Two talented young people from Indio, Mia Byers and Alexia Williams, were recognized for their excellence in the community and awarded the "Jamil Dada Character Excellence Youth Award".
"In spite of difficult and sometimes tragic situations, these young people have been identified as leaders in their communities, determined to earn a high school diploma, and/or in pursuit of a post-secondary education," Riverside County stated in a press release.
The "Jamil Dada Character Excellence Youth Award" was presented to ten Riverside County individuals on behalf of the Riverside County Workforce Development Board. Mia Byers and Alexia Williams, two of the awarded individuals, originate from Indio.
Named in honor of local, state, and federal workforce champion Jamil Dada, the "Jamil Dada Character Excellence Youth Awards Program" is associated with Mr. Dada's role as Vice Chair of the Riverside County Workforce Development Board, a longstanding member of the California Workforce Development Board in Sacramento, and his affiliation with the National Association of Workforce Boards in Washington D.C. The yearly ceremony and scholarships are made possible by donations from local businesses, community allies, nonprofit organizations, and the net proceeds from ticket sales for the event.
Recipients were each granted $2,500 in educational scholarships, along with trophy honors, legislative certificates, and an acknowledgment during the award event. Nominations for these accolades are made through the Youth Opportunity Centers to the Riverside County Workforce Development Board, including biographies, recommendation letters, and additional achievements. Byers and Williams stood out from a large field and were awarded as a result of that. Winners are chosen by an assessment panel composed of Workforce Development Board representatives who assess the application packets. Evaluation and scoring and the eventual awarding of the scholarship prizes are centered on the "Six Pillars of Character" which encompass Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship.