Anna E. Crosslin awarded the 2020 Lucile Bluford Lifetime Achievement Award
Anna E. Crosslin, president and CEO of the International Institute of St. Louis, has been selected to receive the 2020 Lucile Bluford Lifetime Achievement Award. The award will be presented on Thursday, Dec. 10 at the Missouri Commission on Human Rights' Missouri Human Rights Conference, which is being held virtually.
The Lucile Bluford Lifetime Achievement Award was established by MCHR to recognize individuals who have dedicated their professional and personal lives to advancing human rights in Missouri and has been presented at its International Human Rights Day celebrations since Dec. 7, 2012.
"I have truly enjoyed working with Commissioner Anna Crosslin since her appointment by Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon in 2013," said Missouri Commission on Human Rights Executive Director Dr. Alisa Warren.
"Commissioner Crosslin's fervent dedication to our agency's mission has made her a pleasure to work with over the years. She has a strong personal and professional commitment to serving the needs of marginalized communities and has relentlessly promoted equity and inclusion — whether it be for newcomers, workers, or businesses — in an effort to create a stronger Missouri. We are proud to honor her leadership and contributions to the advancement of human rights with this award," she added.
The Lucile Bluford Lifetime Achievement Award was named in honor of the first woman named to the Missouri Commission on Human Rights in 1958. Despite being denied admission to the journalism school of her choice, due to her race, Bluford, who was African-American, went on to become a top journalist and editor in the nation and noted civil rights leader.