Memo - Human Rights Award Winners
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Memorandum
To:
Hopkins City Council
Jim Genellie
From:
Date:
Subject:
November 29, 2001
Human Rights Award Winners
Below is information about the winners of the 2001 Human Rights Awards.
Lana Sierra
Lana Sierra served as the Chair of the Hopkins Heritage Celebration Planning Committee. Lana
provided the leadership needed to make the idea of a Heritage Celebration into a reality. The
Heritage Celebration was held as a part ofthe traditional Hopkins Raspberry Festival. The Heritage
Celebration brought together a number of vendors of various ethnic foods, including a local
Mexican food vendor who had previously not participated in Raspberry Festival. Other vendors
included diverse performers and entertainers. All of these activities contributed to making the
Raspberry Festival feel more like a multicultural celebration.
Lana Sierra put in many hours to coordinate Heritage Celebration activities. The Human Rights
Commission believes that the Heritage Celebration would not have taken place without her
leadership efforts. The community of Hopkins benefited from the Heritage Celebration. The
celebration set the tone for a city that celebrates and embraces diversity. It provided education about
different heritages and nationalities to the residents of Hopkins. It helped make the entire Raspberry
Festival more welcoming to members of different cultures.
Fran Hesch
In years of what she has termed "servant-leadership" Fran has embraced diversity, mutual respect,
and the principles of equal opportunity. Her selfless activities have been evideNt for years - from her
involvement in Early Childhood Family Education at Harley Hopkins Family Center to two terms
with the Hopkins City Council. She was active in the start ofthe Hopkins Center for the Arts and is
currently an "advocate in action" as project coordinator for the Depot Coffee House.
The Human Rights Commission believes that Fran Hesch is deserving of the Human Rights Award
because she lives her belief of sharing her time and talent, encouraging others and giving to the
community.
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Ramsgate Apartments
Ramsgate Apartments is sponsoring a program for immigrant tenants that provides instruction in
English as well as basic daily living skills. Ramsgate is working in conjunction with Adult Options
in Education, a program that is part ofthe Hopkins School District. A teacher comes to Ramsgate
several days each week to work with residents on their English skills. Guest speakers give
instructions about using appliances and teach other skills necessary for living in apartment
complexes.
Ramsgate Apartments feels that this program helps reduce the isolation that immigrants can
experience living in a new country. The Human Rights Commission believes that this program, by
assisting immigrants in making the transition to living in the United States, helps foster a
community that embraces diversity. This program also assists the City of Hopkins by helping
immigrants fit into the community and to learn the basic skills necessary to succeed.
Mizpah United Church of Christ
The congregation ofMizpah Church is currently involved in a yearlong "open and affirming"
process. The process is designed to help the Mizpah congregation welcome people from all races,
cultures, sexual orientations, and physical and mental disabilities. A series of guest speakers and
programs are designed to assist the congregation in learning about diversity issues.
The Human Rights Commission believes that this program helps foster a community that embraces
diversity, mutual respect, and principles of equal opportunity. This program also assists the City of
Hopkins by helping residents accept the diverse cultures and individuals who are increasingly
making Hopkins home.
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