August 21, 2026 – CDF-Minnesota’s ‘A Celebration of Joy’ will recognize three Minnesotans for their contributions to advancing the well-being of young people in the Twin Cities area and across the state of Minnesota.
Media Contact: John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, CDF Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679
Minneapolis, MN—On Thursday, Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota (CDF-MN), the local arm of the national child advocacy organization—will host “A Celebration of Joy,” honoring Minnesota changemakers, while uplifting community and reflecting the spirit of hope, resilience, and collective action for young people.
The event, themed “Advocacy that Outlives Us,” will take place at the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis. At the event, CDF-MN will present its Advocate for Joy and Samuel Halperin Youth Public Service awards to three Minnesota residents who have dedicated their lives to advancing the well-being of young people.
Minnesota State Senator Alice Mann and Dr. Renaldo C. Blocker, Associate Professor at Mayo Clinic, will both receive CDF-MN’s Advocate for Joy award.
Mann also serves as a practicing Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine physician. She decided to run for elected office in 2018 after spending years working in a healthcare system that prioritizes profits over patient care. In St. Paul, Mann has focused her time in the legislature on crafting policies that bring down medical costs while ensuring children have access to nutrition and education. She is the chief author of Minnesota’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program, which assists thousands of residents across the state.
Dr. Blocker co-founded “Why You?” Initiative, Inc.,” a support and mentoring organization that has successfully assisted more than 1,300 underrepresented high school students, undergraduate students, graduate students, and young professionals with achieving their academic and professional endeavors. In addition to his duties at the Mayo Clinic, he also works as an associate professor of Healthcare Systems Engineering and the associate director of Belonging in the Kern Center. Dr. Blocker has conducted research across multiple healthcare settings, including cardiovascular, family medicine, emergency medicine, gynecology, and orthopedic surgeries.
What: A Celebration of Joy – Advocacy that Outlives Us
When: Thursday, August 20, 2026 | 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Where: Capri Theater | 2027 W Broadway, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Who: Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota
The Samuel Halperin Youth Public Service Award will be presented to 19-year-old Twin Cities native Elliott Milton Williams, Jr. for his mentorship of young people in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul region.
This event will feature formal remarks from the leader of the organization, CDF-MN State Director Alisha Porter, and performances by young people from the Twin Cities area.
“It is an honor to work side-by-side Minnesotans who are dedicated to advancing the well-being of all children and young people in our great state,” Porter said. “We must support and celebrate all the people who drive this important work as we remain committed to ensuring every child and young person in Minnesota thrives.”
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About Children’s Defense Fund
Founded in 1973, Children’s Defense Fund envisions a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders prioritize their well-being, and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive. The only national, multi-issue advocacy organization working at the intersection of child well-being and racial justice, CDF advances the well-being of America’s most diverse generation, the 74 million children and youth under the age of 18 and 30 million young adults under the age of 25. CDF’s grassroots movements in marginalized communities build power for child-centered public policy, informed by racial equity and the lived experience of children and youth. Its renowned CDF Freedom Schools® program is conducted in nearly 100 cities across 30 states and territories. Learn more at www.childrensdefense.org.