Virginia Humanities has announced the three recipients of the inaugural Commonwealth Humanities Award, recognizing individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the humanities and their impact on Virginia’s cultural landscape.

“The humanities help us all better understand ourselves and each other, a quality that’s important now more than ever,” said Matthew Gibson, executive director of Virginia Humanities. “We established the Commonwealth Humanities Award to recognize the great work being done to make the humanities a part of everyday life for Virginians.”

The award recipients will be honored during a special dinner and ceremony before the Commonwealth Lecture in the Humanities on April 10 at Altria Theater in Richmond.

The event, featuring New York Times columnist David Brooks, will include a conversation with journalist and Another View host Barbara Hamm Lee. Lynda Johnson Robb is being recognized for her advocacy in reading and literacy, children’s literature, and women’s history, particularly the Virginia Women’s Cultural History Project.

The project, a collaboration with Helen Bradshaw Byrd and a team of humanities consultants, culminated in the exhibition and book, “A Share of Honour.” Robb is the daughter of former President Lyndon B. Johnson and former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson and wife of former U.S. Sen. and Virginia Gov. Chuck Robb.

Dominion Energy will receive the Corporate or Foundation Excellence Award for its support of literature.

Elegba Folklore Society is being honored with the Community Partner Excellence Award for its commitment to offering African Diasporic cultural experiences.

Tickets for the public lecture and awards dinner are available at virginiahumanities.org.