The 2021
Bannister Awards
Honoring leaders who advance equity and promote diversity across Rhode Island .
HERE ’ S NO ONE LIKE HER : CHRISTIANA CARTEAUX BANNISTER , BORN IN 1819 TO A BLACK AND INDIGENOUS FAMILY IN NORTH KINGSTOWN , CHANGED THE COURSE OF HISTORY . SHE WAS ACTIVE IN THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD , SHE RALLIED FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AMID RECONSTRUC- TION-ERA RACISM , SHE WAS A VOICE FOR ELDERS OF COLOR AND , ALL THE WHILE , SHE WORKED AS A HAIR DOCTRESS WHO BROUGHT OUT THE BEAUTY IN ALL PEOPLE . SHE MOVED THE WORLD FORWARD , AND HER LIFE WAS A BLESSING TO HER COMMUNITY AND HER PAINTER HUSBAND , EDWARD MITCHELL BANNISTER , WHOM SHE FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED AND WHO FAMOUSLY REMARKED , “ I ’ D BE NOTHING WITHOUT HER .”
NO , THERE ’ S NO ONE QUITE LIKE CHRISTIANA CARTEAUX BANNISTER . BUT THERE ’ S ALSO NO ONE LIKE DR . TANEISHA WILSON . AND MARCY REYES . AND RAY RICKMAN . AND TINA PEDERSEN . DR . OMAR BAH . AND KILAH WALTERS-CLINTON . THESE INDIVIDUALS , WHO WERE CHOSEN BY A GROUP OF ENGAGED LOCAL JUDGES , WORK TO ERADICATE INEQUITIES WHILE ALSO CELEBRATING THE BEAUTY IN OUR DIFFERENCES . JOIN US AS WE FOLLOW THEIR LEAD TOWARD A JUST FUTURE FOR ALL RHODE ISLANDERS .
JUDGES : Jamie Hull , communications and marketing associate , Rhode Island Foundation ; Rose Jones , vice president of external affairs , YMCA of Greater Providence ; Ray Nuñez , community director , the Nuñez Co .; Kannyaka Pouk , director of programs , Center of Southeast Asians
EDITED BY CASEY NILSSON � CONTRIBUTORS : EDELINDA BAPTISTA AND ASHLYN MESSIER � PHOTOGRAPHY : DEE SPEAKS
58 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l NOVEMBER 2021