By Tamara Parker
The first annual Project AWARE fundraising and gala awards ceremony took place last Saturday evening, November 8, 2025, at the Courtyard Marriott in Liberty Station. This year’s theme celebrated two decades of healing, advocacy, and transformation. Project AWARE is a grassroots nonprofit founded by Reginald Washington to tackle the urgent challenges of emotional literacy, restorative justice, credible mentorship, and leadership development in communities frequently pushed to the margins.
As a young man, Mr. Washington found himself involved with gangs and facing a life sentence in prison, with no awareness of alternative ways to deal with his anger. While incarcerated, he created Project AWARE to teach young people the emotional literacy skills he wished he had had prior to his incarceration. Over the past 20 years, it has evolved from a grassroots vision into a dynamic, trusted community organization offering programs in youth detention centers, schools, and neighborhoods throughout San Diego County.
Mr. Washington is now a certified trainer in Restorative Practices and a certified Community Mentor, with over a decade of experience working with youth in San Diego County. He has been trained by recognized agencies such as the National Institute of Corrections, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, US Attorney’s Office, and the National Conflict Resolution Center, among others. Reginald has been recognized by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for his contributions to their Youth Academy and by the California Crime Prevention Officers Association for promoting public safety.
The event was proud to host the acclaimed chef, bestselling author, and motivational speaker, Chef Jeff Henderson, as its keynote speaker. During his address, Chef Jeff shared his inspiring journey from time served in prison to becoming the first African American Executive Chef at prestigious resorts like Caesars Palace and the Bellagio. It was during incarceration that he discovered his passion for cooking, which he used as a catalyst to transform his life. His memoir, “Cooked,” became a New York Times bestseller, earning widespread media recognition and inspiring audiences nationwide.
Award recipients for the evening included Jason Druxman, Mindy McCartney, Karen Normile, Dr. Joey Estrada, Linda Ledesma, Malcom Warfield, and Catherine Butler.
Youth Awardees: Zakyra Reed, Reality Robinson, Bianca Figueroa, Razhane Moore, and Jack Phanora.
Dignitaries: Supervisor Monica Steppe- Montgomery, Henry Foster, Mayor Allyson Snow, and Chief of Probation Tameka Nelson.
Guests at the special event were treated to an exciting evening of raffle prizes, dining, and 360-degree picture-taking.
