2007 Ralph B. Atkinson Award Winner

The Ralph B. Atkinson Award is named for the distinguished civil rights advocate Ralph B. Atkinson. The award is presented each year by the Monterey County Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union to a local advocate for civil liberties. We are pleased to announce that the 2007 recipient is Evelyn Caracheo Gracia for her work as a youth advocate.

Ms. Gracia has been an effective force in youth advocacy both in the educational and criminal justice systems. Her work in gang violence prevention and intervention programs have - as their ultimate goal - bringing an end to the school-to-prison pipeline. Most notable was her leadership in ending the Salinas Unified School District's use of gang contracts, which fast tracked students into the criminal justice system.