The City of Bloomington on Monday granted IU employee Nancy Cross-Harris the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award.
According to the city website, the award is given to Bloomingtonians, “who have made significant and tangible contributions in the areas of race relations, justice and human rights.”
The city’s news release credited Cross-Harris for her passion for and knowledge of Black history in Bloomington, work at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, and community service at the historic Bethel AME Church.
“She isn’t afraid to connect students, campus partners and community members to the social resources that she possesses from being a longstanding Bloomington community resident,” the release stated.
Deputy Mayor Mary Catherine Carmichael handed the award to Cross-Harris during a ceremony at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater on the evening of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy award has been bestowed by the city of Bloomington since 2000. Candidates are nominated online and selected by the City of Bloomington’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission.
Last year’s winner was Jeanetta Nelms, who was the first director of the 21st Century Scholars program at IU.
