| 2021 | St. Louis Business Journal “Champion for Diversity and Inclusion” Karen Kalish is founder of HOME WORKS! The Teacher Home Visit Program, an organization that trains, supports and pays teachers to go to the homes of their struggling students to get their families engaged in their children’s education. This parent participation improves attendance, classroom behavior, academic achievement, and parent engagement. |
| 2021 | FOCUS St. Louis What’s Right with the Region “Demonstrating Innovative Solutions” Award to HOME WORKS! The Teacher Home Visit Program Honorees have demonstrated innovation and vision in making the St. Louis region a better place to live, work, and visit. View the video on YouTube. |
| 2017 | NCCJ – 72nd Brotherhood Sisterhood Awards “…leaders who blaze a trail for inclusion, justice, and equity.” See post here. |
| 2016 | Missouri Lawyers Weekly – Women’s Justice Award 2016… “The Women’s Justice Awards recognize women across Missouri who have demonstrated leadership, integrity, service, sacrifice and accomplishment in improving the quality of justice and exemplifying the highest ideals of the legal profession.” |
| 2015 | Royal Vagabonds Leadership Award for Excellence in Civic Engagement |
| 2015 | Encore.org Purpose Prize Fellow for HOME WORKS! The Teacher Home Visit Program |
| 2012 | Greater St. Louis Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) District Friend of Education Award “For your contributions to Improve Missouri Public Schools” |
| 2012 | Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis Award of Distinction “In honor of being named as the MASA District 7 Friend of Education” |
| 2012 | The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. State Celebration Commission of Missouri Distinguished Organization Award to Cultural Leadership and Karen Kalish (Founder) |
| 2011 | City of Saint Louis — Community Service Award presented to HOME WORKS! |
| 2011 | United Way of Greater St Louis Education Express to HOME WORKS! “For your commitment to education in your region” |
| 2011 | Harvard Club of St. Louis — Community Service Award |
| 2010 | Missouri House of Representatives — Resolution honoring Karen’s retirement from Cultural Leadership and recognizing her lifetime of work |
| 2010 | City of Saint Louis — Certification of Recognition for Community Service at Dunbar Elementary |
| 2010 | Women of Achievement — Multicultural Leadership |
| 2009 | The City of Saint Louis — Community Service Award “for founding Cultural Leadership” |
| 2009 | Valley Park School District — Community Recognition Award 2009 |
| 2008 | Human Development Corporation of Metropolitan St. Louis Community Service Award “In recognition of your invaluable contributions to the St. Louis community” |
| 2007 | St Louis Public Schools Volunteer Award “In recognition of your valuable contribution to Students and Families” |
| 2004-2005 | Jewish Community Center The J Associates Mitzvah Star “For Extraordinary Volunteer Service to the St Louis Community” |
| 2004 | Gateway Institute of Technology Award presented for “support of the Gateway National Honor Society” |
| 2003 | St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Colonel Joseph J Mokwa, Chief of Police “In appreciation for your efforts to help improve reading and language skills of elementary school children through the Books and Badges program” |
| 2003 | Cote Brilliante School (SLPS) “In recognition and appreciation of time, talent, and treasure given to the children of Cote Brilliante school” |
| 1997 | Kovler Award Karen Kalish and Operation Understanding DC for “Exemplary contributions to the furthering of Black/Jewish relations by endowing Black and Jewish youth with the tools to build bridges between their communities and themselves” |
| 1996 | National Capital Chapter Public Relations Society of America David Apter Memorial Public Service Award “In recognition of a career in public relations that has exemplified the application of public relations skills in the public interest” |
| 1996 | National MultiCultural Institute Operation Understanding DC “For its innovative and inspiring program to promote interracial harmony, to encourage dialogue, and to build coalition between young people from the African American and Jewish American communities” |
| 1996 | American Jewish Congress – National Capital Region Conscience of the Community Award |