On Wednesday night, United Campus Ministry (UCM) honored individuals and organizations in the community for their efforts in promoting peace and justice in the community.
Peggy Faw Gish received the Kuhre Griesinger Lifetime Achievement Award for her work as a peace activist. While Peggy was being introduced, former Lifetime Award winner Rev. Jan Griesinger sang a few verses while delivering an important message.
“That means you have to keep at it,” Griesinger said. “There is no rest for peace and social justice.”
Gish expressed how touched and honored she was to receive the award and explained how her passion for doing the right thing drove her to do the work she does.
“It’s good to get angry at injustice,” Gish said. “That anger can push you for social change and anger can transform into energy for social change.”
Gish was not the only person the UCM board recognized for their efforts in promoting social justice. According to UCM Board of Directors Chair Kellea Tibbs, each year the organization nominates groups or individuals they feel deserve this award. This year, six local groups or individuals received these awards: Black Student Union, Ellyn Burnes, Dr. David Descutner, Allie Erwin, Claire Chadwick, Hillel at Ohio University and the Ohio University Credit Union.
The Black Student Union has become a support system for all of the African-American student organizations on campus and has sought to expand political, cultural and professional knowledge among black student organizations and students. The group created a program called the Black Diamonds Awards, formerly known as The Black Girls Rock Program, to honor and recognize African-American women in the community. The recipients are chosen based on seven categories including academics, community service and leadership.
“These women are nominated and voted by their peers,” Black Student Union President Tyla Young said. “The purpose is to create positivity in our community.”
The Ohio University Credit Union was also recognized for creating positivity in the Athens community. They have been working to make their company and the Athens community a more equal place to live and work.
In January, the credit union, one of the largest employers in Athens, began offering comprehensive benefits to its employees and their partners, regardless of sexuality or gender identity, UCM Board Member Lance Poston said.
The founders of F--krapeculture, Allie Erwin and Claire Chadwick, also took home Social Justice Awards.
“We started a conversation on campus about sexual consent,” Erwin said. “We love everyone on this campus so we are working really hard to make a culture of consent a reality.”
Tibbs added this was one of the most successful Social Justice Award events.
She ended the night with a message to the recipients: “Students, don’t stop what you are doing.”
This article ran in print under the headline: "Social activists earn awards, recognition"
