The City of Madison and Dane County will be recognizing outstanding individuals in the fields of public service and promoting understanding and mutual respect between the area’s many diverse groups through several awards which are to be awarded to community members in the coming months.
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award is given annually to two community members who endeavored to establish communication, promote equality and display leadership in the community. The award recognizes two individuals who have contributed to a greater environment of peace and understanding in the community, a statement said.
Harper Donahue of Madison’s Department of Civil Rights said the award committee chooses one student from the ages of 13 to 19 and one individual over the age of 20 who have best exemplified the furthering of understanding in the community.
According to the award’s nomination criteria, individuals must display “visible and continuing leadership in one or more of the following areas: education, religion, civil rights, politics or the provision of significant social services in the community.” This year’s award will be presented jointly by the city of Madison and the Dane County Commission.
“The variety of applicants and nominations we receive is really across the board,” Donahue said.
The winner will be announced and the award presented at the 24th Annual City-County Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration at the Overture Center Monday, Feb. 18.
The Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award recognizes individuals who have displayed a dedication to the development of public policy through service and a commitment to individual and civil rights, the statement said.
According to the statement, the award was created by Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz in September 2007 to honor the memory and work of the late Jeffrey Erlanger, who passed away in June of that year.
Erlanger was a prominent member of the Madison community, serving on the city’s Economic Development Commission and acting as chair of both the Commission on People with Disabilities and the board of directors of the Community Living Alliance.
“The focus of the award is recognizing individuals who follow in the same vein as Jeff,” said Rachel Strauch-Nelson, spokesperson for Cieslewicz. “It recognizes someone who has contributed to public debate, being productive and disagreeing without being disagreeable.”
She added Erlanger’s commitment to civility and respecting the dignity of all individuals serves as a model to all members of the Madison community.
Recipients of the award have displayed leadership in positively impacting the greater Madison community while maintaining respect through constructive and civil public debate. The recipient of this award should act and work in a manner consistent with the life and accomplishments of Erlanger, the statement said.
The selection committee is comprised of five individuals appointed by Cieslewicz. The committee includes one member or representative from the Erlanger family, a member of the mayor’s staff, the president of the city’s Common Council and two citizen representatives, Strauch-Nelson said.
The award is presented annually at the Common Council meeting closest to the Nov. 30 birthday of the late Erlanger. This year’s presentation will take place Dec. 8.
