Greensboro residents James Hairston, PhD, Deena Hayes-Greene, the late Tifanie Rudd, the late Janet Ward Black, and Justin Washington received the 2026 Everyday Champions of Civil Rights Award from the City’s Human Rights Commission (HRC). The group will be honored at 7 am on Monday, January 19, at the HRC’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial Breakfast at the Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Seasons.
The HRC first presented the honor in 2023 to City residents who have gone “above and beyond” to champion increased human rights and social justice. Winners are nominated through a citywide process and selected by the MLK Breakfast Planning Committee. This year’s group raises the number of Everyday Champions award winners to 15.
Hairston is an assistant professor in the Department of Leadership Studies and Adult Education at North Carolina A&T State University. In addition to providing classroom instruction, he has researched subjects such as the experiences of Black male students in science, technology, engineering, and math programs at predominantly white institutions, the school-to-prison pipeline, food insecurity among college students, and the role of artificial intelligence in supporting Black male students at historically Black colleges and universities. The Greensboro College graduate serves on the Interactive Resource Center’s Board of Directors, is a youth leader at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, has volunteered at a local Title I School, and is past president of the Black Alumni Collective at his alma mater. He holds a doctor of philosophy from Liberty University and earned a master’s degree in leadership for higher education from Capella University.
Hayes-Greene co-founded Black Wall Street, LLC, in 2023 to empower urban communities through strategic planning, development, and community organizing. A member of the Guilford County Board of Education, she has dedicated much of her life to the pursuit of economic equity, sustainable growth, and creating opportunities for historically underserved communities. Hayes-Greene also co-founded and serves as managing director for the Racial Equity Institute, which provides training and guidance for organizations committed to racial equity. The Guilford College graduate also co-founded the Black Pearls Society, a nonprofit think tank comprised of Black women committed to strengthening communities by addressing institutional, political, and structural inequities.
Rudd led a life of influence and encouragement as a certified life coach and CEO of M8D 2 Rise, Inc. before her passing in June 2025. A member of the City’s Commission on the Status of Women and the Greensboro Police Department’s Core Connection Team, she volunteered extensively and assisted people with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities, low self-esteem, homelessness, and victims of domestic abuse. Rudd served on the boards of Greensboro Academy, People to People, and the Fire Relief Fund. She held degrees in Christian counseling and divinity from Grace Christian College.
The founder and owner of Ward Black Law in Greensboro, Ward passed away in November 2025. A devoted attorney and visionary leader, she built one of North Carolina’s largest woman-owned law firms and dedicated her life to advancing justice and service. The Davidson College and Duke Law graduate was inducted into the North Carolina Bar Association’s Legal Practice Hall of Fame in 2025. A trailblazer, Ward was the first female assistant district attorney in Rowan and Cabarrus counties and later served as president of both the NC Bar Association (NCBA) and North Carolina Advocates for Justice. She created the NCBA’s 4ALL program, which has helped more than 129,000 residents. Guided by faith, she shaped Ward Black Law’s mission of service with compassion and excellence.
The founder and executive director of the JustOne Foundation, Washington spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy before serving with the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office. Upon retiring, he was appointed to the City of Greensboro’s Parks and Recreation Commission and will complete his third term later this month. Through his work with JustOne, Washington organizes and sponsors family-friendly events designed to bring neighbors together, provide positive experiences, and encourage families to “broaden their horizons.” Fundraisers such as local wrestling matches, Easter egg hunts, and golf tournaments support ongoing community projects, including the maintenance of the City’s Maplewood Cemetery and oversight of the Maywood Community Garden, which benefits Greensboro Urban Ministry. Washington is also vice chairman of the Greensboro/Guilford Crime Stoppers program.
The HRC is tasked with improving the quality of life for Greensboro residents by encouraging fair treatment and promoting mutual understanding and respect among all people. Visit www.greensboro-nc.gov/hrc for more information.
