MLK Nominations open

From La Crosse Waking up White:

Nominations Sought for the 2024 Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award 
For questions about the nomination process or to request a paper copy, contact Rebecca Schwarz at mlkdaylaxaward@gmail.com or Carolyn Bostrak at 608-792-2283.  Nominations can also be made online via the following Google Forms link: https://forms.gle/xDfGmUCSPzEKHv2EA
 
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award was established in 2009. The purpose of this award is to recognize leadership in and commitment to building community, enhancing diversity, and working for justice. This award recognizes community members whose leadership include the following: 

• Efforts are directed toward creating tangible, permanent and/or systemic positive change in the Greater La Crosse Area  
• Efforts are focused on issues of social justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, unearned privilege (may include other  justice issues that mirror Dr. King’s work, e.g., race-equity, anti-poverty, peace, nonviolence) 
• Efforts work to empower and impact next generation 
• Efforts include devoting personal energies beyond one’s “paid position” 
• Efforts to create positive change in areas outside of the Greater La Crosse area 
• Any additional considerations or contributions 

The nomination application and materials should address the above qualities in detail. 
 
The award will be presented at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration at Viterbo University Fine Arts Center, 929 Jackson St., La Crosse, at 7 p.m. Monday, January 15, 2024. 
The featured speaker for the event is Rev. Dr. Alexander Gee, the CEO of The Center for Black Excellence and Culture. He is also the founding Lead Pastor of Fountain of Life Church, and founder of the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development, as well as its renowned initiative, Justified Anger. Gee is a published author, adjunct faculty, community activist, life coach, international lecturer, and relief worker. Gee is considered a serial social entrepreneur, having started four successful small businesses and initiatives that currently employ nearly 40 staff. In recognition of his work within the local community, Dr. Gee has received numerous honors, such as the 1994 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award from the City of Madison. Dr. Gee studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Fuller Seminary, and Bakke Graduate University. He is the author of two books and host for the award-winning podcast, Black Like Me.
 
Information about the MLK Event 
Where: Viterbo University Fine Arts Center,  929 Jackson St., La Crosse, WI 54601
When: 7 p.m. Monday, January 15, 2024 
Admission: *FREE*
For event information, contact Richard L. Kyte at rlkyte@viterbo.edu or Keith Knutson at kaknutson@viterbo.edu. 

To submit nomination online materials go to https://forms.gle/DgKU4Pc53eSmhDrq7
To contact the selection committee, request a paper nomination form, or submit a paper nomination form: 
Email: Rebecca Schwarz at mlkdaylaxaward@gmail.com 
Mail: Leadership Award ℅ Rebecca Schwarz, 212 11th St S, La Crosse WI 54601
Fax: Leadership Award ℅ Antoiwana Williams 608-615-1060
Nomination deadline: The forms must be received by Wednesday, November 1st, 2023, 11:59 p.m.