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| Irwin Royster (left) receives the Williams-Clear Community Engagement Award |
In 2009, Aban Institute established the Ramina Williams and Yvonne Clear Community Engagement Award. This award honors the life of Ramina Williams and Yvonne Clear who were community activists in the Washington Metropolitan Area committed to social change. Although Ramina and Yvonne’s life ended too soon, their enthusiasm for life, their love for their family and community, and their belief that one person can change the world is a testament to their enduring legacy.
The establishment of the Williams-Clear Community Engagement Award is an affirmation to the nobility of their lives for "making this world a bit better." The purpose of this award is to recognize annually one of our community partners, either an individual or organization, for their effort toward social change as embodied in the lives of Ramina and Yvonne.
Past award recipients include Family Medical Counseling Services (2009), Far Southeast Family Strengthening Collaborative (2010), National Park Service (2011), and Calvert Asset Management (2012). This year‘s honor goes to S. Irwin Royster, Program Director, Teen Program Center, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington (PPMW).
Mr. Royster has been an advocate for health issues for over thirty year. In a recent article by Personhood Movie online, they noted as “a community leader in one of D.C.’s most challenged neighborhoods, [Mr. Royster ] takes his message of reproductive healthcare straight to the youth in his community [of Ward 7]. He firmly believes that empowering young men and women with a no nonsense approach to sexual education and healthy lifestyles is the most effective way to reduce STD’s, HIV, unplanned pregnancies and ultimately abortion. His successful outreach programs have earned him the nickname “the Pied Piper of Ward 7.” He is well respected in the community and has received recognition and accolades for his tireless work.
For the past several years, Aban has worked with Mr. Royster through PPMW to co-host community initiatives, including our most recent Wealth and Wellness Project a financial and health literacy initiative. Aban's engagement with Mr. Royster is true reflection of what a collaborative partnership is and how we can collectively leverage our resources, services, and talents to ensure residents can live, grow and thrive in communities that support and nurture their needs. We are more than honored to bestow upon Mr. Royster the Williams-Clear Community Engagement Award who truly embodies the spirit of this award.
