Mayor presents MLK Legacy Award, calls for Outstanding Black Male Leaders of Tomorrow nominations

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 24, 2013

For more information, please contact:
Craig Brenner, Special Projects Coordinator, City of Bloomington Department of Community and Family Resources, 349.3471, [mailto:brennerc@bloomington.in.gov]
William A. Vance, Jr., Chair, City of Bloomington Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, 332.1513


Mayor Kruzan presents MLK Legacy Award and calls for nominations for Outstanding Black Male Leaders of Tomorrow

Bloomington, Ind. - Mayor Mark Kruzan presented the 2013 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Award to the Indiana University Office of Diversity Education on Monday at the City of Bloomington Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration. Created by the City's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, the award recognizes a group or individual for making significant contributions in race relations, justice and human rights.

"I am pleased to present the Legacy Award to an organization that works year-round to promote understanding on the IU Bloomington campus and throughout the community," Kruzan announced. "Though its target audience is primarily students, the Office is a great community partner and always welcomes members from the larger community in its activities."

Eric Love, director of the Office of Diversity Education, accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

Kruzan also presented a special Legacy Award to Carlotta Walls LaNier, a member of the Little Rock Nine and the keynote speaker for this year's celebration.

For the past decade, the Office of Diversity Education has coordinated the Unity Summit on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, an event at which several hundred students address issues of diversity, discrimination and advocacy in small-group, facilitated discussions. In 2012, the Office of Diversity Education also partnered with the City on "The Violence of Silence," a forum on domestic violence.

During the celebration Kruzan called for nominations for the Outstanding Black Male Leaders of Tomorrow awards, which will be presented in February at the City's Black History Month Gala. These awards were created by the Commission on the Status of Black Males to recognize contributions by young black men and encourage the development of future leaders in two categories: high schoolers and adults up to age 30.

The deadline for nominations is February 12. They will be accepted online at [www.bloomington.in/csbm|www.bloomington.in/csbm]. For more information contact Craig Brenner, the Department of Community and Family Resources' special projects coordinator, at 349.3471.

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