Tennessee Celebrates International Human Rights Day 2021 with Phenomenal Leaders


Posted December 16, 2021 by juliebrinker

Tennesseans gather each year in December to celebrate International Human Rights Day. This year, the event was held virtually and livestreamed on www.facebook.com/tennesseehumanrights.

 
During the
event, leaders were acknowledged and awards were given to human rights
champions in three categories: Rising Advocate, Outstanding Service, and
Lifetime Achievement. Beverly Watts,
director of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, served as master of
ceremonies for the affair. Mel Fowler-Green, director of the Metro Human
Relations Commission, gave remarks on the theme: “The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights: Foundation for Dignity.” A Q&A incorporating the theme was moderated
by David Plazas of the Tennessean, and he posed questions to Zulfat Suara, a
2017 recipient of the Outstanding Service Award for Human Rights and first
Muslim elected to Metro Council. The Rising
Advocate Awards went to Timothy Hughes, an activist who works at the
intersection of public policy & social justice; and Joseph Gutierrez, the
Education Program Officer at the Dan and Margaret Maddox Fund who also
coordinates the work of API Middle Tennessee, an Asian & Pacific
Islander-serving community-based organization. The Outstanding
Service Award went to Judge Rachel Bell who has served as a judge since 2012,
during which time she established a community court that has a mission to focus
on preventive, diversionary, and restorative justice initiatives to move the
needle for marginalized people. The Lifetime Achievement
Awards went to Ms. Andrea Conte, former first lady of Tennessee and founder of
You Have the Power; and Rev. Enoch Fuzz, the pastor of Corinthian Missionary
Baptist Church who has long advocated for all people. A committee of
human rights organizations, nonprofits, and advocates, including the Tennessee
Human Rights Commission, Metro Human Relations Commission, Tennessee United for
Human Rights, the Church of Scientology, and others, work together each year to
plan the event. “Each year on
Human Rights Day we look at challenges–those we have overcome and those we
face. We hope that a brief look at our victories will give us the hope and
strength to reach into the future,” says planning committee chair Rev. Brian
Fesler, pastor of the Church of Scientology in Nashville. “The day centers
around the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and this year we focus on
human rights as the foundation for dignity.”

























 
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Issued By Joshua Harding
Country United States
Categories Event , Free , Lifestyle
Last Updated December 16, 2021