Amy Agbayani, an advocate for social justice and civil rights for more than 30 years, will be given the Hawaii Peacemaker Award tomorrow at a celebration of the life of Martin Luther King Jr.

The award, given annually by Church of the Crossroads, will be presented at a 7 p.m. program at the church at 1212 University Ave. The Rev. Geoffrey Black, the first African-American to be elected national president of the United Church of Christ, will be the guest speaker. He was chosen last year as general minister of the international Protestant denomination with about 1.1 million members. Kawaiahao Church, Kaumakapili Church, Central Union Church and several other Hawaii congregations are included.

Agbayani is the founding director of the Student Equity, Excellence and Diversity program at the University of Hawaii. She was formerly chairwoman of the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission and the Judicial Selection Commission and a director of the Hawaii Women's Caucus. She helped start community organizations, including the Inter-Agency Council for Immigrant Services and Na Loio Immigrant Rights and Public Interest Legal Center.

Agbayani has been recognized for her advocacy work in the past, including distinguished alumna awards from UH and the University of the Philippines, Honolulu YWCA outstanding achievement award and selection as a 2008 Living Treasure by the Honpa Hongwanji Betsuin Hawaii.