You may not know them, but the ‘Unsung Heroes’ of Lexington are our backbone | Opinion
-min.jpg "The Unsung Heroes Award winners from 2023 celebrated their wins. (Photo courtesy CivicLex)")
Earlier this week, I wrote about the 2025 inductees into the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame. This is a great event that recognizes acclaimed, prize-winning authors at the top of their field. The Hall of Fame is a nice cherry on top of long, illustrious careers.
But another recognition was announced this week that comes from an equally nice angle: The Unsung Heroes Award.
The idea came from Bilal Elamin as part of the 2023 Leadership Lexington program. In order to keep the awards going, they asked CivicLex to take it over.
“Their goal was to highlight some of the people who are doing essential work in our community, in fields like health care, public safety and education, who don’t often get recognized for that work,” said Richard Young, founder and executive director of the civic education group.
“We really see a lot of alignment with our mission of strengthening civic health.”
Young said that while people associate civic life with government, it’s really about the whole community.
“All nine of these honorees are just stellar examples of people who are tackling challenges in the community but maybe not getting the same level of recognition in a broader sense,” he said. “We’re excited to lift up their work to a broader audience.”
The winners — who are nominated by people in the community — will be recognized at a “pay what you can” event on Jan. 25 at the Carrick House. There will be a reception at 7 p.m. with awards at 8 p.m.
The 2025 winners are:
Legacy Hero - Rolanda Woolfork
As part of the Georgetown Street Area Neighborhood Association, Woolfork is known as a tireless advocate for equity, affordable housing and improving community wellness.
As one nominator said, “She consistently prioritizes the well-being of her community, attending crucial meetings and advocating for those who lack a voice, all while asking for nothing in return except for mutual respect and a shared commitment to equality.”
Community Hero: Remy Simpson
Simspson is the founder and president of the Paws 4 the Cause animal rescue organization, which has helped countless animals in our community. He has stepped back from the job because of a serious cancer diagnosis.
“Everyone has a special place in life to find the thing that moves them, and for Remy, it was changing the lives of the animals in Kentucky,” his nomination said. But Simpson also recognized that veterans and the disabled have a special rapport with animals and made sure they were part of Paws 4 the Cause.
Community Hero: Lanance Martin
Martin is a manufacturing technician and team lead. She is responsible for leading a team that assembles hundreds of thousands of units of pharmaceutical nasal sprays per year, including Naloxone, the lifesaving substance that can reverse opioid overdoses.
“Lanance is a compassionate leader, a highly skilled worker, and an incredibly hardworking person. She has built a career in manufacturing with a diploma from Tates Creek High School and has been a part of Lexington’s workforce since the age of 13,” her nomination said.
“She is the definition of an unsung hero!”
Community Hero: Judith Humble
Judith Humble is the chair of two teams that she started with the Sierra Club: the Zero Waste Team and the Bluegrass Climate Action Team, attempting to do better by the earth.
“Her approach in working to reduce waste with faith communities and restaurants was not about what is being done wrong but about what can be done better,” the nomination said.
Community Hero: Elisha Mutayongwa
Mutayongwa is the founder of the Marafiki Center, a cultural center aimed at bridging gaps between Lexington and its African and Swahili-speaking communities in Lexington. Through the center, he also created Swahili Day, a now yearly event to celebrate African cultures.
“Elisha, has been a voice for most of the families in our community,” his nomination said. “Making sure they get what they are in need for and being supportive for the youth at a very high level.”
Civil Service Hero: Edward Dove
Dove is a part-time attorney for the Human Rights Commission, Mr. Dove “has been a truly passionate champion of civil rights for the disenfranchised, maligned and sometimes persecuted,” his nomination said. He was an early advocate for LGBTQ rights and litigated the first test of a fairness ordinance before the Kentucky Supreme Court in GSLO v. Hands on Originals in 2019.
“He continues to advocate for those who may be discriminated against in employment, public accommodations, and housing,” his nomination said. “He supports and cares about the people he represents even when it is not personally beneficial to do so.”
Education Hero: Justin Royal
Royal is a teacher at Bryan Station High School is a warm yet challenging place for students to learn.
“Mr. Royal is creating thoughtful leaders in the next generation who care about community and genuinely want to make our society better,” his nomination said.
Social & Family Services Hero: Gale Reece
Reece founded ITNBluegrass, a transportation program for senior citizens and ran it for five years. She then founded the I Know Expo, an annual free event on aging and health, as well as serving on the board of the Senior Center.
“Gale’s compassion, energy and devotion to the seniors in our community is amazing,” her nomination said.
Lifeline Hero: Amy Ross
Ross has served for 25 years as a dispatcher for the Lexington Police Department, according to her nomination, and received awards for work that helped solve 45 cases of theft and criminal mischief. Her dispatch work during the Flight 5191 disaster earned her a commendation from the National Transportation Safety Board.
“She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the safety and well-being of her colleagues and the community she serves,” the nomination said.
This story was originally published January 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM.
