Local activists honored Saturday at Free Press Salon

The event brought us together and gave everyone a sense of community, Free Press Board member Winie Wirth remarked on Saturday, November 14 after the 2026 Free Press Awards Salon. Over sixty community members joined the Free Press to honor three local activists and a community organization at the annual event.

The Columbus Free Press has been around for 56 years and the Board has held "Libby" awards ceremonies yearly since 1998. The event drew over 10 former Free Press Awardees to celebrate the 2026 activists.

Mark Stansbery, longtime Board member, emceed the event and after welcoming guests, led a moment of silence for one former awardee and much loved and missed community member, Tim Wagner who recently passed.

The Ohio Immigrant Alliance (OIA) received the first award - for Outstanding Community Organization. Three members of the OIA accepted the award: Lynn Tramonte, Demba Ndiath and Yolanda Zepeda. During Lynn's talk, she noted she felt like she was among family. The Free Press covers most their immigrant support and resource activities in Ohio and their monitoring and reporting on ICE actions, detention centers and abuses. 

The second award was the new Free Press Reporter of the Year Award, honoring Mahmoud El-Yousseph, a Free Press writer who covers Palestinian, MIddle Eastern and other international issues. Connie Hammond, former awardee and longtime peace activist presented the award. She spoke at first about atrocities in Gaza, and she had witnessed the area firsthand herself in past. Mahmoud recounted his journey as a writer: "...I have always written my articles and letters to the editor with the intention of informing readers, holding public officials accountable, and bringing attention to people and stories that might otherwise go unheard. I believe forceful writing gets attention. Fair writing earns respect. Accurate writing builds trust. I also believe every voice deserves dignity and to be heard. I am 75 years old. I served my country, and I am still fighting to make sure overlooked voices are heard. I hope to continue using my words to contribute to a more informed, just, and compassionate society."

Michel Coconis received the 2026 Free Press "Libby" Award for Lifetime Achievement in Community Activism. Gary Witte, former Free Press Board member and awardee, presented the award. Michel, a social worker and educator,  stated she was an activist without a single cause – she’s been involved in women’s rights, environmentalism, anti-death penalty advocacy, independent media, and much more. In addition to her many causes, she had been instrumental in developing Free Press and WGRN community radio media. 

Mike Gruber, former awardee and current Comfest organizer, presented the Free Press  Founder “Libby” Award to Steve Molk. He recounted how he and Steve were arrested on several occasions in the past. Michel, Mahmoud and Steve compared the number of times each were arrested – it was Michel Coconis with the most. Steve was awarded for being one of the early Free Press writers back in the 1970s and 1980s, writing mostly about antii-nuke activities. 

Guests mentioned how much they enjoyed the event and how it was moving and inspiring.