DIVERSITY IS THE NATURAL STATE

Justice for one and all

Humanitarian Awards dinner helps JCA keep changing hearts, minds

Just Communities of Arkansas has crossed many a barrier since its founding in 1964, yet there is still so much more to do. That was the general sentiment among guests, speakers and honorees at JCA's annual Humanitarian Awards Celebration, held June 20 at the Jack Stephens Center at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

Some 500 people squeezed onto the Stephens Center floor for drinks, heavy hors d'oeuvres and the 54th awards ceremony.

"The issue is that in our country, and definitely in Arkansas, that there are still people who are treated unfairly, that are treated a lot of times inhumanely because of the color of their skin or how they choose to worship, because of who they love," Donald Wood, JCA executive director, said in an awareness video the organization debuted at the sold-out event.

Rodolfo Quilantan, head consul for the Mexican Consulate in Little Rock, and state Rep. Clarke Tucker were co-chairmen. 2017 Humanitarian Award honorees were Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign in Washington; Terry Richard (pronounced Rish-ARD), director of the League of United Latin American Citizens of Arkansas (LULAC); Lottie Shackelford, Little Rock's first female mayor and the longest-serving vice chairman of the Democratic National Party; and Annabelle Imber Tuck, the first female justice elected to the Arkansas Supreme Court and a leading legal figure in equitable school funding and marriage equality.

Richard and Griffin were unable to attend but made acceptance speeches via video.

"With a political climate that has emboldened the darkest undercurrents of American society, it's on all of us to stand up and speak out for the equal dignity of each and every person," said Griffin, perhaps the honoree with the longest reach in the fight for LGBT rights. He recalled what it was like to grow up closeted in his Arkansas hometown, where he felt "completely isolated and alone."

"I also remember just how important it was to have hope," he added.

Guests were encouraged to dress to celebrate their identity and the diversity in the community. The event grossed about $80,000 to benefit the programs and services of JCA.

-- Story and photos by Cyd King

High Profile on 07/02/2017

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