People in Public Service Lonnie Locke

Lonnie Locke received the 2025 Evan Ferber Peacemaker Leadership Award for her extensive contributions to peace and community service. After moving from Alabama to Washington State at 17, she became a dedicated advocate for immigrants and racial justice. Locke initiated a peer-tutoring program in elementary school, created a Boy Scout group for children with behavioral challenges, and worked with Habitat for Humanity to improve housing standards in segregated neighborhoods. She also served as a Court Administrator and Commissioner, where she addressed systemic barriers faced by immigrants in the judicial system. In 1984, she co-founded Race Unity in Action, which organized community dialogues on race and hosted a potluck dinner club for cultural exchange.

Her recent initiative, the Multicultural Services Center of South Sound, aims to foster dialogue on racism and unity. “Racism is America’s most vital and challenging issue,” Locke states, emphasizing her commitment to promoting a shared human identity. Her work continues to resonate within the local community, impacting future generations.