5 days Ago By From staff reports
The city of Longview Partners in Prevention’s Unity and Diversity Committee has announced that Kay Ray and Willie Marshall are the 2025 Unity Honors recipients. The Unity Honors is a lifetime achievement award recognizing residents who have demonstrated leadership in promoting unity, mutual understanding and social justice. In addition, Communities in Schools of East Texas and Longview ISD’s Judson Middle School have received special recognition.
"Communities in Schools of East Texas surrounds students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life," Partners in Prevention said in a statement. "On-campus site coordinators bring diverse programing to the student body, and identify needs to provide students and their families with resources and community engagement." Judson Middle School "is an example of the positive impact that Communities in Schools can have on a campus," according to Partners in Prevent.
"Through collaboration with Communities in Schools, Judson regularly hosts events to bring cultural awareness to families. Students are taught life skills through college and career preparatory programs designed to teach them how to interact with various groups of people. Judson Middle School’s staff promotes wellness to set their diverse student body up for lifelong success.
" The Unity and Diversity Committee will honor the two recipients and special recognitions from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.
m. Feb. 19 at the 21st annual Unity Honors Luncheon at Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center.
Ray is the executive director of the Longview ISD Foundation. A longtime educator in Longview ISD, Ray has brought hundreds of thousands of dollars to classrooms through her leadership of the board of directors of the LISD Foundation and has facilitated "countless" scholarships for LISD students, according to Partners in Prevention. She has served on numerous boards and committees, including the Gregg County Historical Museum Board, Landmarks of Longview committee, the Longview Museum of Fine Arts board of directors and the LeTourneau University President’s Advisory Council.
Ray was recognized in 2008 as a Star Over Longview, the Rotary Club of Longview Citizen of the Year in 2019 and a Longview ISD Distinguished Alumni in 2022. "Kay’s inclusiveness has been demonstrated in all of her activities as she seeks the best for her community and its citizens, especially young people," according to Partners in Prevention. Marshall "is a champion for cultural awareness in the Longview community," Partners in Prevention said.
In the late 1980s, Marshall collaborated with fellow community leaders to organize the city’s first Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. "Years later, Willie increased his efforts to bring unity and dialogue to Longview citizens by organizing Kwanzaa celebrations, an event deeply rooted in African American culture, history and values," according to Partners in Prevention.
"He has continued to serve his community as a volunteer for many different programs, including the city of Longview’s Aspire Mentoring Program. Willie’s impactful contributions have celebrated Longview’s diverse citizens and created lasting opportunities for connection, education and unity." Early bird tickets for the luncheon are $25.
After Jan. 17, ticket prices increase to $35. Tickets are available at LongviewTexas.
gov/Unity Honors or at these locations: Broughton Recreation Center, 801 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
; Longview Public Library, 222 W. Cotton St.; or Partners in Prevention, 306 W.
Whaley St. Tickets must be purchased by Feb. 10 as they will not be available at the luncheon.
Sponsorships are available. For information, call Partners in Prevention at (903) 237-1019 or email [email protected] .
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