Recipients of the 10th Annual “Right Direction Awards”

2026 Award Ceremony Highlights Resiliency, Leadership, and Talent of District Youth Actively Working to Make DC a Better Place

WASHINGTON, DC – ​​​​​​​ Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced the 25 awardees who will be recognized at the Office of Attorney General’s 2026 Right Direction Awards this evening, awards that celebrate the resiliency, leadership, and achievements of District youth and emerging adults, as well as exceptional adults who support and empower them.

“For the past 10 years, OAG’s Right Direction Awards have celebrated the resilience, leadership, and vision that more than 200 DC youth have demonstrated in their lives,” said Attorney General Schwalb. “I am tremendously proud of the contributions these teenagers and emerging adults have made to their communities as mentors, volunteers, role models, and changemakers. They have done extraordinary things, oftentimes against extraordinary odds, and our Right Direction Awards ceremony lifts up their hard work, their accomplishments, their bright futures and their limitless potential.” 

About the Right Direction Awards

On Wednesday, November 4, we will hold the 10th annual Right Direction Awards and celebrate 25 impressive young people who have overcome significant challenges and who are making a positive impact in their communities. Each year, the Right Direction Awards celebrate DC youth, ages 14 to 24, who demonstrate perseverance through adversity and serve as role models, change agents, mentors, and leaders working to improve the lives of others. We will also honor a group of advocates who have made significant contributions to the empowerment, support, and advocacy of young people.

This year’s keynote speaker is former At-Large Councilmember and Delegate-elect Robert C. White, Jr., who established the Right Direction Awards in 2015 when he served as Director of Community Engagement for the Office of the Attorney General. Since establishing the Right Direction Awards, the Office of the Attorney General has recognized over 200 young people.

How to Attend the 2026 Right Direction Awards Ceremony

When: Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 6:00 PM.
Where: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW, 5th Floor Auditorium

 2026 Right Direction Award Recipients

  • Calique Barnes, 19, Ward 8

  • Zyah Brown, 15, Ward 4

  • Logan Bunn, 16, Ward 8

  • Darion Carter, 22, Ward 8

  • Miprecious Coley, 21, Ward 7

  • Mariely Coronel-Neri, 18, Ward 5

  • Christian Dozier, 17, Ward 8

  • Daniela Espana, 17, Ward 1

  • Ricquan Greenfield, 19, Ward 7

  • DeAnthony Greenfield, 18, Ward 7

  • Makhia Hall, 23, Ward 8

  • Kaliyah Henry, 22, Ward 7

  • Jerimiah Hughes, 17, Ward 7

  • Mahla Ihuoma, 16, Ward 7

  • Yeselyn Iraheta, 17, Ward 5

  • Ziare Jordan, 18, Ward 7

  • Samuel Koch, 16, Ward 4

  • Brooke Loman, 16, Ward 8

  • Karon McDonald, 19, Ward 7

  • Dakota Mills, 16, Ward 7

  • Tatiana Robinson, 24, Ward 8

  • Dylan Russell-Roach, 18, Ward 8

  • Robert Jamal Thomas, 17, Ward 7

  • Skyy Wallace-Garrett, 20, Ward 5

  • Cambridge Worrell-Smith, 17, Ward 5

Youth Empowerment Award Winners

The Youth Empowerment Recognition Award acknowledges individuals who have made significant contributions to the empowerment, support, and advocacy of young people. This year we honor the SOUL Act youth and OAG’s Dayar Brown with this award for their work shepherding the SOUL Act through the DC Council.

  • Cierra Bailey

  • Dayar Brown (OAG Staff)

  • Belva Fonkoue

  • Hannah Dyson

  • Ronnie Harris

  • Jeyvion Monges

  • Ny’Zon O’Benson

  • Olivia Okwemba

  • Keniya Parks

  • Princess Simms

  • Destinee Stokes

  • Justice Thurston

  • Zaniya Torres

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