Hands, Hearts, and Dignity: A Decade of the John F. Steinfirst Community Award
- Fred Finch
- Oct 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 24
This fall marked the tenth anniversary of the John F. Steinfirst Community Award, a tradition that honors bold leadership and advocacy for equity, mental health, and family well-being across California.
Each year, the award celebrates an individual whose work embodies compassion and community—values championed by the late John F. Steinfirst, whose passing came just a day before this year’s ceremony. The milestone carried special significance as our community gathered to honor a decade of impact and reflect on the shared vision of both John and our current President and CEO Tom Alexander, who has announced his retirement after 22 remarkable years of stewardship and service.
At the heart of every ceremony has been Pam Consear, mosaic artist and founder of All Hands Art, whose pieces have symbolized connection and compassion through the language of color, glass, and light.
A former Oakland Public Schools teacher, Pam transitioned from the classroom to the arts in 2007, “accidentally” becoming a muralist through her work at schools across the city—including Bret Harte Middle School, right next door to Fred Finch’s Oakland campus. Her public art caught the attention of Fred Finch staff, leading to several mosaic installations on campus, including a collaborative piece in the Rising Harte Wellness Center reception area made with tiles painted by youth and staff.
When the idea for a community award emerged, Pam was invited to design the very first one.
“I think it was really cool of Tom and the Fred Finch staff to come up with the idea of a custom-designed art piece rather than an acrylic plaque,” she said. “I hope the recipient feels truly seen—that their life and work are honored in something that’s one of a kind.”
From the beginning, Pam and the award’s founders agreed that hands and hearts would serve as the recurring motif—a visual “through line” across all ten years.
“Each design is different,” she explained, “but those elements are constant. They connect every honoree’s story.”
Her creative process begins with research: learning about the honoree, studying their work, and drawing inspiration from their values and passions.
“They don’t know me,” she laughed, “but for a month or two, I’m living with their story while I create. When I meet them at the event, it’s like finally meeting someone I already know.”
Some awards have carried emotional resonance. Pam recalls Dr. Prince White, a recipient honored posthumously.
“He had risen from homelessness to found an organization serving youth in similar situations,” she said. “That year, I used reclaimed wood from my own home construction—literally pulled from the scrap heap—because his life was about transforming what others might discard into something beautiful.”
For Senator Nancy Skinner, Pam designed hands holding the state of California, with a heart placed over Oakland and poppies blooming along the edges. For Carroll Schroeder, known for his humor and wordplay, she created hands at a typewriter with hearts rising from the keys. And for Dr. Rhea Boyd, a young pediatrician and advocate for children’s health, she shaped a mosaic of hands holding a stethoscope and a child-sized heart—an award that became the first piece of art Dr. Boyd and her husband ever owned together.
“She was so touched,” Pam remembered. “They were expecting their first child, and this became their first piece of art. That was pretty special.”
When asked to describe the spirit of the John F. Steinfirst Community Award in one word, Pam paused only briefly.
“Dignity,” she said. “Seeing the dignity in all people, no matter their circumstances. That’s what this award has always been about.”
As this tenth year draws the curtain on a decade of artistry and advocacy, it’s hard not to feel the quiet power of these pieces—each one a mosaic of community, care, and resilience.
Through the vision of Pam Consear and the leadership of those who believed in honoring service through art, the John F. Steinfirst Community Award has become more than an annual recognition. It is a living testament to compassion, creativity, and the belief that every act of dignity strengthens the fabric of community.
As we celebrate this milestone year, we also honor the spirit of leadership that has guided Fred Finch through decades of growth and impact. Tom’s dedication to uplifting others and championing the values embodied in this award has shaped not only our programs, but our people. His legacy, like John’s, reminds us that the truest measure of leadership is found in the lives made brighter by compassion, vision, and care.
For more of Pam’s work, visit AllHandsArt.com
A Decade in Mosaic: Past Honorees (2016–2025)
