Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award 38th Annual Yearend Celebration

Posted: Pam Cress

Just in time for the holidays, a lovely ceremony to recognize the exemplary volunteers who have been given the Minoru Yasui award in 2014 was held Thursday at the Marriott Denver Tech Center.

A program of the Denver Foundation, the Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer award program acknowledges exceptional service from community individuals and partnerships.

The award program is in honor of civil rights advocate Minoru Yasui, who was a Japanese American lawyer from Oregon. . He was one of the few Japanese Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbor who fought laws that directly targeted Japanese Americans or Japanese immigrants. His case was the first case to test the constitutionality of the curfews targeted at minority groups.

His case would make its way to the United States Supreme Court, where his conviction for breaking curfew was affirmed. After internment during most of WWII, he moved to Denver in 1944. In Denver, Yasui married and became a local leader in civic affairs, including leadership positions in the Japanese Amerian Citizens League. In 1986, his criminal conviction was overturned by the federal court.

In honor of Mr. Yasui’s incredible commitment to civil rights causes, each year awards are given out to those who set the bar higher and higher for community involement and dedication.

Those recognized this past year and the initiatives they are involved with are:

January: Reverend Diana Flahive, co-founder of the Women’s Homeless Initiative
February: Tanja Butler-Melone, Family Tree
March: Meg Depriest, The Wellness Initiative
April: Dr. Libby Whitmore, Cafe’ 180
May: Ana Kemp, The Women’s Foundation
June: Sharon Rouse, Denver Art Museum
July: Ginger Case, Growing Home
August: Deb Wells, Alzheimer’s Association Colorado
September: Billy Brown, Denver Kids Inc.
October: Barry Levene, Bluff Lake Nature Center
November: Vic Sulzer, Rocky Mountain Down Syndrome Association

: Jaclyn Wilmot, MYCVA chairperson, right, with her Mom Linda French

: Rick Crandall returned this year as emcee

: Jackie Norris, past committee chair, left, and Donna Deteau (lunch committee)

: Bill Walters (past chair) and Ellie Greenberg (committee)

: Honoree Debra Wells and Tim Bergman

: Rev Diana Flahive, left, with Kristen Dutton and Liza Kirkpatrick (committee)

: Frank Melone, left, honoree Tanja Butler-Melone and Deb Bittner

: Donna and Barry Levene (honoree)

: Martha Loats, left, and honoree Diana Flahive

: Denver Deputy Mayor Cary Kennedy with January’s honoree, Reverend Diana Flahive

: Denver Deputy Mayor Cary Kennedy with February honoree Tanja Butler-Melone

: Denver Deputy Mayor Cary Kennedy with April honoree Dr. Libby Whitmore

: Denver Deputy Mayor Cary Kennedy with May honoree Ana Kemp

: Denver Deputy Mayor Cary Kennedy with June honoree Sharon Rouse

: Denver Deputy Mayor Cary Kennedy with July honoree Ginger Case

: Denver Deputy Mayor Cary Kennedy with August honoree Deb Wells

: Denver Deputy Mayor Cary Kennedy with September honoree Billy Brown

: Denver Deputy Mayor Cary Kennedy with October honoree Barry Levene

: Denver Deputy Mayor Cary Kennedy with November honoree Vic Sulzer

: Donna Gordon, left, Derek Okubo, honoree Deb Wells and Tina Wells

: Bradley Gulley, left, and Erika Nelson

: Jean Kerr (committee), left, Sherry Lundeen and Jeanne Thompson

: Lydia Johnson, left, Sarah Braun, honoree Anahita Kemp, Jessica Jaramillo and Russell Kemp

: Cari Wheat, left, Jules Kelty, Mike Masto and Jenny Cowen

: Nathan Church, left, Rosemary Evetts, Michael Vaux and Alysha Burney

: Wendy Sulzer, left, Lea Van Schaack and Susan Williams

: Mac Mascovits, left, K.C. Groves and honoree Vic Sulzer

: Joan Dixon, left, Lynette Windsor and Nancy Northrup

: Honoree Sharon Rouse, left, Ron Otsuka and Honey Goldberg

: William Funk, one of the founders of the Minoru Yasui program, with Jaclyn Wilmot and Natalie Funk

: Phil Nash, left, Mike Giamundo, Rick Crandall and Darlene Silver

: Dana Juniel, left, Mary Louise Lee, Tonya Cooper-Davis, Linda French

: Debra Hindlin-King (committee) and honoree Billy Brown

: Honoree Billy Brown with his family: wife Krista holding their daughter Macy, and his Mom Linda Brown

: Mary Louise Lee sang some wonderful songs as tributes

: Chairperson Jaclyn Wilmot welcomes everyone

: Jaclyn Wilmot thanks everyone for their support

: Marriott GM Mike Giamundo welcomes everyone

: Derek Okubo gave the invocation

: Christine Soto, left, chats with Jaclyn Wilmot

: Derek Okubo, left, and ron Otsuka

: Brenden Bailey draws a depiction of the event

: Minoru Yasui fought long and hard for civil rights.

: The honorees and friends before the program

: Honorees and friends wait for the program to begin

: Denver Deputy Mayor Cary Kennedy delivers the proclamation that made December 4 “Minoru Yasui Community Volunteers Day”

: Cary Kennedy and Jaclyn Wilmot with Rev. Diana Flahive, January’s honoree, center

: Cary Kennedy and Jaclyn Wilmot with Tanja Butler-Melone, February’s honoree, center

: Cary Kennedy and Jaclyn Wilmot with Dr. Libby Whitmore, April’s honoree, center

: Cary Kennedy and Jaclyn Wilmot and May’s honoree Ana Kemp, center

: Cary Kennedy and Jaclyn Wilmot with June’s honoree Sharon Rouse, center

: Cary Kennedy and Jaclyn Wilmot with Ginger Case, July’s honoree, center

: Cary Kennedy and Jaclyn Wilmot with August honoree Deb Wells, center

: Cary Kennedy and Jaclyn Wilmot with Billy Brown, September honoree

: Cary Kennedy and Jaclyn Wilmot with October honoree Barry Levene

: Cary Kennedy and Jaclyn Wilmot with November honoree Vic Sulzer

: Honorees together

: Event Vice-Chair Cherrelyn Napue says a few words

: Group photo of the honorees (March’s honoree Meg Depriest could not attend)

: Brenden Bailey with his finished art piece with the winner of it, Linda Daniel

: Betty Salazar, who used to work for Mr. Yasui, left, with Chad Jimenez and Brenda Vasquez

12 Nov

ArtWorks ADL: Justice, Advocacy and Art

Posted:

The Mountain States Region of ADL (Anti-Defamation League) held his fall fundraiser ”ArtWorks ADL: Justice, Advocacy & Art™” at the eclectic ArtHaus. The art auction featured original works of art inspired by ADL’s Centennial theme, Imagine a World Without Hate®.

Over 30 local artists were inspired by that theme and over 50 art pieces included paintings and sculptures were created. Featuring artists were Don Sahli, Lyudmila Agrich, Claire Boyce, Elizabeth Buhr, Betsy Duzan, Leona Lazar, Rozarii Lynch, Julie Mason, Sandi Ogin, Dennis Pendleton, Essie Perlmutter, Ron Pokrasso, Karen Haughan Tomlinson, and Jordan Wolfson.

Proceeds from the art auction benefit ADL’s regional programming and the daily work of ADL in Colorado, which includes fighting bigotry, racism and anti-Semitism; combating bias, bullying and hate through our No Place for Hate® initiative; advocating for civil rights and religious freedom; training law enforcement about extremist groups; responding to hate crimes; and responding to complaints of discrimination.

The guests enjoyed a cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction. 300 people included artists and strong supporters of ADL gathered together to create awareness about the world without hate. The goal of ArtWorks is to engage, empower and educate the Denver community about the mission and impact of ADL through art.

The Quiat family was honored for their generations of dedication to civil rights and commitment to fair treatment for all. Melinda Quiat, Gerry’s Quiat daughter, received an ADL award on behalf of the Quiat family.

Melinda Quiat became involved with ADL when she was a child through her father’s commitment to the civil rights mission. Gerald M. (Gerry) Quiat was the chair of Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the chairman of the board for the Anti-Defamation League and a member of the National Executive Committee. He served as an ADL Mountain States regional board member until the end of his life. Gerry Quiat died on January 1, 2013.

Melinda Quiat has continued the family’s civil rights work as a member of ADL’s Regional Board and as an associate commissioner of ADL’s National Commission. Melinda’s family donated first $20,000 to ADL’s leadership mission program that will enable students to learn about diversity and anti-violence through the lessons of Holocaust.

The Quiat family is a five-generation Colorado family whose members have made significant contributions to the well being of all who reside in Colorado.The Quiats made their way to Denver where, for over 125 years, each generation has been strong supporters of the effort to stop anti-semitism and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.

The main speaker of the event was Sheldon Steinhauser, former Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League from 1957 till 1985 and director of the Allied Jewish Federation of Denver. Sheldon Steinhauser has had a close relationship with all three generations of Quiat family. He spoke about the Quiat family and their contribution to ADL.

The Anti-Defamation League was founded in 1913 “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” This year ADL celebrates its 100-anniversary.

ADL fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects civil rights for all.

The Anti-Defamation League in Denver was founded in 1941 by a dedicated group of Colorado Jewish leaders – led by Col. Melvin Schlesinger and including such notables as Lou Isaacson, A.B. Hirschfeld, Max Goldberg and Emmett Heitler.

ADL’s Education Division focuses on three primary programmatic areas: anti-bias education, confronting anti-semitism, and Holocaust education. Through their A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute, ADL customizes programs that provide the necessary skills, knowledge and awareness to promote and sustain inclusive and respectful school, work and home environments for schools, universities, corporations, community-based organizations and law enforcement agencies.

Unveiled in 2008, ADL’s No Place for Hate® program was developed to organize schools to work together and develop projects that enhance the appreciation of diversity and foster harmony amongst diverse groups by empowering them to promote respect for individual and group differences while challenging prejudice and bigotry.

For more information, please visit: www.adl.org

: Dustin Lee and Andrea Shpall, ADL Regional board chair

: Painting by Don Sahli. On the right: Artwork by Elizabeth Buhr

: Sheila Mungai (artist) and Errol Beauchamp (artist)

: Art work by Shelia Mungai

: Peggy Goldman ( event co-chair), Irv and Roz Ash, Scott Levin (ADL regional director)

: Artwork by Beata Galacs

: Catering by Footers Catering

: Artwork by Nicole Niederman

: Earl Wright and Diane Burchett (artist)

: Diane Burchett (artist) and her painting of the lady on a right

: Rozarii Lynch ( artist) and Roberta Quiat (honoree, wife of Gerald Quiat)

: Jon McNutt, Rozarii Lynch (artist), Roberta Quiat (honoree, wife of Gerald Quiat), Beverly McNutt

: Gregory Smith and Neil Oberfeld

: Bridget Burton and Earl Kemper

: Artwork by Don Sahli

: David Brody, Dr. Marc Reissner

: Peggy Goldman, Clyde and Harriet McKenzie, Suzan Tick

: Cate and Don Esstman, Sam Levy

: Andrea Shpall, Judy Joseph, Mark Greenberg

: Elayne Moseley (artist) and Margaret Leiser

: Barry Curtiss-Lusher (ADL National Chair), Melinda Quiat (honoree) and Lisa Soicher

: Sue Black, Rabbii Joe, John Chanin, Holly Stein Sollod

: Dick Meyer, Karin Blomsness

: Linda Schatz and Susan Kramer

: Bruce DeBoskey, Brad Levin, Doug Artonoff

: Dan Cravitz and Jim Quiat

: Melinda Quiat and Peggy Goldman

: Abbey Hughes and Josh Valentine

: Chad Nichols and Justin McNamara

: Steve Kaeuper and David Ickovic

: Yana Vishnitsky, Sheryl Goodman, Cindy Silverman

: Cathy Sunshine, Sheryl Goodman, Cindy Levin

: Jane Hermann and Dr. Gil Hermann

: Leona Lazar (artist) next to her sculpture “Seed of Hope”

: Sandi Ogin (artist), Elisa Moran, Gary Kleiman

: Sandi Ogin (artist) and her artwork on a left

: Richard Wedgle, Gina Weitzenkorn, Susan Mason

: Wendy Kaeuper and Nina Garlett

: Pamela Hirschman, Katie Beals, Ben Figa

: Kathy Spuhler, Peggy Hermann, Vicki Sterling, Sue Kenner

: Shelli and Rick Angel

: Andrea Shpall, ADL Regional Board Chair welcome to the event

: Andrea Shpall, ADL regional board chair, thanks 15 artists for donating their artwork and helping to raise money for ADL

: 300 people attended the event

: The great suppertors for ADL and the artists gathered together to create awaraness about the world without hate.

: Barry Curtiss-Lusher says a few words

: Attendees listen to ADL National Chair Barry Curtiss-Lusher

: Scott Levin, ADL regional director

: Susan Brody, the event co-chair introduce former ADL Regional director Shelly Steinhauser

: Former ADL Regional director Sheldon Steinhauser share his memory about Gerry Quiat

: Former ADL Regional Director Sheldon Steinhauser

: Peggy Goldman gave the ADL award to Melinda Quiat

: Peggy Goldman and Melinda Quiat. The Quiat family that five-generation Colorado family members have made significant contributions to ADL was honored at the event. Melinda Quiat received ADL award on behlaf of the Quiat family.