Event Overview | Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Awards

This Comms Kit is designed to support outreach and promotion efforts for the 2026 Public Leadership Awards (PLA). Inside, you’ll find downloadable graphics, email templates, sample social media language, and key dates—organized by tab across the top of this kit to help spread the word. Thank you for helping us highlight this year’s honorees and amplify PLA across your networks.

Details
22nd Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Awards
Thursday, September 17, 2026
5:00 p.m. VIP Reception
5:30 p.m. General Reception
6:00 p.m. Program Begins
8:30 p.m. Evening Ends
McNamara Alumni Center
200 SE Oak Street
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Ticket sales are now closed for the 2026 Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Awards. Please contact Megan Diefenbach-Healy, Advancement Operations Specialist at [email protected] to learn about sponsorship opportunities.

Purpose

The Hubert H. Humphrey Public Leadership Awards, presented annually by the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, honor individuals and organizations whose leadership and service have advanced the common good.

The awards gala is the School’s signature fundraiser, with proceeds supporting student scholarships. Since its founding in 2003, the event has recognized 88 honorees and raised over $2 million for scholarships.

For more information, visit the main PLA page.

2026 Honorees

Hubert H. (Skip) Humphrey III

For a lifetime of championing Minnesotans’ health, safety, and consumer protection. Skip Humphrey led landmark public health victories, empowered informed communities, and protected older adults. He has advanced a legacy of principled service in the mold of his father, our School’s namesake, that continues to shape Minnesota’s well‑being and civic leadership.

Carter Family

For generations of public service rooted in St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood, including: Melvin Carter Jr., who helped integrate the St. Paul Police Department and founded Save Our Sons; Toni Carter, the first African American elected to a county board in Minnesota; Melvin Carter III, the Capital City’s first African American mayor; and Dr. Sakeena Futrell-Carter, a certified nurse midwife and women’s health advocate.

Norman Ornstein

Prominent political scientist, longtime scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and Minnesota native. He has helped shape national conversations around America’s political institutions and elections with clarity, insight, and a deep commitment to democratic values. He established a foundation in honor of his late son Matthew to advocate for mental health initiatives and urban debate programs.

Civic Spirit of Minnesota

Honoring the Minnesotans who showed up for our neighbors when it mattered most. We celebrate all those who opened their doors, mobilized resources, met immediate needs, supported families and students, and helped protect rights and navigate complex systems. They demonstrated the compassion, courage, and collective leadership that define the very best of Minnesota.