Celebrate with Us

By: Claire Morgan

Please join us Tuesday, June 18 for the 3rd Annual Community Celebration. The Celebration will be held in YWCA’s Community Room, 3609 Main Street from 5:30–7:30pm. The theme of this year’s celebration is Generations, and we will be exploring the changes between the past and the present and the ways that differences between generations contribute to community and diversity. Mayor Tim Leavitt will speak, and there will be a performance by a local belly dancing group.

The Community Celebration also honors this year’s recipients of the Val Joshua Racial Justice Award and the Youth Social Justice Award, which are awarded by YWCA Clark County’s Social Change Program. Val Joshua worked tirelessly throughout her life for equality and dignity for all people. She served two terms on the board of YWCA and reached out to the community in a variety of ways to promote social change. In 1989 she became the first recipient of the Racial Justice Award, and it has been bestowed in her name every year since. Although Val passed away in December of last year, her legacy continues to serve as an inspiration to all who believe in equality and dignity for all people.

The Val Joshua Racial Justice Award and the Youth Social Justice Award are bestowed to those who demonstrate leadership in working to eliminate racism and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people. Recipients are leaders in civil rights and work to eliminate racism and exhibit a commitment to self-determined social change for all people. Community members between the ages of 14 and 20 are eligible for the Youth Social Justice Award, and those 18 and over are eligible for the Val Joshua Racial Justice Award. You may nominate yourself or someone else for this award by submitting a nomination form. Entries should be completed no later than May 23, 2013.

Michelle Hurdle-Bradford, the manager of the Social Change Program states, “The annual Community Celebration is an opportunity for us to recognize outstanding members of our community, bring community members of all ages together, meet new people, and learn about other cultures.” Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to celebrate our community. If you have any questions about the nomination process, please contact valjoshuanomination@ywcaclarkcounty.org. To RSVP, please email eventrsvp@ywcaclarkcounty.org.