Skip to main content

KingCounty.gov is an official government website.

Official government websites use .gov
Website addresses ending in .gov belong to official government organizations in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Only share sensitive information on official, secure websites.
King County Washington home

Fain awards Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service to Gwen Allen-Carston

June 3, 2026

King County District 5 Councilmember Steffanie Fain on Tuesday awarded Gwen Allen-Carston with the Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service, an award that recognizes individuals whose work has answered the question asked by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “What are you doing for others?”

Carston was born and raised in Leesburg, Florida, and relocated to Washington State in April 1972. Over the course of more than five decades, she has become a dedicated and influential community leader in South King County. 

Since 2011, Carston has served as the Executive Director of the Kent Black Action Commission (KBAC), where she has been a driving force in advancing equity, civic engagement, and social justice. Under her leadership, KBAC has become a trusted community institution, organizing annual Juneteenth celebrations, candidate forums, Black Legislative Day participation, voter engagement efforts, youth and educational initiatives, and ActionUp community meetings that connect residents with elected officials and community resources. Through these efforts, she has helped amplify Black voices, foster civic participation, and build stronger relationships between community members and local government.

Carston has also been a tireless advocate for preserving and celebrating Black history in South King County. As a leading champion of the yearslong effort to extend the Martin Luther King Jr. Way street name into Renton and Kent, she worked with legislators to help secure unanimous approval from the Washington State Transportation Commission in December 2025 to install memorial signage along State Route 900 and State Route 515. The designation symbolically extends Seattle's Martin Luther King Jr. Way corridor through South King County, creating a permanent public tribute to Dr. King's legacy without officially changing street names. The memorial stands as a visible reminder of the values of equity, justice, and community that Dr. King championed throughout his life.

Through KBAC's educational programming, annual commemorations, and partnerships with local governments, Carston has helped create greater awareness of African American history and contributions throughout the region.

Carston has been married to Charles W. Carston since 2005. Charles serves as KBAC's Operations Manager and plays an instrumental role in supporting the organization's many community endeavors, including the KBAC CARES Project. Gwen Carston consistently acknowledges his steadfast partnership and unwavering support throughout the years.

This marks the 11th year that councilmembers have each selected someone from their district whose work embodies the spirit of King’s question.