Saturday, April 11, 2026
3:00 PM

2026 Chapel Óscar Romero Awards Ceremony
Celebrating Health Justice Advocates
Pay What You Can $5-20 | In-Person & Livestream Event 

Since 1986, the Rothko Chapel has given the Óscar Romero Award in recognition of courageous, grassroots human rights advocacy. This award is named in honor of Saint Óscar Romero of San Salvador, who was assassinated in March 1980 while conducting Catholic Mass in a local hospital chapel. He is recognized internationally for his vocal opposition against oppression and has inspired countless others to advocate for justice even in the face of great economic and political pressure.

The 2026 Award focuses on health justice with honorees exemplifying a commitment to building ecosystems of physical and spiritual wellbeing in the face of enormous economic and political pressures. Awardees include:
Kevin Anderson & The T.R.U.T.H. Project
FAJR Global
Pastor Dianne Garcia & Nuevos Vecinos
Ruben Garcia & Annunciation House 
Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT)

The program includes an awards ceremony followed by a moderated conversation with the awardees facilitated by Rothko Chapel President, Imam Abdullah Antepli.

About the Awardees
Kevin Anderson is the Founding Chief Executive Officer of The T.R.U.T.H. Project, Inc., an educational and community mobilization platform focused on LGBTQ+ communities of color and their allies, utilizing social arts including spoken word, dance, visual art, theatre, and music to promote mental, emotional and sexual health. Created in 2013 to fill the void of limited programming and support for LGBTQ+ communities of color, the Telling Real Unapologetic Through Healing (T.R.U.T.H.) Project has established a safe space for individuals to express themselves and seek guidance and support, which often proves to be lifesaving. Anderson’s curating and leadership promotes healing through personal and social transformation, and he has succeeded in disseminating critical mental health resources across the greater Houston area. 

FAJR Global is an international humanitarian organization founded in 2022 by Dr. Khaled Saleh and Dr. Mosab Nasser with a mission to provide world-class surgical and medical care to those in need. FAJR operates on the frontlines of humanitarian healthcare, from overcrowded hospitals in Gaza to underserved refugee communities across the Middle East, leading surgical missions, coordinating complex medical evacuations, and delivering lifesaving emergency relief. In 2023, FAJR made history by completing the largest orthopedic mission ever conducted in Palestine, performing hundreds of critical surgeries in just five days, an achievement that reflects both the organization’s medical expertise and its unwavering commitment to human dignity. Today, FAJR supports evacuated children and families across multiple countries, provides long-term medical, psychosocial, and educational assistance, and partners with global institutions to respond rapidly to crises. 

Dianne Garcia began her career running a day camp for homeless children and teaching in marginalized communities. She served as an Associate Pastor at a Mennonite church for three years before planting Iglesia Cristiana Roca de Refugio in San Antonio, Texas, in April 2023 with a group of immigrant women who felt called to create a community of belonging and belovedness in the family of God for other immigrants. The church founded the ministry organization, Nuevos Vecinos, in February 2024 also led by Dianne, to create community together with immigrant families. Nuevos Vecinos supports families in crisis into stability so that they can become active participants again in their community. Dianne believes fundamentally in our Christian call to hospitality for all, and that hospitality requires us to be co-creators in the transformation of our world, adopting an attitude of humility, learning, and empowerment of others, particularly those who have been oppressed.  

Ruben Garcia is the Executive Director of Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas, a Catholic-based non-profit providing hospitality to migrants, refugees, and economically vulnerable people at the US-Mexico border. Over its 45-year history, Annunciation House has assisted more than 500,000 migrants, refugees and immigrants in a Gospel spirit of service and solidarity. Ruben Garcia co-founded Annunciation House in the late 1970s to address the urgent needs of migrants at the border and under his leadership, the organization has grown significantly, providing shelter, food, and legal assistance to thousands. Recognized for his contributions to humanitarian aid, Garcia continues to be a leading voice for humane immigration policies and the protection of human rights and dignity.

The Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT) is the state’s largest policy organization for and by trans Texans. Through education and advocacy, we aim to empower trans Texans and their loved ones. Since the organization’s founding ten years ago, TENT has grown from a rambunctious group of trans folks in Houston to the statewide and geographically diverse organization it is today. We create spaces for trans people of all backgrounds, faiths, and perspectives to ensure an inclusive and safe environment in our shared home state. Through our earnest and no-nonsense approach, we seek to create a Texas where trans people cannot only survive but thrive.