Councilmember von Reichbauer Awards Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service to Estela Ortega of South King County

June 17, 2025

King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer on Tuesday awarded Estela Ortega with the Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service, an award that recognizes individuals whose work has answered the question asked by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “What are you doing for others?”  

“As the Co-Founder and Executive Director of El Centro de la Raza, The Center for People of All Races, Estela Ortega has responded to Dr. MLK Jr.’s question through her unwavering commitment over five decades to bringing people together and creating spaces where they can celebrate their unique backgrounds,” said Councilmember von Reichbauer. 

Under her leadership, El Centro has grown into a vital hub for social justice, providing human services, education, housing, economic development, cultural enrichment, and advocacy. In 2024 alone, the organization served over 21,333 individuals through 43 unique programs, with a staff of 215 and 752 volunteers contributing over 13,000 hours.

This marks the 10th year that councilmembers have each selected someone from their district whose work embodies the spirit of King’s question.