Extension Diversity & Inclusion Award Recipients

Dean and Director's Distinguished Extension
Recipients
(1991 - 2005)

The Dean and Director's Distinguished Diversity and Inclusion Award was established in 1991 under the leadership of Patrick Borich, Dean and Director (1984-1995), to recognize outstanding efforts and accomplishments in achieving and sustaining diversity in Extension organization, programs, and audiences. It carries a $1,000 stipend and is available annually to one individual or team. Selections are made by a committee from nominations by Extension colleagues. The term "DIVERSITY," as defined by the University of Minnesota Extension Service, embodies the simple fact of human differences. Because of historical and legal imperatives unique to our nation, however, particular emphasis is given within the context of our collective work in communities throughout the State of Minnesota to the specific areas listed in the University of Minnesota's Equal Opportunity Statement. Those areas include: Race, Color, Creed, Religion, National Origin, Sex, Age, Marital Status, Disability, Public Assistance Status, Veteran Status, and Sexual Orientation.

2005

Learning the Language of Money Team
The Learning the Language of Money team, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Hmong, Latino, and Somali leaders, banks, and Extension educators, developed a web-based guidebook, fact sheets, and a CD to teach financial workers about cultural money systems, to help their clients understand the U.S. money system and thereby to more quickly become part of their new communities.  Team members:  Shirley Anderson-Porisch, Jean Bauer, Marilyn Bruin, Becky Hagen Jokela, Sara Croymans, Lori Hendrickson, Patricia Olson, Phyllis Onstad, Carolyn Bird(Family Soc.Sci.), Jean Birttnen(MN Dept. of Employment/Economic Dev.), Gabriela Burk(Financial Literacy
Program), Antio Alba Meraz(Financial Literacy Program), Susan Tulashie(MN Dept. of Employment/Economic Dev.)

2004

Suzanne Sheridan
Coordinator, "On the Move for Minnesota Families" Program,
Dakota County for bridging the cultural gap for local families and creating lasting partnerships for community good. 

2002

Juan C. Moreno
Diversity and Inclusion Specialist
University of Minnesota Extension Service, Dean and Director's Office

2001

One of a Kind Kid Club
Ramsey County

An inclusive program that focuses on reaching youth from multi-ethnic backgrounds. Team members include: Jennifer Skuza, Peggy Kennedy, Donna McDuffie, Rosa Garner, Renette Lopez, Jessica Potter, Bessie Pierce, Phallo Keo, Rose Spitzman, Juanita Walker, Annie Vann.

2000

White Earth Reservation Science and Math Summer Program
White Earth Circle of Life School
Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program, Inc.
University of Minnesota College of Natural Resources
White Earth Reservation Tribal Council Staff
White Earth Tribal and Community College.

1999

Under review, no Dean and Director's awards committee.

1998

Pathways to Educational Partnerships (PEP), for forging new, culturally respectful links between Extension and native peoples through a collaborative educational program empowering American Indians to improve their health and nutrition.

Team members included members of five planning circles: Gitigaan (Fond du Lac Reservation, Carlton and St. Louis Counties), Grand Portage (Grand Portage Reservation, Cook County), Leech Lake (Leech Lake Reservation, Cass and Itasca Counties), Red Lake (Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians, Beltrami and Clearwater Counties), and AKI (White Earth Reservation, Becker and Mahnomen Counties).

1997

Community Connectors led by Patricia Stoppa, Brown County, and Sara Taylor, Staff Development office to recognize outstanding collaborative effort in working with new, non-English-speaking residents in Brown, Cottonwood, Lyon, Nobles, and Watonwan Counties.

1996

The Minnesota AgrAbility and Migrant Farm Worker Camp Health Aide program team led by John Shutske, Extension Safety Specialist, and Patricia Ohmans, Research Assistant to recognize work with farm families and workers who have disabilities and with migrant or seasonal farm workers.

1995

The Kandiyohi County Nutrition Education Program Team (Ann Bosch, Extension Educator; Darlene Glatzmaier, Mary Nordgren, Mary Overcash, Nutrition Education Assistants): to recognize this team's pioneering work with the Hispanic community in Willmar to teach learning readiness to preschoolers and nutrition education to young mothers

1994

The Phillips Neighborhood Lead Collaborative led by Diane Corrin, Hennepin County Extension Educator to recognize outstanding collaborative effort and contributions to the childhood lead prevention project in the Phillips Neighborhood in Minneapolis.

1993

Cluster 11 Diversity Issue Team (Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, and Rock Counties): to recognize a three-year program to help rural Southwest Minnesota communities incorporate an increasingly diverse population, particularly Southeast Asian and Hispanic families, into their communities in a positive, welcoming environment.

1992

The Minnesota Agricultural Student Trainee (MAST) and Practical Agricultural Reciprocal Training Program (PART): to recognize programming that fosters international understanding and appreciation of other cultures. Annually, MAST brings 175 young agricultural students from as many as 30 countries to live, work and study in Minnesota. The PART program offers Minnesota agricultural students the chance to live and work in other countries.

1991

Lynette Marten & Karen Lilley: to recognize their efforts to provide support and public relations materials to culturally diverse audiences throughout Minnesota.

Cluster 16 staff (Julie Fox, Rice County 4-H agent and project coordinator and 11 other Extension educators from Freeborn, Mower, Rice, and Steele Counties): to recognize a four-county program with the Mexico-Minnesota Project, a program to build understanding between the Hispanic migrant community and southern Minnesota residents through 4-H educational and recreational programs.

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