The Unitarian Universalist Service
Committee has honored two social justice activists with
its top awards for outstanding activism and commitment
to principles that promote human rights and social
justice. The 2006 awards were presented June 23 at
UUSC’s Annual Meeting and Celebration, held in St.
Louis, Mo., as part of the General Assembly of the
Unitarian Universalist Association.
The Social Action Leadership Award was presented to Jim
Bole of Golden, Colo., and the Mary-Ella Holst Youth
Activist Award to Mike Sandmel, 16, of Brookline, Mass.
Social Action Leadership Award
UUSC President Charlie Clements presented Jim Bole with
the Social Action Leadership Award for his outstanding
leadership and long-time advocacy for UUSC in his
congregation and his community.
Bole most recently participated in the UUSC-Lakota
JustWorks camp in South Dakota on the Rosebud
Reservation, and organized a funding of two scholarships
for young people in his church to take part in JustWorks
camps.
Clements said that Bole has been an enthusiastic
messenger of the overall work of the Service Committee
and human rights. Bole is a local representative and
regional coordinator for UUSC's Volunteer Network. In
2004, he was recognized as an Outstanding Local
Representative.
After accepting the award, Bole said he has enjoyed
being part of a dynamic social justice task force at his
church, Jefferson Unitarian in Golden, Colorado, and
gave credit to other church members for establishing
vibrant committees.
The Social Action Leadership Award was established by
UUSC in 1977 to honor creative, inspiring and effective
leadership by an individual or group working for justice
in cooperation with the Service Committee. The recipient
must have provided an outstanding model of committed and
effective action on UUSC programs, priorities and public
policy positions.
Mary-Ella Holst Youth Activist Award
Mike Sandmel, 16, is completing his sophomore year at
Brookline High School. Among his many social justice
activities, he participated in UUSC's JustWorks camp in
Boston that was part of our Defending Democracy 2004
campaign. He also supported a UUSC initiative in his
community by working with Students Action for Justice
and Education in its successful campaign to pass a
living wage ordinance in Brookline.
"Mike models a great commitment to social justice work
on a range of issues for peers in his high school, in
his UU youth group, and in the Mass Bay district," said
Rachel Binderman, UUSC associate for member development.
Afterwards, Sandmel’s mother, Barbara Simonetti, beamed,
"We couldn’t be prouder."
"Mike lives social justice." For example, she said, in
2004 when his parents offered him a trip to the
destination of his choice he chose not a beach vacation
but a trip to New York City to join a demonstration
against the Iraq War. He was only 13 years old at the
time.
He is a peer leader, bringing opportunities for social
action, protests, and campaigns to others, and is a role
model for social justice work on a range of issues for
fellow students in his high school, in his UU youth
group, and in the Mass Bay district. He led a social
action conference in January 2006 that included
workshops on such issues as teen empowerment, prison
reform, gay prisoners’ rights, teen pregnancy and
comprehensive sexuality education. He also organized a
UUA-led antiracism training at the conference.
The Mary-Ella Holst Youth Activist Award was established
in 2000 to recognize and honor the achievement of young
people who advance human rights and social justice
through activism and leadership. The recipient(s) must
demonstrate a commitment to social justice and human
rights through participation in a UUSC program of
service, action and/or advocacy.
Outstanding Local Representative Award
UUSC also presented Outstanding Local Representative awards to three
dedicated members who have worked tirelessly to promote UUSC membership,
our programs and our advocacy work in their UU congregations. They are
Winnie Tyler of the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley,
Bethlehem, Pa.; Ira Mendelsberg, of the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood,
N.J.; and Dan Moen, of the First Universalist Church of Denver, Colo.
For more reports from General Assembly 2006, read
UUSC Hotwire.
