Mickey Leland Public Leadership Award

The Mickey Leland Public Leadership Award honors the legacy of U.S. Congressman Mickey Leland of Houston, whose life's work was a testament to the power of service, courage, and advocacy for those most in need. This award recognizes a nonprofit organization that embodies that same spirit — advancing equity and expanding access for marginalized communities through impactful direct service, policy work, or both. The award is open to any nonprofit serving marginalized communities in the Greater Houston area, regardless of the demographic focus of the organization's leadership. Eligibility Requirements ☑ Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization ☑ Headquartered or primarily operating in Greater Houston ☑ Minimum two (2) years in operation ☑ Serving marginalized or underserved communities ☑ GHBC membership encouraged; required if selected

Section 1: Your Personal Information

Name(Required)
Executive Director Name
If no, please provide the Executive Director's name and contact information:

Section 2: Organization Details

Organization Address(Required)
Is this organization an Active Member of GHBC?(Required)
Organization Structure(Required)
Is the organization's leadership Black-led?
Optional — this information helps GHBC understand the landscape of organizations we recognize.

Section 3: Organizational Profile

Primary Focus Area(s)(Required)
Select all that apply.
Primary Communities Served(Required)
Select all that apply.
Number of Full-Time Employees(Required)
Number of Active Volunteers (annual)(Required)
Annual Operating Budget Range
This information is used for judging and aggregate reporting only. Individual figures are kept confidential.
Geographic Reach(Required)
Primary Communities Served(Required)
Select all that apply.
Do you intentionally seek out Black-owned or minority-owned vendors when making purchasing decisions?(Required)

Section 4: Mission, Impact & Service

This section is the heart of your nomination. The Mickey Leland Public Leadership Award recognizes organizations doing the hard, sustained work of advancing equity. Share your story with honesty and specificity — the committee values depth of impact over scope of activity.
Be specific about the programs, services, or initiatives you deliver and who benefits from them.
Include measurable outcomes where possible — people served, policies influenced, systemic changes achieved, or other concrete results. Maximum 250 words recommended.
This could be a breakthrough outcome, a pivotal community moment, or a story that captures what your work truly means to the people you serve. Maximum 250 words recommended.
Describe the obstacles — funding, capacity, political, and community trust — and how you have navigated them. Maximum 250 words recommended.
Maximum 500 words recommended.

Section 5: Equity & Community Connection

What systemic gap should civic leaders, funders, and organizations be prioritizing?
What professional development or capacity-building resources would most benefit your organization?(Required)
Select all that apply.

Section 6: Leadership & Recognition

How many years has the current Executive Director led this organization?(Required)
Include government commendations, foundation recognition, media features, civic awards, etc.
Max. file size: 32 MB.
Accepted: PNG, JPG, PDF | Max: 32 MB
Max. file size: 32 MB.
Max. file size: 32 MB.
May include letters of commendation, press clippings, financial reports, marketing materials. Note: all submitted materials become the property of GHBC and will not be returned. If files are too large to attach, email to pinnacle@ghbcc.com. Accepted: PDF, DOC, DOCX | Max: 25 MB
Drop files here or
Max. file size: 32 MB.
    How did you hear about the Mack H. Hannah, Jr. Upstart Award?(Required)
    Select all that apply.

    Section 7: Gala Guest Contacts

    Please list three contacts from community organizations or other Houston-area Black businesses. We would like to inform them of your nomination and invite them to attend the Pinnacle Awards Gala.
    Contact 1
    Contact 2
    Contact 3

    Terms & Conditions

    Mickey Leland Public Leadership Award — Terms & Conditions

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