The Columbus Human Rights Commission is seeking nominations from the public for this year’s William R. Laws Human Rights Award.
Laws, who helped create the city’s human rights commission, was a strong advocate of civil rights in the 1960s while he was pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Columbus.
Nominees can include individuals or groups of people from the community, or a community organization that has made a substantial contribution to human equality in Columbus.
The most recent award was presented last year to former IUPUC vice chancellor Marwan Wafa and his daughter, Ala’a Wafa. The award presentation is in its 32nd year.
Nominees should have made a significant contribution by:
Improving relationships among all people
Increasing the sensitivity of one group toward another group
Educating people about the barriers or eliminating barriers for people of color, women, people with disabilities, religious minorities or others who have been treated unequally because of prejudice
Using existing means or creating new safeguards to protect the rights of others.
The award will be given at the Human Rights Commission’s 2017 annual dinner, for which details are forthcoming.
Nominations for the Laws Award should be submitted to the commission office in City Hall, 123 Washington St., by 5 p.m. Feb. 24. Nominations will be accepted via mail, personal delivery or email. A form is available at the commission’s office at City Hall or on the website at columbus.in.gov/human-rights.
Information: 812-376-2532 or [email protected].
