Submitted by Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center
After careful consideration by the Whatcom Dispute Resolution Center (WDRC) Board of Directors, of a record number of community nominations, recipients have been selected for the 13th Annual Peace Builder Awards. The 2015 Peace Builder Award recipients are:
- Bruce and Cyndie Shepard, Western Washington University, Public Servant Award — For leadership and commitment to equality, empowerment, and communication.
- Care Transition Nurses, Lynden Christian Healthcare Center Rehab Program, Healthcare Award — For bringing peace of mind, body, and spirit to patients, families, and caregivers through compassionate and excellent communication, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills.
- Geof Morgan, Collaboration Award — For strengthening our community, facilitating collaboration, and empowering individuals and organizations to creatively problem solve, and create lasting connections that affect positive change.
- George Guerro, Community Care Award — For building peace by helping to meet basic needs of the Lummi community through a variety of community services programs.
- Heidi Alford, Advocacy and Inclusivity Award — For nurturing generations of peace-builders, encouraging openness, understanding, and acceptance among our community, and for helping ensure a safe and welcoming environment for our LGBTQ community members.
- Whatcom County Support Officers, Nonprofit Award — For bringing peace to community members in times of tragedy.
- Mehar Singh, Youth Award — For building community at Shuksan Middle School through collaboration, creativity, and communication.
- Bellingham Public Schools, Education Award — For helping students learn to resolve conflict productively, reducing out of school suspensions, and incorporating restorative practices into their discipline model.
The Bellingham Public School system has been looking for innovative alternatives to out of school suspensions for its students. Cordata Elementary School Dean of Students, Sharece Steinkamp, stated the magnitude of this change in her nomination. “Rather than pushing away our most fragile students, we are bringing them in closer and wrapping layers of support and love around them. This change of approach is resulting in happier, healthier and more successful students.”
The WDRC invites the public to join in celebrating recipients for their collaboration, creativity, and effort towards reducing conflict and strengthening our community. “News this year has brought many reminders of the need for better resolutions to conflict – school violence, families torn apart by vicious divorce, divisive community issues. This is a critical time to invest in conflict resolution. Help us recognize those who inspire collaboration, embody peace, and give hope to our community.” stated WDRC Director, Moonwater.
The 13th Annual Peace Builder Awards Gala takes place November 20, 2015 at 5:30 pm at the BTC Settlemyer Hall. Tickets start at $50 and can be purchased at www.whatcomdrc.org, 360-676-0122, or in person at the WDRC.
In addition to awards presentations, guests will enjoy a gourmet dinner prepared by BTC’s award winning culinary arts program, live music, and Peaceful Poetry Youth Contest presentations; as well as a silent auction, wine wall, dessert dash, and a grand prize raffle.
All proceeds of the Peace Builder Award’s Gala will benefit the WDRC and their mission to provide and promote constructive and collaborative approaches to conflict. For more information, contact Iris Maute-Gibson at 360-676-0122 or outreach@whatcomdrc.org.
(Cover photo credit: Phil Rose Photography.)
