ASU graduate student receives MLK Servant-Leadership Award

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An ASU graduate student has received the 2025 Arizona State University Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Servant-Leadership Award.

Cordero Holmes, a graduate student at Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions, is the student recipient of this year’s award. Holmes, who was formerly incarcerated, now mentors youth and fights injustice against Indigenous peoples. He joined “Arizona Horizon” to talk about what he does that reflects the award.

The MLK Servant-Leadership Award is awarded every year and recognizes community leaders, ASU faculty and students for their efforts in carrying on the servant-based work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Throughout everything he has put work into, he says he is most inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message on the importance of serving others.

This is not the first time Holmes has received an award similar to the MLK Servant-Leadership Award. In 2023, he was awarded the Living the Dream Honor Award from the City of Phoenix.

The leadership aspect of Holmes’ life came from the times of being incarcerated and being told from others within the facility that he had a second chance, Holmes said.

“It was through the books that I found and saw myself in the lives of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Malcolm X, the Russell Means, the Angela Davidsons,” Holmes said.

The book that affected him the most was “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” because Holmes said Malcolm X lived a similar life that he lived. He also mentioned he wanted to continue to evolve just like Malcolm X did over the course of his life.

Now, Holmes is the Director of Operations of a non-profit organization called “Progress Pushers Arizona.” He says the organization mentors youth in a juvenile detention facility and those within alternative schools within Phoenix.

“I share with them all the ways that I know can happen if they continue down that path,” Holmes said.

Cordero Holmes, Student Recipient, 2025 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Servant-Leadership Award

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