"Ernesto Cortés Jr. has spent nearly 40 years teaching the disenfranchised how to communicate their stories in ways that assert their place in the world.

As co-director of the Industrial Areas Foundation...he has taught thousands of people how to harness and direct their anger by helping them to organize with others to change conditions around them.... For those efforts, the Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA) presented its annual Robert Coles "Call of Service" Award to Cortés on Friday in the Memorial Church.

"What he is about is nothing less than restoring our American democracy," said Gene Corbin, assistant dean of student life for public service, who presented the award.

Cortes Receives Service Award, The Harvard Gazette

PBHA Honors Cortes for Service, The Harvard Crimson