[Durham INC] Durham Announces Human Relations Award Winners

[Blalock, Amy]

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CITY OF DURHAM
Office of Public Affairs
101 City Hall Plaza
Durham, NC 27701

News Release


News Media Contact:
Amy Blalock
Sr. Public Affairs Specialist
(919) 560-4123 x 11253
(919) 475-7735 (cell)
Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov<mailto:Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov>
http://Facebook.com/CityofDurhamNC
http://Twitter.com/CityofDurhamNC
http://YouTube.com/CityofDurhamNC


For Immediate Release: February 25, 2014


Durham Announces Human Relations Award Winners

DURHAM, N.C. - The City of Durham Human Relations Commission has announced four award winners who have distinguished themselves by contributing their time and talents to promoting good human relations in Durham. In honor of February as Human Relations Month, the City's Human Relations Commission and the Human Relations Division of the City's Neighborhood Improvement Department announced the award winners during the 2014 Human Relations Award Ceremony held on Friday, February 21. The honorees were:

*         The Durham Rescue Mission received the Carlie B. Sessoms Award for its efforts to provide housing, food, vocational training, counseling and more to 400 men, women, and children annually. The Carlie B. Sessoms Award is the highest and most coveted award to an individual or organization that has made a major impact on improving human relations. This award commemorates contributions of the late Carlie B. Sessoms, a Durham native who served as chair of the Human Relations Commission and played a major role in improving human relations locally and nationally.

*         Mayor Pro Tempore Cora Cole-McFadden received the Human Rights Award for her advocacy and life's work to better the lives of the marginalized and less fortunate members of the Durham community. The Human Rights Award is presented to a local, state, or federal lawmaker who has successfully supported or promoted human rights causes and issues.

*         Selina Mack, executive director of the Durham Community Land Trustees, Inc., received the Housing Award for her leadership in helping this organization become a national model for permanently affordable housing and community redevelopment. The Housing Award recognizes an individual or organization for outstanding efforts in promoting fair housing with emphasis on the economic, social and/or political impact in the community that has encouraged diversity and housing opportunities for all.


*         Mishel Gomez Cespedes received the Human Rights Youth Award for her work to integrate and improve understanding between Durham's youth of different backgrounds and her initiative to start the Latino Ambassadors Club. The Human Rights Youth Award presented to an individual or group of individuals under the age of 18 for demonstrating an understanding of, and commitment to, human relations in Durham.

For more information about this annual event, contact Delilah Donaldson, human relations manager for the City's Neighborhood Improvement Services Department, at (919) 560-4107, ext. 34277 or by email at Delilah.Donaldson at DurhamNC.gov<mailto:Delilah.Donaldson at DurhamNC.gov>.

About the Human Relations Division in the City of Durham Neighborhood Improvement Services Department

The Neighborhood Improvement Services Department works to preserve and improve quality of life conditions for Durham residents, and to encourage active participation in neighborhood redevelopment and public policy and decision making dialogue. The department is responsible for enforcement of quality of life ordinances and state statutes including the City's Minimum Housing Code; Nonresidential Code; Weedy Lot, Abandoned and Junk Vehicle ordinances; and the State of North Carolina's Unsafe Building Statute. The department's Human Relations Division strives to improve race and human relations in the City by working to eliminate housing discrimination and by prioritizing community outreach and educational activities to meet the needs of Durham's residents. The Human Relations Division also provides oversight to the City of Durham Human Relations Commission, which is comprised of 15 Durham residents who meet monthly to work on activities designed to improve human relations and promote harmony throughout Durham. Guided by the City's Strategic Plan, the department helps ensure that Durham has thriving, livable neighborhoods by providing the highest quality of services to engage and educate the community, eradicate blight, ensure safer neighborhoods, and enhance neighborhood revitalization. For more information, visit http://DurhamNC.gov/ich/cb/nis/Pages/Home.aspx.

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