HPJC is happy to announce the recipients of our 2025 Peacemaker Awards:
Jennifer Park of Moving Waters Houston
Jennifer Park is the Founder & Executive Director of Moving Waters-Houston This organization relieves immediate suffering and promotes long-term dignity of the whole person through mobile showers. They have provided almost 30,000 showers and built a loving, welcoming and safe community for those experiencing homelessness.
The citation on the award that HPJC is giving to Jennifer and Moving Waters-Houston says HPJC is recognizing them:
- For expressing her love of humanity, relieving immediate suffering and furthering the long-term dignity of the whole person
- For discerning a fundamental need of the unhoused, and for rallying together individuals, organizations, and businesses to create and maintain mobile showering facilities
- For great compassion for the poor and unhoused and offering every individual
an opportunity for empowerment - For creating a warm, welcoming and comforting space
where the need is greatest in our community.
Atlantis Narcisse of Save Our Sisters United, and Kai Jones & Rene Mendiola of Save Our Sons & Brothers (joint award)
Atlantis Narcisse is the Founder & Executive Director of Save our Sisters United (SOSU), here in Houston, and will accept the award on behalf of that organization. Narcisse is a pioneering Black Trans leader. With over two decades of community work, her organization has built coalitions, trained law enforcement on LGBTQ+ issues, and created initiatives like the LGBTQ+ Community Response Task Force and QUEENs of Houston to combat violence, discrimination, and systemic inequities. Their work centers on uplifting hyper-marginalized communities, fostering inclusive responses to crises, and building sustainable models of leadership and empowerment.
The citation on the award HPJC is giving to Atlantis says that HPJC is recognizing her:
- For using her voice to boldly challenge stigmas through outreach to the broader community and to build a future where trans women of color are not only seen but also celebrated as leaders, creators, and advocates
- For creating safe spaces where trans women of color can share experiences, resources and uplift and empower each other
- For addressing the complex challenges faced by transgender women of color by identifying networks of gender-affirming health-care, legal support, and social services
- For being a trail-blazing force, spanning decades service, with her advocacy and community building.
Founded in 2019, Save Our Sons and Brothers established a dedicated network for trans men of color, offering vital resources, educational exchanges, and community support. Our mission continues to raise awareness and foster empowerment within the POC trans community.
Kai Jones and René Mendiola will accept the award on behalf of SOSB.
Both organizations (SOSU and SOSB) work to empower and advocate for people of color in the trans community.https://www.facebook.com/saveoursonsandbrothers/
The citation on the award HPJC is giving to Kai and René says says that HPJC is recognizing them:
- For addressing the social, emotional, financial, physical, legal, and medical needs of trans men and trans-masculine people of color
- For hosting safe and empowering places, offering opportunity for personal and professional development, community-building events and fundraising where everyone feels welcomed
- Bringing visibility to the trans men and trans-masculine community allowing them to be the best and most full version of themselves.
- For aspiring to serve as a role model for the creation of similar safe places throughout the country.
Julio Luna
Julio Luna is a local artist, musician, community activist, and Indigenous Afro-Mexican descendant, who uses the form to empower and educate his local community, which is mainly children of refugees and immigrants.
The citation on the award HPJC is giving to Julio says that HPJC is recognizing him:
- For being a compassionate and unapologetic curiosity artist, musician, and community activist whose style of artistry is unafraid to challenge authority and systems on behalf of marginalized and oppressed communities
- For his guileless enthusiasm that fills up and improves every space he enters and occupies in pursuit of peace and justice
- For his approach to life, both as a seeker and a teacher, to use art as a means of empowering young people, immigrants, and refugees to be able to tell their stories.
Houston Interfaith for Middle East Peace
Houston Interfaith for Middle East Peace provides resources, support and solidarity to individuals from different spiritual traditions seeking peace and justice in Palestine/Israel.
The citation on the award HPJC is giving Houston Interfaith says that HPJC is recognizing them:
- For its commitment to working with individuals and organizations from all spiritual traditions to bring to light the realities of the Palestinian people
- For tirelessly engaging in dialogue with diverse groups on difficult and divisive issues with the goal of promoting unity, collaboration and peace
- For an unwavering advocacy for justice and human rights for all individuals harmed by violence and inequities in the Middle East and a clear and unifying call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza
- For its courage to stand in the face of its opposition while remaining true to the principles of non-violent resistance.