Texas County judge wins national award for COVID-19 response

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, who pushed for restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and the founder of a group that seeks to use data to address systemic racism are the winners of this year's John F. Kennedy New Frontier Awards.

President Kennedy's grandson, Jack Schlossberg, announced this year's recipients as Hidalgo and Data for Black Lives founder Yeshimabeit Milner.

The awards were created to honor Americans under age 40 who are changing their communities and the country with their commitment to public service.

Schlossberg said Hidalgo, a Democrat who serves as Harris County's chief administrative official, "boldly" led throughout the pandemic by "implementing important health measures before they were popular, or even acceptable."

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In the video, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo painted a grim picture for people living in under-served communities who also are hesitant to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

Kennedy's grandson said Milner's "lifelong commitment to social change is bringing political organizing into the 21st century, using technology and data to fight racial bias and discrimination."