On Thursday, March 23, 2017, the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, Inc. hosted its 5th Annual Luncheon to honor organizations and individuals for their exceptional work focused on diversity and inclusion.
A committee from the Urban League reviewed submissions and selected those recipients that they considered most worthy.
Two new important awards were presented, one to an organization and the other to an individual. The Youth Award went to Project Outreach and Prevention, organized in Northwest Indiana to provide activities for young people struggling with social, racial and economic problems.
The first- ever Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to the former Mayor of Gary, Richard Gordon Hatcher, whose history as the first African American to be elected mayor of a major American city is well-known. Hatcher was recognized for his outstanding vision, dedication and lifelong commitment to advance diversity and inclusion. In making the award, Urban League presenter Taghi Arshami said “He was and is to this day an iconic figure, a man of quiet dignity. Over his lifetime he has been a part of every struggle for diversity and inclusion, beginning with his political career in the Gary City Council to his continuing dedication to achieving justice in the city of Gary, Northwest Indiana and the nation.”
Guest speakers Shari Runner, President and CEO of the Chicago Urban League and Dr. Andrea Lyons, Dean of the Valparaiso Law School spoke strongly about the need to confront racism wherever it exists and to engage in social justice education and activities. According to Runner, “Without question, the Urban League of Northwest Indiana has done a monumental job of shining a light on racial inequities and building a bridge to diversity and inclusion … But that is a bridge whose infrastructure is being weakened by persistent racism.”
The Community Impact Award went to the Women United of LaPorte County for their outstanding dedication to tackling the issues of poverty in a county where 37% of persons living there struggle with financial instability.
A Leadership Award was given to LaPorte Circuit Court Judge, Thomas J. Alevizos and another went to the Racial Justice Taskforce of the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Hobart. Each was honored for promoting diversity and inclusion on a local and regional level.
Finally, the Workplace Diversity Award was presented to the Northwest Indiana Community Action group whose mission is to develop innovative strategies to help people live independently.
The Urban League of Northwest Indiana Diversity Awards Luncheon is an important opportunity for businesses, organizations and individuals throughout the region to demonstrate and be recognized for the ways in which they make diversity an asset.
For more information on the Urban League of NWI, please visit the website at www.ulofnwi.org or phone 219-887-9621.