Mayor’s Medal of Honor, launched in 2021, is an annual award presented by the Mayor to remarkable individuals, organizations, and collaboratives demonstrating extraordinary leadership, a passion for advancing equity across the City, and a commitment to improving the lives of all residents in Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. This year’s event is hosted in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).
“We started this award in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and since then, Chicago residents and organizations have not wavered in connecting neighbors to resources and reimagining how we support one another in the face of new challenges,” said Mayor Lightfoot. “
This year’s Mayor’s Medal of Honor awardees are:
INDIVIDUALS
• Serhiy Koledov, Ukraine Consulate General
• Maria Pike, Board Member of Chicago Survivors
• Leon Walker, Managing Partner at DL3 Realty, L.P. Claire Rice, Executive Director of the Arts Alliance Illinois
• Scott Weiner, co-owner of Fifty/50 Restaurant Group
• Sarah Pang and Lynn Lockwood, President and Vice President at One Chicago Fund —
• Laurence Msall, President of the Civic Federation (Posthumously) —
• Lin Brehmer, radio host at WXRT (Posthumously) —
Organizations and Collaboratives
• INVEST South/West
• Chicago Police Vehicular Hijacking Task Force
• Behavioral Health Team at the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH)
• Homeless Services Division at Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS)
• Chicago Abortion Fund and Planned Parenthood of Illinois —
• Apna Ghar
Together, and each in their own way, these honorees truly embody the principle of leading by example and center equity as the guiding value of their work. The 2023 winners will be honored at a special ceremony that will be live streamed on April 25.