Margaret Wong Honored at the Greater Cleveland Activism Awards.

On Sunday evening, September 20, 2026, Margaret W. Wong was among the honorees at the inaugural Greater Cleveland Activism Awards (GCAAs), held at the historic Agora Theater on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland. Our firm was also proud to sponsor the event.

The inaugural awards ceremony brought together community activists, nonprofit leaders, civic leaders, corporate partners, youth organizations, and residents to recognize individuals and organizations working to strengthen communities throughout Greater Cleveland. The event also supported plans for the new Greater Cleveland Activist Center, which is intended to serve as a hub for grassroots leaders, community organizers, and residents.

Margaret W. Wong Recognized for Immigrant Advocacy

Ms. Wong was honored with the Immigrant Advocacy & Global Impact award in recognition of her advocacy and work on behalf of people navigating the complicated legal process of immigrating to the United States. The Greater Cleveland Activism Awards lists Margaret Wong among its 2026 honorees under this category.

Unfortunately, Ms. Wong was unable to attend the ceremony in person, so we had the privilege of accepting the award on her behalf.

Ms. Wong subsequently told us that she was both honored and humbled to be recognized alongside the many other individuals and organizations being celebrated that evening.

2026 Greater Cleveland Activism Awards Honorees

The inaugural Greater Cleveland Activism Awards recognized a diverse group of individuals and organizations for their work in areas ranging from health equity and community leadership to housing, hunger relief, the arts, violence prevention, equality, and immigrant advocacy.

The 2026 honorees included:

• Margaret W. Wong — Immigrant Advocacy & Global Impact

• Charles Modlin — Health Equity & Medical Impact

• Lois Goodman — Community Stewardship Award

• Phyllis “Seven” Harris — LGBTQ+ Community Leadership Award

•  Alfred Porter Jr. — Activism Through Music

• Ms. Jenice Contreras — Multicultural Community Advocacy

• Ted Ginn Sr. — Community Impact Through Sports

• Black on Black Crime, Inc. — GCAA Lifetime Achievement for Activism

•  Delores Gray — Multi-Impact Activism

•  Hank Davis “ICONS” — Khalid Samad Peace in the Hood Award

• Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless — Housing Justice & Outreach Advocacy

•  Dayz Whun — Activism Through the Arts

• Greater Cleveland Food Bank — Hunger Relief Impact

• Brandon Chrostowski — Re-Entry Advocacy

•  Laura Cowan — Domestic Violence Advocacy

•  Carey Gibbons — Equality & Inclusion Advocacy

•  Shereen Naser — Cultural Unity & Justice Award

• Cleveland City Council President Blaine Griffin — Fannie M. Lewis Social Justice Award

• Cleveland City Councilperson Mike Polensek — Distinguished Voice of the Community

•  Anita Bradley — Health & Recovery Advocacy

Fred Gray Delivers Keynote Address

One of the highlights of the evening was the keynote address delivered by Attorney Fred Gray Sr., the renowned Alabama civil rights attorney, author, preacher, activist, and former state legislator.

Gray’s long career includes representing Rosa Parks and Claudette Colvin and working with figures including Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement. He also attended law school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

His connection to Cleveland made his appearance at the inaugural Greater Cleveland Activism Awards particularly meaningful.

The event also included a special tribute to Khalid Samad, the Cleveland community leader and co-founder of Peace in the Hood, who died earlier in 2026. The awards organization established the Khalid Samad Peace in the Hood Award in his honor.

Supporting the Greater Cleveland Activist Center

Another important purpose of the inaugural Greater Cleveland Activism Awards was to support the development of the Greater Cleveland Activist Center.

According to the event organizers, the future center is intended to provide a place where activists, community organizations, and residents can collaborate, develop leadership skills, participate in training, and work together to address challenges facing the Greater Cleveland community.

The awards ceremony therefore served two purposes: recognizing people and organizations already engaged in community work while helping create a future space for continued collaboration.

An Evening Celebrating Community Service

The inaugural Greater Cleveland Activism Awards demonstrated the breadth of community service taking place throughout Greater Cleveland—from immigrant advocacy and civil rights to health care, housing, hunger relief, violence prevention, the arts, and community leadership.

For more information about the Greater Cleveland Activism Awards, its honorees, and the Greater Cleveland Activist Center, visit the official Greater Cleveland Activism Awards website.