Antiguan and Barbudan community leader Dr. Elaine Simon is set to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award during the Unsung Hero Celebration in Baltimore later this week, recognizing more than four decades of community service and leadership.

The award ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, March 7, 2026 , at the War Memorial Building in Baltimore , where Simon will be honored for her longstanding contributions to the Caribbean diaspora and the wider Baltimore community.

Simon migrated to the United States from Antigua and Barbuda in 1969 and has lived in Baltimore since 1973. Over the years, she has built a reputation as an entrepreneur, community advocate and cultural organizer, helping to promote Caribbean heritage and unity in the city.

She is the organizing founder of the Baltimore Association of Caribbean Organizations (BACO) and serves as president and event planner for the Caribbean American Carnival Association of Baltimore, Inc. , playing a key role in organizing cultural events and strengthening ties among Caribbean communities.

Simon has also held several civic roles, including serving as a community liaison for a Maryland state senator and participating on multiple boards and advisory bodies focused on community development, legal aid and education.

Her decades of service have earned her numerous accolades, including the Thurgood Marshall Award from the NAACP and Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister’s Distinguished Service Award.

Organizers say the upcoming Lifetime Achievement Award highlights Simon’s enduring impact and recognizes her more than 40 years of commitment to community service.