WS Chronicle

Chronicle Staff Report

Annika Archie and Dara Silver have been awarded this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Young Dreamer Awards by the Winston-Salem Human Relations Commission.

The honor recognizes outstanding, emerging or proven young adult leaders who live in the city and have produced a meaningful result in community inclusiveness and race relations. The award is intended to encourage young adults to participate in philanthropic, altruistic community involvement that is in the spirit of how Dr. King lived and encouraged others to live.

Archie is a consistent spokesperson and advocate for some of our community’s most vulnerable populations. In her pioneering role as Supporter of Health with FaithHealth at Wake Forest Baptist Health, she assists patients and families who are struggling to meet some of their most basic needs upon discharge from the hospital.

She has helped people access safe housing, food, medications, health insurance and any number of basic needs that help people live healthier lives. Annika has also lived through many of life’s challenges, which have given her the strength and wisdom to make a difference in the lives of others who may currently experience similar challenges.

Silver has worked tirelessly to ensure that all cultural groups are represented in the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, where she serves as director of Member Services and Grants.

She goes beyond the call of duty to ensure that the Arts Council’s granting committees are diverse and reflective of the community; she personally contacts groups and individuals to tell them of grant deadlines; she remains open to help applicants through the process; she looks for opportunities to include all artists and arts groups at the table where decisions are made.

In her work she works diligently to promote an arts community that is free of bias and discrimination.

The Commission sought nominations for the awards late last year. Commission members reviewed all the nominations and selected the winners.