WASHINGTON, D.C. – Attorney General Karl A. Racine today announced that the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) will host its sixth Right Direction Awards Ceremony honoring District youth who have overcome significant challenges and are positively affecting their community. He encouraged District residents to nominate local youth for the award.

“Every day, we are inspired by the tenacity, resilience, and engagement of youth across the District – especially those who have had to overcome obstacles like generational poverty and trauma – and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic,” said AG Racine. “At our office, we have worked to harness the energy of District youth and help propel them forward so they can thrive and become the District’s next leaders and changemakers. That’s what these awards are all about.” 

Established in 2015, the Right Direction Awards has celebrated over 150 inspiring young people in the District. The ceremony has taken place from 2015-2019 but paused in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. This year’s theme is “DC’s Most Influential Under 24,” and will showcase youth ages 14-24 who have demonstrated great leadership in the community and who are positive role models. 

In previous years, this ceremony has recognized young people who have faced significant obstacles such as losing loved ones to death or incarceration, having children very early in life, or helping family members or friends through difficult struggles such as addiction or illness. Despite these obstacles, many of the honorees attained academic excellence, became young leaders who did extraordinary work to help others, and turned their lives around and got themselves onto the right path after starting down the wrong one. 

OAG is asking the D.C. community to help identify exceptional young people and nominate them for a Right Direction Award by Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at 11:59pm EST.   

Click here to learn more about the awards and to nominate someone for the award. 

For any questions, email oagcommunity@dc.gov.