Jack Forbes Posthumously Wins Lifetime Achievement Award from City

Recipients in seven categories have been selected to receive Thong Hy Huynh awards recognizing significant contributions in addressing, improving and/or resolving civil and human rights issues in the city of Davis. The City Council will present the awards at the City Council meeting on Tuesday evening, May 31st in Community Chambers, beginning at 6:30 pm. A simple reception will follow the awards ceremony. All winners of the Thong Hy Huynh Awards are listed on the City’s Perpetual Plaque, which is kept in Community Chambers.

Lifetime Achievement
Winner: Jack Forbes (d. February 23, 2011)
Nominated By: John Pamperin

The Lifetime Achievement Designation is awarded for significant civil rights efforts over a long period of time while improving the quality of life in Davis. The recipient is someone who has promoted positive human relations in the community.

Jack Forbes, who passed away at age 77 in February of this year, spent a lifetime working to foster Native American race relations. He was born in 1934 and grew up in southern California. He is one of the individuals credited with starting the Native American studies program at UC Davis in 1969, as well as a graduate program in 1999. Forbes also had the vision for D-Q University, which was the first all-Native American college in the country in 1971.

In addition to his local work with Native American studies, Forbes wrote numerous books and scholarly articles with titles such as “The American Discovery of Europe,” and “Africans and Native Americans.”

Humanitarian Award
Winner: Lea Rosenberg
Nominated By: Dave Rosenberg

The Humanitarian Award recognizes significant efforts in improving the quality of life for Davis residents by directly addressing the needs of specific groups within the community in the areas of health, human services, housing or employment.

Although Lea Rosenberg has volunteered in countless capacities throughout the community over the past quarter century, she was nominated to receive the Humanitarian Award because of her recent efforts with foster youth and emancipated foster youth. Her nominator Dave Rosenberg writes, “Lea…has raised a considerable amount in donations to provide funds for these foster kids to stay in school, to purchase bus passes and books, as well as clothing and school supplies. She has raised money so that the kids can live in apartments after they become adults. She has taken a personal interest in Davis’ own Progress Ranch – a home for 6 very hard to place foster boys – bringing them games and toys, and supplying the home with gifts when the kids have birthdays.”

Ms. Rosenberg has also worked to support the Yolo Food Closet, Meals on Wheels and All Things Right and Relevant.

Young Humanitarian Award
Winner: Desiré Campusano
Nominator: Joaquin Galvan

The Young Humanitarian Award is similar to the Humanitarian Award, but it is restricted to young people in grades K-16 or equivalent.

Desiré Campusano is a respected undergraduate student activist at UC Davis and in the community. According to her nominator, Joaquin Galvan, “she has been actively involved with and instrumental in the organizing and advocacy of several campus and community-wide projects.” Desiré is a Peer Advising Counselor, involved in the Multi-Cultural Immersion Program, a mentor in the Amig@’s Mentorship Program and a volunteer with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center. She was also the La Raza Cultural Days Co-Coordinator for the past year.

Civil Rights Advocacy
Winner: Amagda Perez
Nominated By: Joaquin Galvan, Nico De Anda-Scaia

Civil Rights Advocacy provides recognition for significant efforts and achievement in speaking on behalf of those who have little voice or are unable to speak for themselves or assert their civil rights.

According to her nominators, Amagda Perez “has been committed to improving legal access for rural immigrant communities since childhood.” As a child, Ms. Perez realized that bilingual resources for rural communities were critical but, in most cases, did not exist and has worked to bridge that gap her entire life.

Amagda graduated from UC Davis and then the UC Davis School of Law before working for California Rural Legal Assistance and the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation. In addition, she is a professor at the UC Davis School of Law.

Community Education and Awareness
Winners: Davis High School Race and Social Justice Class
Nominated By: Craig Blomberg

The Community Education and Awareness designation is awarded to an individual or group for educational efforts in promoting positive human relations, civil rights, cultural awareness and peaceful means of conflict resolution. These efforts have increased awareness of and appreciation for differences in our multicultural community.

The Race and Social Justice class was envisioned by a community member and high school teacher about six years ago and is concluding its fourth year as a course at Davis Senior High School. The course begins with an historical overview of tolerance and intolerance, helping students recognize the unique filters through which every individual sees the world. The course also requires a group project to research historical and current day perspectives of a chosen topic.

Excellence in Community Involvement
Winner: Davis Bridge Educational Foundation
Nominated By: Nico de Anda-Scaia

This award is given to a business or professional organization that has a record of significant efforts in promoting and practicing equal opportunity. This organization has contributed to community efforts that promote positive human relations and civil rights in Davis.

Davis Bridge is dedicated to improving the academic achievement of low-income Davis students, particularly Latina/o from Spanish-speaking households in grades K-12. Davis Bridge provides tutoring, computer access, school supplies, and after-school snacks at four after-school homework clubs. These homework clubs are staffed by UC Davis students who are fluent in both Spanish and English and who receive course credit for their participation. The program is free to participants.

Davis Bridge first began serving students in 2004. Since its inception, the program has brought more than 150 students and over 130 UC Davis students together each year on four DJUSD campuses.

Peace Officer of the Year
Winner: City of Davis Police Officers John Neves and Peter Faeth
Nominated By: Captain Darren Pytel

The Peace Officer of the Year Award is given to a Davis or Yolo County peace officer who has displayed exceptional interpersonal skills under challenging circumstances. These efforts have resulted in effective conflict resolution or intervention and have promoted positive human relations in our multicultural and diverse community.

Officers Neves and Faeth are bicycle officers, and one of their duties is to reach out and work with the homeless population. Many of the homeless do not want interaction with the police or other governmental services. Despite this, many are willing to interact with Officer Faeth and Officer Neves. According to Captain Darren Pytel, the officers work to “strike a careful balance of providing for safety and order and to ensure the rights of every individual are preserved…Both officers work with a passion to do the right thing and make sure every human being is treated with dignity and respect.”

Background

The purpose of the Human Relations Commission, which was established in 1983, is to develop positive human relations through greater education and understanding and to encourage and promote equal opportunity under the law.

The Commission annually seeks nominations for the Thong H. Huynh Awards. The awards are presented once each year in commemoration of the racially-motivated stabbing death of Davis High School student Thong H. Huynh on May 4, 1983