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Grinnell Prize Goes to Advocate for Women Who Have Incarcerated Loved Ones

Grinnell College

The annual Grinnell Innovator in Social Justice Prize is going to a woman who advocates for other women who have loved ones in prison. 

Harvard-educated attorney and activist Gina Clayton is the founder of the Essie Justice Group. Named for Clayton’s great grandmother, the organization supports women with incarcerated loved ones and helps them push for criminal justice reform.

She will receive the $100,000 Grinnell Prize during on-campus ceremonies Tuesday. Two women who are graduates of the program will join her.

The Grinnell Prize is the largest award handed out by a U.S. college in recognition of social justice. It has been presented since 2011.

Clay Masters is the senior politics reporter for MPR News.