Knoxville Area Urban League Honors Community Champions
October 13, 2026

The Knoxville Area Urban League (KAUL) hosted its annual Equal Opportunity Awards Gala. Image by KAUL

KNOXVILLE - The Knoxville Area Urban League (KAUL) hosted its annual Equal Opportunity Awards Gala on Oct. 8 at The Press Room, introducing guests to a fresh event experience while continuing its longstanding tradition of honoring community leaders who exemplify KAUL’s mission.

For the past 36 years, KAUL has hosted the Equal Opportunity Awards Gala, its signature annual fundraiser dedicated to advancing its mission of empowering underserved communities toward economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights.

“This year’s Equal Opportunity Awards Gala had a different beat than in years past,” said Dr. Laurie Shanderson, president and CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League. “We created a fresh red carpet experience that our attendees enjoyed. We are also proud to honor this year’s award recipients, who exemplify the mission of our organization through their commitment to empowerment, equality, and community uplift.”

This year’s red carpet-themed event featured dancing, auctions, contests, and the presentation of KAUL’s annual awards. Guests were encouraged to dress as their favorite celebrity to continue the theme.

The 2026 event recognized the following recipients:

Whitney M. Young, Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award: Dewey W. Roberts II received KAUL’s most prestigious award, which recognizes an individual who embodies the organization’s mission and values.

Roberts is a prominent civil rights activist, community leader, and author in Knoxville. He has served as president of the Knoxville Branch NAACP and president of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center. He is also the author of “My Moment in the Movement: 1965-Present,” a memoir detailing his experiences in the civil rights movement.

The award is named after Whitney Young, the fourth executive director of the National Urban League, who served from 1961 to 1971 and worked to forge new alliances and coalitions to build bridges of understanding among races.

Corporate Leadership Award: Clayton Homes received the Corporate Leadership Award, which recognizes a company, governmental agency, or entity that has demonstrated sensitivity to diversity, employment trends and/or special program involvement and support of the Urban League and its mission.

Minority Business of the Year Award: Asheville Highway Animal Hospital received the Minority Business of the Year Award, which recognizes a minority-owned business that has made an economic and social impact on the community.

Dr. Joseph Kendrick, owner and founder, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. Asheville Highway Animal Hospital is committed to providing comprehensive and affordable veterinary medicine.

Volunteer of the Year Award: Dr. Olga M. Welch, professor emerita of education and former dean of the School of Education at Duquesne University, received the Volunteer of the Year Award. The award recognizes an individual or individuals who have made a significant impact on the programs and services of the Urban League and the community.

Community Champion Award: The East Knoxville Lions Club and Five Points Up received the Community Champion Award in recognition of their commitment and leadership in the community. This award is not presented annually but is given when community leaders have earned and deserve special recognition.

The East Knoxville Lions Club serves the local community with a strong focus on vision care and youth education. Five Points Up is a community-led group working to beautify and unify East Knoxville and Five Points through community engagement efforts.

The Knoxville Area Urban League, an affiliate of the National Urban League, is dedicated to empowering communities and changing lives. For more information and to support its mission and programs, visit thekaul.org.

Since 1968, the Knoxville Area Urban League has assisted disadvantaged people attain social and economic stability and self-sufficiency through direct services and advocacy. The League works to provide a skilled and diverse workforce; to increase homeownership; to support economic and small business development, and to enhance education efforts for our youth. The Knoxville Area Urban League is a United Way partner agency and affiliate of the National Urban League. The League’s work and results are evident in the lives of the thousands of people it impacts each year. For more information, call 865-524-5511 or visit thekaul.org.