On October 13, 2025, RISE San Diego will honor and celebrate local leaders in diversity, equity, and inclusion and showcase work that is making a real difference in the San Diego region at our eighth annual Inclusive Leadership in Action (ILIA) Awards.

To make a nomination, please review the category descriptions below, select the one that best describes your nominee, and share why you're nominating them:
  1. How your nominee has demonstrated a commitment to the spirit of the award category
  2. Examples of particular actions, programs, or projects led by your nominee that highlights their practice within the spirit of the award category
  3. What impact your nominee’s efforts have had in the lives of people in San Diego County
  4. How your nominee is an inclusive leader
  5. Plus, you'll have an opportunity to share anything else you'd like the selection committee to know about your nominee

RISE appreciates your nominations of individuals and organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to inclusive leadership. We look forward to honoring those whose efforts best exemplify significant, sustainable, and meaningful impact in the lives of San Diego County residents.

Visit our website to learn more about the awards, including information on previous honorees and nominees and much more.

Should you have any questions, please contact our team at RISE at events@risesandiego.org.
2025 ILIA AWARDS CATEGORIES

FOR INDIVIDUALS

COLLECTIVE RESILIENCE ADVOCATE
Honors an individual who has shown dedication and action to address and support a community’s ability to come together to combat or resist adverse circumstances. It recognizes the work of fostering adaptation, growth, and resiliency within communities to more readily respond to and recover from problems together.

COMMUNITY CHANGE AGENT
Honors an individual who has shown dedication and action to make real, sustainable, and systemic change through the creation of innovative programs, policy, platforms, or partnerships. It recognizes the work of assisting the community’s ability to thrive in areas such as education, social enterprise, health, and wellness, or advocacy. Co-presented with the University of San Diego.

CULTURE SHIFTER
Honors an individual who has shown dedication and action in shifting the culture of organizations and communities alike. It recognizes the effort of guiding groups to face a new challenge, disrupt outdated or harmful norms, and become more reflective and responsive to the needs of the communities they serve.

NEXT-GEN INFLUENCER
Honors an individual between the ages of 16 and 25. It recognizes the voices of young adults who have shown dedication and action within their communities and are growing into their roles as action-driven thought leaders.

RESTORATIVE PRACTITIONER
Honors an individual who has shown dedication and action in fostering spaces of healing and compassion for others. It recognizes the commitment to restorative practices delivered with grace, empathy, and a strong ethic of care in support of diverse community groups.

THE ANTHONY M. MEDINA PEOPLE’S CHAMPION
Honors an individual who has been an advocate and champion for under-served or marginalized communities. It recognizes advocacy in words and in action to bring about meaningful change for the people. The award is named in honor of the late Anthony M. Medina, a RISE Urban Leadership Fellow and ILIA award recipient, who founded People’s Legal Services to provide free and low-cost legal support to underserved communities.


FOR ORGANIZATIONS

ORGANIZATION FOR CHANGE
Honors an organization that has shown dedication and action to confronting challenges and spearheading opportunities to support and uplift San Diegans in meaningful and impactful ways. It recognizes the efforts of organizations and their teams to deliver exceptional programming and services for the communities they serve.


Questions marked with an asterisk * are required.

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* Your first name:

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* Your last name:

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* Email address:

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* Phone number:

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* Relationship or affiliation to your nominee (e.g., colleague, student, friend)

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* I am nominating:

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