Amy Bowers Cordalis. Credit: Submitted.

The Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation announced the recipients of its 2026 Leadership Awards, which honor brave and brilliant leaders whose courage, wisdom, grit, and potential inspire others to act boldly for environmental justice, social justice, and young people. Harriet and Alan Lewis launched the awards in 2018 to recognize leaders whose work moves communities toward a more just and sustainable future.

“True leadership is the moral courage and integrity to stand for what matters, the wisdom to inspire others, and the determination to turn bold ideas into lasting change,” said Charlotte Lewis, Co-Chair of the Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation.

The announcement comes as Alnoba prepares to mark the 10th anniversary of opening its doors to the public as a gathering place for leaders, educators, students, nonprofit organizations, and changemakers working to create positive impact in their communities and beyond.

This year’s honorees include: 

Kristen Clarke, recipient of the Alan E. Lewis Moral Courage in Leadership Award, is General Counsel of the NAACP and a former U.S. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights whose career has advanced voting rights, equal justice, and civil rights protections. She continues to shape the national conversation on civil and constitutional rights.

Amy Bowers Cordalis, recipient of the Indigenous Leadership Award, is a Yurok Nation member, attorney, fisherwoman, and environmental leader recognized nationally for advancing Indigenous sovereignty, environmental restoration, and cultural leadership.  She helped spearhead the historic removal of four dams from the Klamath River, reopening more than 400 miles of habitat for endangered salmon.

Lianne Hughes-Odom, recipient of the Harriet R. Lewis Gutsy Young Leader Award, is a transformational education leader who has dramatically improved student outcomes, school culture, and attendance at Boston’s Holmes Innovation School while securing more than $3 million in investments. She is committed to ensuring that every child can thrive.

Holly Morris, recipient of the Moment of Truth Award for Leadership for Gender Equity, is an award-winning filmmaker and writer whose work has amplified the stories of women and girls around the world for more than three decades.  She currently serves as the Executive Director of Tomorrow’s Women, which helps young women from Israel, Palestine, and the United States become leaders and peacemakers. 

Jesse Lore, recipient of the CEO Environmental Leadership Award, is founder of Green Wave Electric Vehicles, a New Hampshire-based company working to make used electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles more affordable, accessible, and climate-friendly. 

The Leadership Awards reflect Alnoba’s mission to develop daring leaders who change the world. Since 1993, Alnoba and its flagship leadership model, Pinnacle, have reached thousands of participants through leadership programs, educational experiences, nonprofit partnerships, youth initiatives, and public programming. Each award includes a donation made in the recipient’s name to the nonprofit organization of their choice, $10,000 for each honoree and $20,000 for the Moral Courage Award recipient, extending the impact of their work to the communities and causes they champion.

“We are honored to celebrate the extraordinary Alnoba award recipients—leaders whose courage, compassion, and conviction remind us that one daring person can help change the world,” said Lewis.

The Alnoba Leadership Awards ceremony will take place on October 21, 2026, at Alnoba in Kensington, New Hampshire, a unique gathering place set on 600 acres of forests and fields and home to a world-class outdoor art collection featuring international artists.

About the Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation

ALFF, together with other Lewis Family charitable entities, has pledged or donated more than $260 million since 1981 to support daring leaders in the fights for environmental and social justice and to help level life’s playing field for young people. As a nonprofit educational organization, Alnoba is dedicated to developing leaders and strengthening communities through experiential learning, leadership development, environmental stewardship, and transformative gatherings. Located in Kensington, New Hampshire, Alnoba serves youth, educators, nonprofits, businesses, and mission-driven organizations from across the region and beyond. Alnoba is also the first Passive House Institute-certified gathering space of its type in the Northeast.

For more information about the Alnoba Leadership Awards and upcoming events, visit alnoba.org

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