2017 Arizona Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Calvin C. Goode Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree Selected Co-Chair Of 36th Annual AZ MLK Living The Dream Celebration
With the relocation out-of-state of the previous co-chair, Dr. Reginald Walton, Valerie Churchwell’s name rose to the top of the list of potential appointees.
Dr. Gene Blue, chair of the Arizona MLK Celebration Committee stated, “Valerie was an apparent choice for the appointment to co-chair the 36th Annual AZ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. MLK Living the Dream Celebration."
Ron Williams, chair of the Arizona MLK Celebration Events & Activities added, “I am very excited to be working with Valerie in this capacity. She is a long-term committee member, who established the annual Torch Run, comprised of local students and City of Phoenix police officers, who open our annual Arizona MLK Celebration with the “Flame of Hope," which signifies the passing of the torch to our youth. Valerie also coordinates the torch which leads the Annual Arizona MLK Jr. March."
Valerie Churchwell founded the Arizona Dream Builder Foundation, a nonprofit organization designed to recognize future leaders of Arizona. Born of a desire to celebrate students who are committed to social justice and the tenets of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other great world leaders, while making positive changes within their individual communities, this unique charity offers paid internships and scholarships to High School seniors to help them reach their educational and community goals.
Valerie’s efforts to strengthen Arizona and its communities have been an ongoing theme throughout her career. In 2017, she was awarded the Arizona Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Calvin C. Goode “Lifetime Achievement Award.” She currently serves as senior advisor to Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. She previously served as manager of small business outreach for the City of Phoenix Aviation Department. In that capacity, she was responsible for managing small business educational programs/activities and coordinating the identification and utilization of small, minority, and women-owned businesses in the community.
Valerie is involved in numerous community organizations, having been named to the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board, the Board of the Maricopa Community Colleges District Foundation, and the Governor’s African American Advisory Council. She also is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Additionally, she’s the recipient of: Associated Minority Contractors of America Advocate of the Year (2014); Women in Transportation and Safety Rosa L. Parks Diversity in Leadership award (2015); East Valley NAACP Humanitarian Award (2016); and ADOT Community Champion (2016).