Mayor Kenney to Present Philadelphia Magis Award to Giana Graves
Official presentation will be part of Celebration of Freedom Ceremony during Wawa Welcome America festival on July 4th
PHILADELPHIA – On July 4, Mayor Jim Kenney will present the Philadelphia Magis Award to 22-year-old transgender youth activist from Philadelphia, Giana Graves.
Graves has been credited with engaging the community to improve the lives of LGBTQ individuals by working collaboratively to identify strategies and solutions. She is being acknowledged for her efforts for social justice through educating and protecting the rights of transgender individuals. The Latin word magis roughly translates into “the more universal good,” and the City of Philadelphia honor is awarded to a person or an organization that does and achieves more.
Mayor Kenney will present the Philadelphia Magis Award to Graves at the City of Philadelphia’s annual Celebration of Freedom Ceremony hosted by the Office of the City Representative and Independence National Historical Park during the Wawa Welcome America festival, on Wednesday, July 4.
“Today, we celebrate what makes this country great — freedom,” said Mayor Kenney. “But we know that preserving our freedoms often requires action. On Independence Day, it will be my honor to present the third annual Philadelphia Magis Award to a true hero of action, Giana Graves. Giana is an individual who exemplifies courage and conviction in the fight for equality and understanding. Giana embodies the spirit of the Magis Award by tirelessly pursuing the solution to complex issues while acting as an inspiration and role model to others.”
Graves, of South Philadelphia, has been recognized for her efforts to train housing and social-service providers on best practices when working with LGBTQ youth. She began as a youth panelist at the Center City-based the Attic Youth Center’s Bryson Institute, where she conducted forums about navigating social-service systems as a transgender woman of color. Her personal struggles of unemployment, homelessness and discrimination have led her to an activist role of fostering awareness to educate hundreds of adults and youth on LGBTQ issues.
She has helped develop a curriculum that addresses the intersections of racism, sexism, cissexism (prejudice or discrimination against transgender people) and heterosexism impacting LGBTQ youth of color. Her goal is to use the curriculum to encourage the development of youth serving agencies across the region. Last year, she received the Youth HERO Award from the Delaware Valley Legacy Fund, a LGBTQ community foundation based in Center City, for her community-education outreach promoting social justice. Graves has been credited with using her voice as an agent for change through the power of “a simple conversation.”
Mayor Kenney will be joined by City Representative Sheila Hess, the program’s stage emcee, and Cynthia MacLeod, Superintendent of Independence National Historical Park — the venue host — who will present remarks, setting the celebratory tone for America’s birthday.
The Celebration of Freedom Ceremony is free to the public and will take place at 10 a.m., in front of the north side of Independence Hall. For more information go to https://welcomeamerica.com/events/