The 2013 Human Services Awards Recipients
Outstanding Organization Award - Navos
Navos strives to improve the quality of life of people vulnerable to mental illness by providing a broad continuum of care. Navos' range of mental health services, support for clients' families, and services for Navos Consortium partners help improve the lives of 23,000 people each year.
Innovative Program Award - Scofflaw Mitigation Project
The Scofflaw Mitigation Project addresses the issue of alternative, immediate, emergency housing. Many Seattleites without homes are able to stay off of the street by staying in their vehicles overnight. Through the collaboration of the Interfaith Task Force on Homelessness and the Ballard Community Taskforce on Homelessness and Hunger Interfaith, the Scofflaw Mitigation Project has assisted with approximately 150 vehicles in the reduction of fines, mitigation of tow, boot removal, and other forms of punishment.
Excellence in Advocacy - Karen Jackel
Karen Jackel has been a dedicated advocate for ending hunger. As a staff member serving the Asian Counseling and Referral Service Food Bank she helps to ensure that there is multi-ethnic food available to the many diverse needs in the community. She has built many partnership with local businesses, community groups, and neighborhoods to address food security.
Stewardship Award - Got Green
Got Green is a grassroots group in the Seattle area led by young adults and people of color that promotes the movement for an equitable, green economy as the best way to fight poverty and global warming at the same time. Founded in 2008 under the sponsorship of the White Center Community Development Association, Got Green has quickly established itself as an authentic voice from communities of color on economic, racial and gender justice issues within the framework of this new, green economy.
The Ron Chisom Anti-Racism Award - Council on American-Islamic Relations
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group. Their mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
Mayor's Award & Proclamation - The Center School Community
The Center School Community is recognized for encouraging dialogue around race, gender and class, using the "Courageous Conversations" framework. We honor and recognize their effort to engage students in talking and thinking about institutional oppressions not easily addressed in daily life.
The 2012 Human Services Awards Recipients
Outstanding Organization Award - South Park Information & Resource Center
The South Park Information & Resource Center (SPIARC) is a multilingual resource center assisting South Seattle residents navigate a variety of issues and help connect residents to South Park neighborhood groups. Assistance ranges from employment assistance, resume assistance, utility assistance, domestic violence referral, ESL/basic computer classes, translation services, connecting residents to free/reduced cost legal assistance and more.
Excellence in Advocacy - Racial Equity Team
The Racial Equity Team is a people of color-led group of community leaders, activists, and lobbyists working to promote racial equity within the state budget and legislative process. The group is comprised of on-the-ground lobbyists that work inside Olympia, and a network of leaders and activists from various ethnic communities who work together to advocate for positive racially equitable policy.
Innovative Program - Powerful Choices
Powerful Choices addresses the crisis of sexual exploitation among self-identified girls, through collaboration and leveraging new and established partnerships. Powerful Choices is built upon a long standing commitment to serve girls most impacted by racial and economic disparities while expanding services to be more inclusive of diversity within gender and sexual identities.
Stewardship Award - SOAR
SOAR is a coalition working together, committed to promoting the healthy development of children, youth and families by through collaboration and joint action projects, creating networks and centralizing resources and supporting advocacy efforts.
The Ron Chisom Anti-Racism Award - The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project
The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project works to promote justice for low-income immigrants and refugees by pursuing and defending their legal status. They provide direct legal services to immigrants and also work to educate the community about immigrant rights issues and engage in public policy advocacy for immigrant rights.
Mayor's Award & Proclamation - WA Talking Books & Braille Library
The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library provides library service to people who are visually impaired, blind, physically disAbled and reading disAbled. The goal of the Library is access in all aspects of society and increasing awareness of skills and abilities of people with disAbilities.
