Blackwell School Alliance Receives Marjory Stoneman Douglas Award

WASHINGTON – Today, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) presented the Blackwell School Alliance with the 2025 Marjory Stoneman Douglas Award during a special National Parks Advocacy Week luncheon at the Kimpton Monaco Hotel.

The Blackwell School Alliance was instrumental in establishing one of the newest national park sites in the country, the Blackwell School National Historic Site in Marfa, Texas. The Alliance was born in 2006 when a group of former students learned the local school board was planning to demolish the formerly segregated Blackwell School that generations of Mexican American children had attended.

Established in 1986, NPCA’s annual Marjory Stoneman Douglas Award honors individuals who go to great lengths to advocate and fight for the protection of our national parks. Named after Marjory Stoneman Douglas, a lifelong advocate for Everglades National Park, the award recognizes the outstanding efforts of an individual or group that result in the protection of a national park or proposed site in the National Park System.

“Latinos have contributed tremendously to America’s history and culture for countless generations, yet only two national park sites exist to tell modern Latino stories. Without the Blackwell School Alliance’s courage, dedication, and grit, the Blackwell School National Historic Site would not exist. As we face down the Trump administration’s efforts to rewrite and erase diverse history at our national parks, parks like the Blackwell School National Historic Site matter more than ever.” said Theresa Pierno, President and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association.

“We are honored to work alongside the Blackwell School Alliance, and proud to present them with the 2025 Marjory Stoneman Douglas Award. They are true national park champions cut from the same cloth as Marjory herself,” Pierno said.

From 1909 to 1965, the Blackwell School served as the segregated school for children of Mexican descent. Throughout the late 19th and early 20th century, Americans of Mexican descent experienced a culture of de facto segregation, were prohibited from fully enjoying the same and equal freedoms as their white counterparts, and were routinely denied full access to public spaces, including equal access to education. Students at these segregated schools were often prohibited from speaking Spanish, a language central to their family and cultural heritage.

Despite this segregation and the challenges that it brought for the students, their families prioritized quality education, and many students at the Blackwell School excelled in spite of unjust conditions. Many alumni treasure their memories of the teachers who believed in them and the classmates with whom they forged lifetime bonds.

The Alliance rallied to save their school, arranging to lease the Blackwell School property from the school district for a dollar a year, turning it into a local museum and landmark. The Alliance held bake sales and bailes in the local community to raise money for the museum.

Beginning in 2018, the Alliance partnered with the National Parks Conservation Association for a public, grassroots campaign to obtain National Park Service protection and recognition for the school. Alliance members worked to obtain local letters of support from the community, advocating that Congressional leaders introduce legislation to protect Blackwell as a national park site.

Following extensive advocacy by the Blackwell School Alliance, NPCA, and park advocates in Texas and around the country, President Biden signed the Blackwell School National Historic Site Act into law in 2022. This bipartisan bill was originally introduced by former Congressmen Will Hurd and Filemón Vela of Texas. Representative Tony Gonzales, Senator John Cornyn of Texas and Senator Alex Padilla of California brought the bill across the finish line.

The park was formally dedicated in 2024, with a special ribbon cutting presided over by then-Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.

“The Alliance has pulled off an incredible feat in preserving Blackwell School, and we couldn’t be more honored to accept this award that recognizes our efforts,” said Daniel Hernandez, President of the Blackwell School Alliance. “To go from a segregated school to a National Historic Site championed by the alumni who attended it is a remarkable testament to the power of community. Thank you to NPCA, our pueblito, and especially our alumni, whose struggles and triumphs are now enshrined at this monument of living history.

Hernandez and Blackwell School Alliance Vice President John Lujan, Jr., who are each descendants of Blackwell School alumni, accepted this award on behalf of the Alliance.

“Over the past few years, I have listened to Blackwell Alliance members tell stories of hardship, discrimination, and segregation. But they have also taught me about their community’s resilience, their pride, and their resolve to leave a better world for future generations. They never gave up hope that the country would protect those stories, and they never stopped working for a park that honors their communities.” Said Cristóbal López, Texas Field Representative for the National Parks Conservation Association.

“Based on how they were treated, Blackwell School alumni had every right to let the school be demolished. Instead, they fought to reclaim their heritage and save their school, so our country could bear witness to its complex legacy and learn from alumni experiences. Our country is forever indebted to the Blackwell School Alliance for trusting the National Park Service with their story and sharing it with the world. They are truly deserving of this award, and so much more.” López concluded.

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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org