HomeMy WebLinkAboutOct 9 - Tom Oye Nominations
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Krystal Caron, Communications Coordinator
Phone 952-826-0347 • kcaron@EdinaMN.gov • www.EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nominations Being Collected for Human Rights Award
Edina, Minn., Oct. 9, 2014 – The City of Edina Human Rights & Relations Commission (HRRC) is
accepting nominations for the 2015 Tom Oye Award, recognizing members of the community whose good
work promotes human relations and advances human rights.
The award was established in recognition of the late Tom Oye who helped found the HRRC in 1970 and served
on it for more than 30 years. Oye was also a Nisei soldier in World War II, a second-generation Japanese
American who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. In 2003, Oye
received the Prize for Humanity by the Immortal Chaplains Foundation.
City of Edina Recreation Supervisor Kristin Aarsvold and now retired Det. Tom McKenzie were awarded the
2014 Tom Oye Award for their efforts in developing an outreach program to the Somali-American
neighborhoods in Edina. Other past recipients include Edina High School graduate/filmmaker Alec Fischer and
Edina Senior Planner Joyce Repya.
“There are others in Edina -- residents, teachers and workers -- who have been engaged in the battles for
human rights, dignity and equality,” said HRRC Member Steve Winnick. “Our job is to find and recognize them
in the name of Mr. Oye, who grew up in a relocation camp and became a national hero.”
Anyone who lives or works in Edina is eligible for the Tom Oye Human Rights Award. Nominees will be
evaluated based on their efforts to foster respect and dignity for others, model courage and/or compassion in
the advancement of human rights, and demonstrate leadership by example for improving human relations or
advancing human rights.
Applications must be received by Jan. 30, 2015. The 2015 Tom Oye Human Rights Award application can be
found online at www.EdinaMN.gov/humanrights. For more information or to receive a paper copy of the
application, contact MJ Lamon at 952-826-0360 or mlamon@EdinaMN.gov.
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