Awards

2015

Father Joseph H. Biltz Award, from the Just Communities of Arkansas named in the honor of Catholic priest and social justice advocate Father Joseph H. Biltz. The award recognized the Interfaith Center’s contributions to social change and religious awareness work in Arkansas.

2016

Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Just Communities of Arkansas to Sophia Said and Jerry Adams of The Interfaith Center.

Peacemaker the Year Award from the Arkansas Coalition of Peace and Justice to Sophia Said on her work with developing Arkansas Peace Week.

Mimi Dortch Award from the InterfaithArk for Sophia’s efforts to ecumenical and interfaith endeavors in Central Arkansas.

2019

FBI’s Community Leader Award by the FBI Director Hays to Sophia Said for her work on promoting justice and raising awareness of hate crimes in the state of Arkansas.

2021

Steel-Hendrix Religious and Social Awareness Award established by The Marshall T. Steel Center for the Study of Religion and Philosophy at Hendrix College to Sophia Said for her significant contributions in the areas of religious education and social awareness.

2023

Brooks Hays Citizenship Award On Sunday February 12th, 2023, Second Baptist Church in Downtown Little Rock, honored Sophia with this prestigious Award.  The award ceremony was held during their Sunday morning worship service and followed by a lovely lunch reception in their fellowship hall. This is the first time a non-christian has received this award which shows how Sophia and her work truly crosses all religious boundaries. During the civil rights movement in the 1950s, Brooks Hays was a rare Southern leader who was a proponent of integration and racial equality. As a result, he lost his congressional seat to a segregationist write-in candidate, who announced his opposition to Hays only a week before the general election. Hays lost the election, but eventually won the principal that he steadfastly stood upon.