2024 Community Leadership Award Recipient
The Community Leadership Award is presented to an individual who, based on his/her activities, has made fundamental and lasting contributions to human rights and to the advancement of social, economic, and political justice for all people, serving as a model of high moral qualities or ideals, or greatness of character.
Murray Holman is the Chairman of the STOP THE VIOLENCE COALITION, INC. since 2012, he has made it his mission to bring the organization back to the forefront of community involvement and peacemaking, and he is doing just that.
He keeps the members focused on the mission statement to “reduce violence in the city of Buffalo and its surrounding area.” Not many in the city are unfamiliar with the red and white octagon that is the logo of the STOP THE VIOLENCE COALITION, INC., superimposed on the bus, with Murray behind the wheel, visiting and talking with residents throughout the city of Buffalo.
In April 2028, the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, awarded him the Buffalo Division’s Director’s Community Leadership Award, recognizing dedicated and selfless individuals and organizations that make extraordinary contributions to their communities. He is now participating with the Sheriff’s Academy of Erie County, giving a voice for the residents with whom he works on a daily basis.
Murray also works with the Buffalo Police Department, assisting the Probation Department with notifications, to provide a sense of security and peaceful resolutions. He has worked with law enforcement throughout the district to assist in solving homicides and resolve criminal activity threatening the community.
He has spent a great deal of time collaborating with many organizations to implement community-based projects to promote peace and unity, to include working with MAD DADS, No More Tears, Buffalo United Front, Fathers and Back to Basics, combining those efforts into the unified organization called the Buffalo Peacemakers.
He prides himself in working with the GIVE (Guns Involved in Violence Eliminated) Program under the Buffalo Police Department, providing employment opportunities to community youth. In addition, he sits on the board of the Juneteenth Committee and is a member of the National Action Network.
Murray has been married for over 20 years and says he is able to do these things because of the love, support and prayers of his beautiful wife, Nona. He supports her yearly barbecue which feeds families of homicide victims and is open to the community. The cost to him? Once a month, take her to dinner and a movie.