INDIANAPOLIS – Jamal Smith, Executive Director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC), former advisor to Governor Mitch Daniels, and co-chair of the Your Life Matters Taskforce Initiative, received the State of Indiana’s prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash Award from Indiana Governor Mike Pence during the ICRC’s Fifth Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on January 15, 2016.
The Sagamore Award is a personal tribute given to those who have provided a distinguished service to the state, and is one of the highest honors presented by the Governor of Indiana. Pence stated, “This is an individual who has led the Civil Rights Commission, under two administrations, with extraordinary distinction.”
The ICRC’s Annual Day of Service is the community service portion of their Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Indiana Holiday Celebration, which begins with a Statehouse event the day prior.
This event marks Smith’s final day as the ICRC’s Executive Director, serving in this role since being appointed in June of 2010.
Smith, a former collegiate athlete, has served as a coach and mentor in inner-city Indianapolis for the past 15 years. Beginning January 19, 2016 he will assume the role of Athletic Director of Indianapolis Public Schools through his non-profit 501 c 3, The Lead Change Project.
