The PEAR S.T.A.R. Awards will be given out to individuals, community organizations, and state agencies that exemplify Pro Equity Anti-Racist (PEAR) qualities. The acronym S.T.A.R. stands for Show, Transform, Act, and Reflect, which are the four qualities we hope to see in the perfect nominee. A S.T.A.R. is someone who:

• Shows up as a PEAR Advocate, regularly (on a consistent basis, not just once), personally, and at work;
• Transforms their environment, themselves, and the communities they are in;
• Acts to embed PEAR solutions in all they do; and
• Reflects PEAR values in their approaches to relationship building & community engagement.

The awards will be based on our 15 Determinants of Equity:

• Quality Education
• Food Systems
• Housing & Home Ownership
• Equity in Jobs & Job Training
• Health & Human Services
• Community & Public Safety
• Healthy Built & Natural Environments
• Parks, Recreation, & Natural Resources
• Early Childhood Development
• Digital Equity
• Equity in Justice Systems & Laws
• Transportation & Mobility
• Equity in State & Local Practices
• Economic Justice
• Strong, Vibrant Neighborhoods

To learn more about the 15 Determinants of Equity, visit the Equity Hub.

You can submit one nomination per agency, organization, or individual in each of the 15 Determinants of Equity. Our nominations committee will be selecting each of the winners. The winners should be prepared to attend our annual We the People Convening awards ceremony in mid-October 2024. Winners will be notified well in advance to plan for their attendance.

Deadline for submission is August 16, 2024.

While we do our best to make forms as accessible as possible, we are aware that you might run into some difficulties. If you have trouble with accessibility, please email access@equity.wa.gov.