On Thursday, February 2nd, 2023, Ms. Bertha Lewis was honored as the third recipient of the prestigious Sweetwater Clifton City Spirit Award. The award was presented as part of the New York Knicks’ “Celebrating Black Experience” Theme Night at Madison Square Garden. A check for $10,000 was given to the Black Institute, a Black-led, women-led for-profit organization.

The Sweetwater Clifton City Spirit Award, named after the late Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, a pioneering African American professional basketball player and dedicated community member, recognizes individuals who go above and beyond to make a positive impact on the lives of others in the tri-state area.

Ms. Lewis, a prominent leader in the Black community, has been a long-standing advocate for racial equity and social justice. Through her work with the Black Institute, she has worked tirelessly to shape the intellectual discourse and impact public policy from the perspective of Black people in America and people of color throughout the diaspora.