They’re described by friends as a “power couple” for their years of public advocacy and ability to complement each other on community and social justice work, including reforms tied to environmental matters and prison-related issues.

This month, Henry Curtis and Kat Brady are being honored as recipients of the 2016 Martin Luther King Jr. Peacemaker Award at the Church of the Crossroads in Honolulu. The 30th annual award and recognition celebration is slated for 7 p.m. Jan. 18.

James A. Howell, chairman of the selection committee, lauds the couple for their longtime commitment to green-minded living and efforts to help victims of flawed prosecution.

“One of the things I like about them is their longevity,” Howell said.“They’ve been out there a long time.”

For the past two decades, Curtis has served as executive director of the environmental group Life of the Land, and has represented it in several state Public Utilities Commission regulatory proceedings. He advocates for increasing use of rooftop solar projects, but not at the expense of passing costs onto the poor.

Known for his expertise on energy policy, Curtis has also provided testimony on ocean power, biofuels and alternative energy. Plus, according to the award section committee, he has served as a social watchdog in keeping the public informed on Next­Era’s planned purchase of Hawaiian Electric Industries.

Brady serves as coordinator for the Community Alliance on Prisons, whose members include educators, social activists and former inmates. Her group supports the use of DNA tests for inmates who proclaim their innocence as a means to correct flawed prosecution.

Brady is seeking a legislative change to provide restitution for those wrongfully convicted.

The selection committee praised Curtis and Brady for “guiding, mentoring and encouraging newer organizations” in promoting public interests and assisting underserved people.

Among the previous recipients of the award are Honolulu attorney Ellen Godbey Carson, who represented the National Council for Japanese American Redress on behalf of 120,000 Japanese-Americans seeking justice linked to prison camp internment during World War II; and Nancy Aleck of Hawaii’s People’s Fund, which provides grants to progressive grass-roots social change organizations in Hawaii.