The Columbus Human Rights Commission is currently seeking nominations from the public for the William R. Laws Human Rights Award. The award recognizes a group of members from the community, a community organization, or an individual who has made a substantial contribution to the community of Columbus in any area(s) of human and civil rights, equity, inclusion, belonging, and social justice.
The most recent award was presented to Fr. Clem Davis. Other Laws Award recipients include Larry Perkinson, Dr. Marwan Wafa, Gil Palmer, Sherry Stark, Bob Pitman, Tracy Souza, Tom Harmon, Tim Solso, Laura Leonard, Sondra Bolte, Madelynn Smith, Benjamin “Mickey” King, and J. Irwin Miller.
Criteria for the award includes making a significant contribution to the community by doing one or more of the following:
- Improving relationships among all people
- Increasing the sensitivity of one group toward another group
- Educating people about the barriers or eliminating the barriers facing people of color, women, persons with disabilities, religious minorities, or others who have been historically treated unequally because of prejudice
- Using existing means or creating new safeguards to protect the rights of others
Nominations for the Laws Award should be submitted to the Human Rights Commission by April 25 at 5 p.m. Nominations will be accepted via mail to City Hall, 123 Washington St., personal delivery, or e-mail to [email protected]. Forms are available at City Hall as well as electronically on their website, www.columbus.in.gov/human-rights/programs-events/laws-award/.
For questions or more information, contact the Human Rights Commission at 812-376-2532 or by e-mail at [email protected].
