Celebrating Community Service, Human Rights, and Social Justice
Last night we had the awards dinner for the recipients of the Josie R. Johnson Human Rights and Social Justice Award and the Outstanding Community Service Award.
The Josie R. Johnson Award was established in honor of Dr. Josie R. Johnson in recognition of her lifelong contributions to human rights and social justice, which guided her work with the civil rights movement, years of community service, and tenure at the University of Minnesota. The award seeks to honor one University of Minnesota faculty or staff member and one student who, through their principles and practices, exemplify Dr. Johnson’s standard of excellence in creating respectful and inclusive living, learning, and working environments. This year the awardees were
- Ora Hokes, a community activist and non-traditional student, and
- Grant Anderson, a coordinator of residential life.
Descriptions of their contributions can be found here.
The Outstanding Community Service Award recognizes outstanding contributions and accomplishments faculty, staff, or community members who have devoted their time and talent to make substantial enduring contributions to the community and improving public life and the well being of society. Such contributions and accomplishments must result in long-term and lasting changes for the public good and demonstrate an unusual commitment to the University and the greater Minnesota community. This year's winners are
- Vernon B. Cardwell, Morse-Alumni Distinguished Teaching Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
- David Feinberg, Associate Professor, Department of Art
- Corliss Outley, Assistant Professor, School of Kinesiology
- Mark Umbreit, Professor, School of Social Work
- Jacquelyn Zita, Associate Professor, Department of Women’s Studies
I have recently written about Feinberg and Zita; descriptions of the work of all awardees can be found here.
The work of the recipients with their community partners is remarkable, but equally remarkable is the spirit of recognition and celebration at the awards ceremony. Public engagement work in the university tends to be viewed as a distant third, behind research and teaching. The awards dinner gives us an opportunity to gather with like-minded colleagues, family, friends, and partners to recognize that this work is not isolated or unappreciated. Lots of people are in the room, including a reasonable number of high-level university administrators. Conversations and energy run strong. The stories told by the recipients testify not just to their warm hearts and strong values, but also to their high academic standards put to use in innovative ways for community betterment. The diversity of these stories tells us of the many ways in which the university serves society.
The university is itself a community, and our gathering to celebrate engagement provides an important opportunity to renew and extend the bonds of our community.