Babaamaajimowinan (Telling of news in different places)

Sixth Annual Facing Race Ambassador Awards Celebrates Minnesota Racial Equity Leaders on April 23, 2012

Free event features keynote speaker, Dr. Anton Treuer, cultural preservationist and Bemidji State University professor

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – On April 23, 2012, The Saint Paul Foundation will honor five anti-racism advocates at the sixth annual Facing Race Ambassador Awards. “The awards celebrate individuals working to end racism in Minnesota,” says Carleen Rhodes, president and CEO of The Saint Paul Foundation.

“With racial disparities on the rise, we believe it is critical to recognize leaders who strive to create greater equity in our community.”

The Ambassador Awards celebration, organized by the Facing Race We’re all in this together® initiative of The Saint Paul Foundation, was created to recognize anti-racism leaders and promote community-wide conversations about race.

The Ambassador Awards will honor Macalester College Professor Emeritus Mahmoud El-Kati and Steve Pederson, an executive leadership team member with Diversity Resource Action Alliance in Alexandria, Minn. “Mahmoud El-Kati and Steve Pederson have demonstrated remarkable leadership, personal sacrifice and commitment to making every member of our community feel safe, valued and respected,” says Rhodes. “We are honored to recognize their fight for racial equity.”

Along with Ambassador Award recipients El-Kati and Pederson, three additional individuals will receive honorable mentions for their efforts to end racial disparities. They include: Elizabeth A. Campbell, emerging business inclusion coordinator, Ryan Companies US, Inc.; Taneeza S. Islam, Esq., civil rights director, Center for American-Islamic Relations-MN Chapter; and T. Gregory Stavrou, executive director, Rochester Civic Theatre.

The award celebration also features a keynote address by Dr. Anton Treuer, a Bemidji State University professor and cultural preservationist working to restore the Ojibwe language as a means of healing the wounds of racism. Treuer is an award-winning author, community volunteer and racial equity advocate. One of his many accomplishments includes helping to launch Bemidji’s bilingual signage program, in which businesses post signs with both English and Ojibwe text.

Event Details

The Ambassador Awards celebration takes place on Monday, April 23, 2012 at the Crowne Plaza Riverfront, located at 11 Kellogg Boulevard East in downtown Saint Paul. A reception with appetizers begins at 6:00 p.m., followed by a one-hour program and awards ceremony starting at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are free; RSVPs are required, as seating is limited. RSVP at FacingRace.org or call 651.325.4265. $5.00 event parking is available in the Crowne Plaza and Capital City Plaza parking ramps. For more information visit FacingRace.org.

About Facing Race

Facing Race We’re all in this together® is an initiative of The Saint Paul Foundation that addresses

racism. The vision of Facing Race is to create a more equitable, just and open community where

everyone feels safe, valued and respected. Facing Race meets people and institutions where they are,

giving them the tools they need to discuss issues of race and racism, and moving them to take action to

end racism and discrimination. For more information, visit FacingRace.org.

About The Saint Paul Foundation

Since 1940, thousands of generous individuals committed to the Saint Paul area have made charitable

gifts to The Saint Paul Foundation. Today, the Foundation is the state’s largest community

foundation. Guided by the legacy of its earliest donors, the Foundation today helps donors achieve their

charitable giving goals and have long-lasting impact in the community. The Foundation is an affiliate

of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners. Learn more at saintpaulfoundation.org and mnpartners.org.

 

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