Porter receives Honorable Julia M. Carson Community Award
Sunday, Representative Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) received the Honorable Julia M. Carson Community Award, which honors notable community leaders and organizations. Now in its 13th year, Crown Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery’s Annual Celebration of Black History has made a tradition of honoring Hoosier leaders and organizations who have made a meaningful impact by serving others in their communities. Being a servant-leader is the primary focus of the award, as doing so pays tribute to the values the Honorable Julia Carson consciously lived by.
As the first African American and first woman to represent Indianapolis in the U.S. Congress, Julia M. Carson left her mark on the city as a shining example of Hoosier perseverance. Overcoming racism, sexism and poverty, Carson worked her way up from constituent services, then as a state senator until she began her work at the national level. Leading with compassion and a spirit of commitment, Carson served as a congresswoman for 10 years, until her death in 2007.
Porter reflected on her service, saying, “Carson was whom the quote ‘to whom much is given, much is required’ refers to. I am grateful to walk in her shoes as a compassionate, committed leader in my community. It is humbling that my service has been recognized and compared to hers.”
Porter’s leadership positions within the state include the former chairman of the Indiana House Education Committee and the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus. He is the current ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee. He has authored legislation calling for cultural competency in education, advocating for further teacher recruitment and retention strategies and tax cuts for the working class. He serves on several community organizations and boards, including the Kennedy/King Memorial Initiative, Children’s Museum Community Advisory Council and Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis, Inc.
Karen Wright, a representative from Crown Hill Cemetery, added that choosing Porter as the award recipient was easy given his commitment to serving his people in House District 96 and his work with Congresswoman Carson in the legislature. “He is very deserving of this award as he is well-respected for his servant-leadership and dedication to Indianapolis as Congresswoman Carson was,” she said.