Hanley Sustainability Institute
Environmental and climate justice the theme for 2021 Romero Human Rights Center Award; nominations sought
By Mark Gokavi
The University of Dayton Human Rights Center is inviting nominations until Nov. 27 for the 2021 recipient of the Romero Human Rights Award. A release from the center said the award, which was established in 2000, commemorates the ministry and martyrdom of the slain Salvadoran Archbishop Saint Oscar Romero.
The award honors an individual or organization whose work has contributed significantly to the alleviation of human suffering and injustice. This year’s theme is environmental justice, a theme common to HRC’s partners from the Hanley Sustainability Institute, ETHOS, Partnership in Service to the Catholic Church, the Fitz Center: Rivers Institute, Race and Ethnic Studies Program, Father Ferree Chair of Social Justice, the Center for International Programs, and the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives.
The 2021 Romero Human Rights Award ceremony and symposium will be in March 2021. The award itself, a bronze statue of Saint Romero, is an original piece sculpted by Emily Trick ('00) and Brother Gary Marcinowski, S.M., of UD’s Department of Visual Arts.
Shelley Inglis, executive director of the UD Human Rights Center, said she hopes the event will draw attention to current trends in advocacy, environmental racism and governance, and the overall context for environmental justice defenders on the local, national, and global levels.
She said it also will serve as the launch of Moral Courage Project's Power and Poison virtual multi-media exhibit which explores the access to clean water in multiple U.S. locations, including Flint and Detroit, Michigan, and Appalachia.
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