Honorable Service: African-American Presidential Citizens' Medal Winners

A look at past and present awardees.

Pamela Green-Jackson - Congratulations to the new class of Presidential Citizens' Medal winners. Americans are chosen based on extraordinary service to our nation, and it is the second-highest civilian honor. Here's a look at past and present awardees. Pamela Green-Jackson, of Albany, Georgia, is the founder and CEO of the Youth Becoming Healthy Project, a nonprofit organization with a mission to reduce childhood obesity. YBH was created in memory of Pamela Green-Jackson's only brother, Bernard Green, who died in 2004 from obesity-related illnesses. (Photo: Courtesy of Pamela Green-Jackson)

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Pamela Green-Jackson - Congratulations to the new class of Presidential Citizens' Medal winners. Americans are chosen based on extraordinary service to our nation, and it is the second-highest civilian honor. Here's a look at past and present awardees. Pamela Green-Jackson, of Albany, Georgia, is the founder and CEO of the Youth Becoming Healthy Project, a nonprofit organization with a mission to reduce childhood obesity. YBH was created in memory of Pamela Green-Jackson's only brother, Bernard Green, who died in 2004 from obesity-related illnesses. (Photo: Courtesy of Pamela Green-Jackson)

Patience Lehrman - Patience Lehrman is the national director of Project SHINE (Students Helping in the Naturalization of Elders). SHINE engages college students and older adults to provide language and health education, citizenship and civic participation lessons to immigrant communities. Lehrman, an immigrant from Cameroon, also mentors inner-city high school students and provides free meals to low-income children in the summer. (Photo: Courtesy of Patience Lehrman)

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Patience Lehrman - Patience Lehrman is the national director of Project SHINE (Students Helping in the Naturalization of Elders). SHINE engages college students and older adults to provide language and health education, citizenship and civic participation lessons to immigrant communities. Lehrman, an immigrant from Cameroon, also mentors inner-city high school students and provides free meals to low-income children in the summer. (Photo: Courtesy of Patience Lehrman)

Janice Jackson - Janice Jackson is the program director of Women Embracing Abilities Now, a nonprofit organization that mentors women and girls with disabilities. Jackson, who resides in Baltimore, Maryland, also founded two support groups for people with disabilities, We Are Able People and Women on Wheels and Walking. (Photo: Courtesy of WEAN)

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Janice Jackson - Janice Jackson is the program director of Women Embracing Abilities Now, a nonprofit organization that mentors women and girls with disabilities. Jackson, who resides in Baltimore, Maryland, also founded two support groups for people with disabilities, We Are Able People and Women on Wheels and Walking. (Photo: Courtesy of WEAN)

Ida Martin - Ida Martin created Bluffton Self Help to assist working families, disabled residents and senior citizens in the Bluffton, South Carolina, area when they suffered a financial crisis. In 2010, the organization provided food to 11,600 people and clothing to almost 9,000 people. She received the medal in 2011. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Ida Martin - Ida Martin created Bluffton Self Help to assist working families, disabled residents and senior citizens in the Bluffton, South Carolina, area when they suffered a financial crisis. In 2010, the organization provided food to 11,600 people and clothing to almost 9,000 people. She received the medal in 2011. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Daisy M. Brooks - Daisy M. Brooks, of Chicago, Illinois, started Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center for young mothers and their infants in North Chicago. She received the medal in 2010.  (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Daisy M. Brooks - Daisy M. Brooks, of Chicago, Illinois, started Daisy's Resource and Developmental Center for young mothers and their infants in North Chicago. She received the medal in 2010.  (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Cynthia M. Church - Cynthia M. Church founded Sisters on a Mission, Inc., an African-American breast cancer support network in Wilmington, Delaware. She received the Presidential Citizens' Medal in 2010. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Cynthia M. Church - Cynthia M. Church founded Sisters on a Mission, Inc., an African-American breast cancer support network in Wilmington, Delaware. She received the Presidential Citizens' Medal in 2010. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Myrtle Faye Rumph - Myrtle Faye Rumph, of Inglewood, California, is committed to reducing gun violence in her community.  She received the Presidential Citizens' Medal in 2010 for her tireless work in changing the lives of at-risk youth. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Myrtle Faye Rumph - Myrtle Faye Rumph, of Inglewood, California, is committed to reducing gun violence in her community.  She received the Presidential Citizens' Medal in 2010 for her tireless work in changing the lives of at-risk youth. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Muhammad Ali - In 2005, Muhammad Ali was awarded the Presidential Citizens' Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush. (Photo: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images for Starkey Hearing Foundation)

Colin Powell - In 1989, President Ronald Reagan awarded Colin Powell the Presidential Citizens Medal. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Colin Powell - In 1989, President Ronald Reagan awarded Colin Powell the Presidential Citizens Medal. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Dorothy Height - Dorothy Height was honored with the Presidential Citizens' Medal in 1989 for distinguished service. (Photo: Wikicommons)

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Dorothy Height - Dorothy Height was honored with the Presidential Citizens' Medal in 1989 for distinguished service. (Photo: Wikicommons)