Office for Institutional Equity & Access

MLK Community Celebration 2023 Humanitarian Awards

Individuals or groups that live the idea of MLK Every Day

They inspire us and are passionate to care for others and live with service. People who incorporate service in their lives in ways that are unexpected and filled with care. All age ranges accepted.

Living MLK Every Day in their mission:
Beloved Community “Our goal is to create a beloved community and. this will require a qualitative change in our souls. as well as a quantitative change in our lives.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.

 

Qualifications

  • Unrecognized Impact / Unrecognized Champions
    • Examples of organization that currently serve our community in ways that are well known and recognized include United Way, Catholic Charities, Lutheran Services, and TriCap. We all know and greatly appreciate their contributions and impact.
  • Innovative Service – Everybody Can Serve and Community Healing
    • Examples include Grant writing, Organizing events, Fundraising for a Cause, Use of voice to bring attention to injustice (through Social Media, Community Organizing, etc.), Changing the way businesses are run.
  • Community Outreach
    • Working with Communities in need (examples include LGBTQ, Advocacy, homelessness, children/youth, sexual assault victims/survivors, Indigenous people, African Americans, Latinx, Somali, Asian, etc.)
  • Local Focus
    • Engaging in community outreach/service within central Minnesota

Please note, winners from 2022 cannot be nominated for 2023.

 

Nomination Process

Submitting a nomination

  • All nominations must be received by December 2, 2022.
  • Nominations can be submitted in a variety of formats, including:
    • Online Form
    • Electronic nominations sent to: care@stcloudstate.edu
      • Such as video or audio submissions
    • Mailed in nominations sent to: CARE Office, St. Cloud State University, 720 4th Ave S, St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498
      • Such as handwritten letters
         

Nominate An MLK HumAnitarian 

 

Notifying award winners

  • Winners will be notified in advance of the event, which takes place on January 6, 2023.
  • Winners will be invited to attend the event to accept their award.

Past Recipients

2022:

  • Dennis Whipple – for his foundational vision, passion, and leadership at GREAT Theatre, and building an engaging theater aimed at being inclusive
  • Feeding Area Children Together (FACT) – for their work to feed children in central Minnesota and bridge the gap for students on weekends and breaks from school
  • Florence Orionzi – as a leader, a mentor, and an inspiration in the community through her work in education, cultural transition, and immigrant support
  • Keshia Anderson-King – for her caring, devoted, and “above and beyond” efforts to provide basic needs and supportive services to families in the community

 

2021:

  • Arvis Stubbs – for her work giving back to others in need, and her inspiration of others to get involved and make a difference in the community in practical ways
  • James Turner – as an advocate for meaningful and constructive change in institutions, and his work with youth, their families, and senior citizens to improve their status and wellbeing
  • Michael Nistler – for his unique approach to inspiring conversations that invite critical reflections on issues of racism, bias, prejudice, and equity
  • Robert Johnson – as a long-time mentor of a new generation of leaders within the St. Cloud area and a community organizer
  • Cloud Prepper Pals – as a group of volunteers dedicated to being a resource network to get essential food and hygiene items delivered to those in need

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