Jamaican actress Sheryl Lee Ralph was recently honoured by Harvard Foundation with the 2026 Cultural Impact Award during the university’s 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Festival.

“Thank you to Harvard and the Harvard Foundation for such a beautiful evening at the 40th Annual Cultural Rhythms Festival, and for the incredible honor of receiving the 2026 Cultural Impact Award. To all the students, performers, and organisers, thank you for reminding us that culture connects us, inspires us, and carries us forward,” Ralph said in a captioned post on Instagram.

According to Harvard in a publication on its website, the award recognised artistic career spanning more than 40 years, and Ralph’s advocacy through the DIVA Foundation, which promotes HIV/AIDS awareness, health equity, LGBTQ+ rights, and the empowerment of women and girls.

“The greatest way to spend your life is becoming a better you, because the better you are to yourself is the best you can be to everyone else,” Ralph was quoted saying by the university. “Be good. Be kind. Share that with other people, because we are living in times where people need better from each other.”