Mona Highline, founder and executive director of the Joseph Center in Grand Junction, received the 2024 Education Champions Award for Mesa County from the Colorado Black Caucus of School Board Directors.

Highline was honored for her efforts to help the community. Will Jones, vice president of the Mesa County School District 51 Board of Education, nominated Highline for the award.

“This award took me by surprise, and it felt good to be recognized and honored for the work we do every day at the Joseph Center. I love that quote in ‘Lord of the Rings’ — ‘There’s some good in this world and it’s worth fighting for.’ And we look for and fight for that good every day.”

The Colorado Black Caucus of School Board Directors promotes access and opportunities for students of Black and African descent as well as collaboration among school boards and their communities.

Located at 2511 Belford Ave. Unit. B, the Joseph Center provides a range of services to support families at the intersection of houselessness and parenting. For more information about hours and services, visit the website at www.josephcentergj.com.