The City of Minneapolis will honor 14 outstanding individuals who have donated time, talent and energy at the 2001 Minneapolis Awards today. Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton and MPR host Cathy Wurzer will present the awards to these distinguished recipients at a ceremony at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The City received many fine nominations and after a thorough and difficult review a selection committee consisting of the City staff and community members chose the following winners of the 2001 Minneapolis Awards. Please join us in congratulating the winners of the 2001 Minneapolis Awards.
Richard (Dick) Clark Little - Winner of the Special Recognition Award Dick Little has dedicated his life and work to making Minneapolis, and its public schools, a better place to life, work and play. A long-time advocate for affordable housing, quality education and racial equity, and an early proponent of "Study Circle" democracy, he has been a powerful resource for involving all stakeholders in creating solutions that work for the whole community. He continues to volunteer, teach and travel all over the country sharing the "Minneapolis message" of building community and neighborhoods for all. Richard Amin Amos - Once homeless himself, he has overcome a trouble past to raise his daughter and become a voice for those without homes and often without support from society. As the Housing Director for St. Stephens Housing Services, he serves as an advocate for the homeless and works hard to create affordable housing especially housing for ex-offenders. Margo Fluegel Ashmore - Co-owner and publisher of the Northeaster and North News newspapers and an active community volunteer who has been building community through volunteerism, art, communications and support of local and small businesses. She coordinates the "Art-A-Whirl" art festival and works closely with Central Avenue revitalization projects including the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design project around Lowry and Central Avenue. Mary Margaret Bell - A long time volunteer at the "Store-to-Door," Margaret has been quietly working to ensure that elderly and disabled residents get their shopping needs met for more than 17 years. She also volunteers at the St. Olaf of Minneapolis Catholic Church. Ava Brown - Founded Violence Prevention Initiative to help families heal after death and injury to loved one as a result of street violence. Along with her son Bobby Brown, she also founded the Bobby Brown Beyond the Court youth basketball clinic that also delivers the message about dangers of guns and street violence. Doug Davis - Former Drama, Economics, Civics and History teacher at South High who before his retirement helped shape thousands of young lives and now works tirelessly for seniors, serving as an advocate, speaking for and influencing legislation that has helped seniors and retired teachers not only in Minneapolis but state-wide. Michael Gramling - A community volunteer who has been active in the Powderhorn Park neighborhood working closely with the community and youth. His contributions to the Lake Street Cultural Festival and to the Bloomington/Cedar/Lake Commercial Association are many. Carol K. Johnson - A long time Minneapolis environmentalist, the former City Council member continues to fight hard against threats to the City's natural beauty and was instrumental in passing legislation to protect Minneapolis' environment. She also uses her personal experience to raise awareness of breast cancer and works to increase investigation of environmental carcinogens. Michael O'Keefe - A life time of public service which has seen him championing affordable housing, the arts, preserving the environment, access to higher education and welfare-to-work programs that respect the dignity of the poor. His career has been, and continues to be, based on a commitment to justice and the empowerment of citizens. Gregory Owens - A North Minneapolis volunteer, mentor, fundraiser, father and coach, he is known for his philosophy of team building that has touched thousands of youth, many of whom have gone on to college and successful lives. He continues to remain active in youth programs on the northside donating his time and wisdom teaching new coaches and kids the right way to play the game of life. Debra Petersen and Kristie Roedl - Two dedicated parents who recognized the need for safe, welcoming and accessible playground and fought hard to make the Hiawatha Park playground happen. They worked tirelessly to raise funds, educate parents, teachers and park staff about playground accessibility and safety. The Hiawatha improvements are becoming a model of safety and accessibility for children whether or not they have a disability. Dabala Rikitu - Founder and executive director of Parents and Elders of Africa Common Efforts (PEACE), this former East African immigrant has worked hard to bring together immigrants who come to Minneapolis from a wide and diverse range of East African nations and cultures. Known for his coalition building efforts, he has enabled East African families to benefit from social services to new immigrants and facilitated the development of healthy relationships between the immigrant communities and the neighborhoods where they now live. Jay D. Wells - A Minneapolis fire fighter who spends countless volunteer hours beyond his regular shifts to give fire safety presentations to children and youth in schools, childcare centers and the community. His classroom presentations go beyond fire safety to include the importance of making good choices to a young person's self-empowerment and a successful future. Vaman Pai Communications Department City of Minneapolis 350 South 5th Street - Room 301M Minneapolis, MN 55415-1300 612.673.2123 952.365.6588 (pager) [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
