City Human Rights Commission Announces Human Rights Award Recipient

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 2007

For more information, contact:
Barbara E. McKinney, Director, Human Rights Commission, City of Bloomington, 349-3429 [mckinneb@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:mckinneb@bloomington.in.gov]

[image:1797,right]Bloomington, IN - The Bloomington Human Rights Commission (BHRC) has announced the winners of its ninth annual Human Rights Awards. This year, the BHRC chose Lillian Casillas.

The BHRC is recognizing Lillian Casillas, director of La Casa the Latino Culture Center, for providing support and services for Latino students, faculty and staff at Indiana University, as well as serving as a community resource for the Latino population in our community. Nominator Pam Freeman said, "Persons like Lillian Casillas work quietly and behind the scenes to see that the community values its residents and learns from them, not expecting any type of reward or recognition. It is Lillian's genuine altruistic motivation, though, that leads me to nominate her for the 2006 Human Rights Award, as I believe that it is the work of such community leaders as Lillian that helps make Bloomington such a wonderful, inclusive place to live."

The Human Rights Award honors individuals or groups who make specific and significant contributions to improving civil rights, human relations or civility in our community. Jeff Harlig, chair of the BHRC, will present the award at the Bloomington Common Council meeting on December 20, 2006.