The McKnight Foundation and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits have named four Minnesotans as this year's Virginia McKnight Binger Unsung Heroes Award recipients.

Since 1985, the McKnight Foundation has recognized Minnesotans who have improved the quality of life for current and future generations with the Virginia McKnight Binger Awards in Human Service. Since 2015, MCN has partnered with McKnight to coordinate and present the Unsung Hero Awards, honoring individuals doing life-changing work in communities across Minnesota with little or no recognition.

The recipients include Angela Edwards, founder of the nonprofit Education Explosion, where she works with students in northern Minneapolis; Abdirizak "Zack" Mahboub of Willmar, who has worked to build bridges between longstanding residents, newcomers, and immigrants; Millicent Simenson of Bemidji, an Anishinaabe birth worker and co-founder of the nonprofit Mewinzha Ondaadiziike Wiigaming; and Jon Vang of St. Paul, who draws on personal experiences with the criminal justice system to take leadership roles in in prison re-entry work across the state of Minnesota and social justice organizations in the community, including ManForward, the Headwaters Foundation for Justice.

Each of the 2017 cohort will receive a cash prize of $10,000 and be honored at a private luncheon in Minneapolis on September 26, 2017. Award recipients will also be recognized at the 2017 MCN Annual Conference on October 12 in St. Paul.

"Each year the newest recipients of the Virginia McKnight Binger Unsung Hero awards remind us how many remarkable, inspiring, and little known but amazing people are among us," said MCN executive director Jon Pratt. "This special group contributes greatly to their own communities, and their example sparks incredible contributions from others. These are results worth knowing about and celebrating."

(Photo credit: Kevron)