PASSION Awards
Each year the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence honors advocates’ extraordinary contributions with the PASSION Award, presented during our Annual Conference.
Building upon our anti-oppression and racial justice work, we recognize that advocates from privileged groups are typically afforded more recognition for their work. Accordingly, we encourage program directors to consider nominating outstanding advocates from communities of color and other marginalized identities.
Midori Hamilton Awards
Each year, the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (OCADSV) presents the Midori Hamilton Award to individuals who have provided exemplary service in the movement to end domestic and sexual violence.
Midori Hamilton, this award’s namesake, was a longtime advocate, activist, Coalition volunteer, and staff member who worked tirelessly at the intersections of racial equity and ending sexual and domestic violence. She began volunteering for OCADSV in the mid-1980s, during which she launched the Women of Color Caucus. She joined the Coalition staff in the early-1990s, helping solidify the Coalition’s membership and policy influence, supporting women of color in advocacy and leadership roles, and organizing caucus meetings and affinity group gatherings during OCADSV board meetings and conferences, among many other accomplishments.
Shortly after her retirement, the Coalition established the Midori Hamilton Award to honor individuals and their outstanding contributions to our movement on a statewide level. Previous awardees include advocacy program directors, community partners, government officials, and community members dedicated to preventing domestic and sexual violence and supporting survivors throughout Oregon.
Recipients of the Midori Hamilton Award are selected by OCADSV’s board and staff members, and receive special recognition during our Annual Conference.
Esperanza Award
The Esperanza Award is named after Esperanza Valencia, a tireless advocate and past PASSION awardee who embodied her name of ‘hope’ to every survivor she came across. Esperanza passed away suddenly in 2019, leaving the world too soon. She has touched many lives and has provided a lasting sense of hope.
Esperanza Award Process
Qualifications for award
- Advocate of color who is currently employed by a member program in good standing that is a community-based nonporfit or tribal dv/sa advocacy program or culturally specific program.
- Currently working in a direct-service advocacy role with survivors of domestic violence, sa/stalking
- Demonstrates a commitment to families/children and helping the children heal and breaking the chains of intergenerational trauma.
- Holds a commitment to providing culturally responsive services to communities of color
Process
- Nominations can be submitted by any 2 staff members from a member program, tribal program or CS
- No one can nominate themselves
- The selection committee is made up of OCADSV staff and members of the OCADSV POC caucus
- 1-3 awardees may be selected for this year’s Esperanza award
Past recipients
2023
Andoeni Verdugo , Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS)
Brandie Raddadi , Immigrant Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)
Jossie Ah-San, Community Works
2022
Gracie Wallace, Project DOVE
Jackie Grijalva, Hope & Safety Alliance
Maria Cruz, Peace at Home Advocacy Center
2021
Evelin Damian Ramirez, Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS)
Maria Cristina Lenzi Miori, CARDV
2020
Perla Estrada, Sexual Assault Resource Center
Norma Olivia Obrist, Tides of Change