Nomination and Selection Process

The California Peace Prize honorees are chosen through a rigorous, confidential process that is based on the recommendations of two distinct committees — nominating and selection, with final ratification by the Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Annually, TCWF establishes a confidential nominating committee of at least 20 individuals from throughout California. Using criteria approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors, each committee member nominates one community leader who has made an outstanding contribution in addressing the root causes of violence. Each nominator provides a one- or two-page statement describing the nominee’s contribution.

A TCWF-appointed selection committee, composed of up to five experts in violence prevention, reviews the nominators’ statements and letters of recommendation for each candidate. Three individuals are then recommended for TCWF Board approval.

Since the first California Peace Prize was awarded in 1993, TCWF has worked hard to keep the process confidential and to avoid being lobbied by any individual or group. The honorees do not learn the identity of the nominators or the selection committee members.

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