RI for Community + Justice Honors 130 Leaders
Friday, November 02, 2012
Rhode Island for Community + Justice takes a gala night to celebrate 60 years of leadership in social justice.
On Wednesday, November 7th, at 5:30 p.m. in the Rhode Island Convention Center Rotunda, the RICJ Diamond Jubilee Awards Ceremony continues a tradition that for over half a century has honored inspirational philanthropists and community leaders from our state with the “Community & Justice Award”. The Co-Chairs for this event are the Executive Directors over 40 years: Charlotte Penn (serving from 1972-1993), Tony Maione (from 1993-2003) and Toby Ayers (from 2003 to today). This year, RICJ honors its legacy and organizational history by returning to the stage awardees from past years. In this landmark year, RICJ will also award a “secret honoree”, an iconic RI social activist whose identity will be revealed at the ceremony.
An award that spans a history of social justice
This award has been a part of the fabric of Rhode Island since 1952, when the Rhode Island Chapter of the National Conference for Christians and Jews was formed. Continuing as its name changed to the National Conference for Community and Justice, and continuing in 2005 when the independent nonprofit Rhode Island for Community & Justice was established, the award reflects 60 years of unbroken history. Despite many changes in the past 60 years, the organization has remained staunchly dedicated to the same core mission of fighting bias, bigotry and racism and promoting understanding and mutual respect between all races, religions and cultures. Honoring these 130 social justice advocates reflects what RICJ works towards: to transform the world into one where leaders and community members wield both hope and direct action, fueled by an inextinguishable passion to build common ground as a way of fighting injustice.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFor 2012: a secret awardee
This years’ secret awardee is an individual who embodies the mission. Over 20 years, they worked tirelessly as a part of the organization to strengthen intergroup understanding, and have dedicated much of their long life as a volunteer bringing the forces of enlightenment and education to bear on racial and religious prejudice. They created and led programs that helped Rhode Islanders achieve understanding in the midst of social tension, enabling individuals and groups to resolve differences and create communities based on respect and inclusion. Part of their living legacy is a fund dedicated in their name at the Rhode Island Foundation, used to provide scholarships for at-risk Rhode Island youth to attend RICJ’s Project RESPECT summer leadership institute – changing the lives and promoting the success of many over the years.
RICJ warmly invites the public to attend their annual event on Wednesday, Nov. 7th at 5:30 p.m. at the Rhode Island Convention Center, One Sabin Street, Providence, to watch Rhode Island history unfold by celebrating 60 years of building bridges of understanding. Tickets are $100 and scholarships are available. The event includes a buffet of delicious and culturally diverse food and a cash bar will be available.
THE HONOREES
Awards given through Rhode Island for Community & Justice
2012: Secret Honoree to be awarded at the event
2011: Michael Evora, Christopher Hamblett
2010: Gertrude Jones, James Purcell
2009: Howard Sutton, John Hazen White, Jr.
2008: Steven Issa, Keith Stokes
2007: Robert DiMuccio, Ruth Simmons and the Brown University Slavery and Justice Committee
2006: Joseph MarcAurele, Housing WorksRI - Anthony Maione, Ron Gallo, and Richard Godfrey •
2005: David Duffy
Awards given through the National Conference for Community and Justice, Rhode Island & Southeast NE Region
2004: John Warren, Very Rev. Maria DeCarvalho, Rabbi Wayne Franklin, Michelle Duso
2003: Dr. John Nazarian, Cheryl and Roland Snead
2002: Dr. John Bowen, Jessica Gonzalez, Katherine Montiero, Ann Szostak, Frederick Williamson, Sr.
2001: David Duffy, Armeather Gibbs, Alan Hassenfeld
2000: Dr. Robert Carothers, Lawrence Fish, Olga Noguera
1999: Rev. Naomi and Horace Craig, Shirley Gulvin, Norman Orodenker, Onna Moniz-John
1998: Sr. M. Therese Antone, H. Thomas Rowles, Thomas Whitten
1997: Gene Booth, B. Jae Clanton, Carol Grant
1996: Louis Fazzano, John Jordan, Joseph Newsome
1995: Frederick Lohrum, Patricia Martinez, Hon. Senator Claiborne Pell
1994: David Duffy, Richard Oster
1993: Hon. Lincoln Almond, Stephen and Jocelin Hamblett, Ann Hill, Arthur Robbins
Awards given through the National Conference for Christians and Jews
1992: Charles Goss, George Graboys, Eleanor McMahon
1991: Melvin Alperin, Rev. Richard Brown
1990: Alan and Stephen Hassenfeld, Erskine White •
1989: Sr. Lucille McKillop, James Winoker
1988: Dr. Edward Eddy, Rt. Rev. George N. Hunt, Michael Metcalf
1987: William Gilbane •1986: Arthur DeBlois, Chester Kirk
1985: Hon. Joseph Garrahy •
1984: Edwin Brown, Albert Ford, Gloria Lincourt
1983: Andrew Bell, Pauline Levine, Edward and Jean Mulligan, Hon. Florence Murray
1982: Sylvia Hassenfeld, Kathryn Owen, Henry Woodridge
1981: Hon. John Pastore •1980: Stuart Daniels, Most Rev. Louis Gilineau
1979: Andrew Hunt
1978: Maj. Gen. Leonard Holland, Very Rev. Thomas Peterson, Henry Sharp, Jr.
1977: Felix Mirando
1976: Martha Livingston, Robert Riesman
1975: Elwood Leonard, James Williams
1974: Clarence Gifford, Jr.
1973: Hon. Frank Licht
1972: Rev. M. Daniel Reilly
1971: Alexander Rumpler
1970: Stanley Grossman
1969: Rosella Switzer
1968: Frederick Williamson, Sr.
1967: Rev. Arthur Wilson
1966: William Edwards, Joseph Ress, Dennis Roberts •
1965: Dr. James Adams, Arthur Darman, Fr. Edward Flannery
1964: Rabbi Eli Bohnen, Rt. Rev. John Higgins, Most Rev. Russell McVinney
1963: Irving Fain
1962: Robert Crean
1961: Robert Goddard, Jr.
1960: T. Dawson Brown, Sen. Hiram Fong
1959: Max Grant, Hon. Jeremiah O’Connell, Raymond Trott
1958: George Hecht, Very Rev. Robert Slavin
1957: Dr. Percy Hodgson, Rabbi Theordore Lewis, Felix Mirando
1956: George Alpert, Dr. James Hanley, Dr. Barnaby Kenney
1955: Hon. Christian Herter
1954: Hon. Chester Bowles
1953: S. Foster Hunt, Edward Fay, Selma Fain Pilavin
