. He met with an organizer from Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition to learn about his rights, and then began working with other youth leaders with the goal of ending deportations of DREAMers. As a result of his efforts, his own deportation was cancelled. He continued to stay involved, mobilizing resistance against the Knoxville Sheriff's Office as they pursued an agreement with the federal government to perform the function of federal immigrant agents. After a year of public opposition and activism, the plan was dropped.

Each of the 15 Sargent Shriver Youth Warriors Against Poverty has shown resolve and courage in working to improve their schools, their communities, and their country. Whether educating immigrants about their rights, standing up for low-wage workers, or fighting against zero-tolerance school discipline policies, each has taken to heart Sargent Shriver's call to "serve, serve, serve!"

Luz Vega-Marquis, CEO and president of Marguerite Casey Foundation, said of the honorees: "These young people are inspirations to us all. Their activism – rooted in their own personal experience - reminds us that each of us can make a difference by simply standing up for what is right and what is needed in our communities. With young leaders like this, we can feel confident that the future of the country is in good hands.

Marguerite Casey Foundation is a national, independent grant making foundation dedicated to helping low-income families strengthen their voice and mobilize their communities in order to achieve a more just and equitable society for all.

Published August 27, 2014





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