Committee Announces Awardees for 2014 Tennessee Human Rights Day Celebration

The committee planning Tennessee’s annual Human Rights Day celebration has just released the names of the 2014 awardees.

Human Rights Day in Tennessee has become a time to celebrate the leaders of yesterday and recognize those taking up the torch for tomorrow, a time to look at battles won and lessons learned as well as to inspire the youth of today to do something about the state of the world tomorrow. It occurs each year on December 10^th, and this year the celebration will take place at the First Amendment Center.

The event centers on the Human Rights Lifetime Achievement awards.   Awardees in this category are Father Joseph Breen, formerly of St. Edward Church who is known widely for his work to strike down the 2009 “English Only” proposition in Nashville; and First Baptist Church Capitol Hill which has long served as a beacon for the civil rights movement.

“Rising Advocate” awards will also be given to individuals who have been working in the field of human rights for a short time, but show great promise for the future.  Planning committee chair Rev. Brian Fesler says, “This is a great chance to recognize the leaders of tomorrow.” Rising Advocate awards this year will go to Eben Cathey with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and Daynise Joseph with Organized Neighbors of Edgehill.

The Committee has also revealed a new award this year: the Outstanding Service for Human Rights Award. Recipients of this honor include Yuri Cunza with the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Avi Poster who has championed immigrant rights for years.

The committee organizing the event for Human Rights Day includes the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, Metro Human Relations Commission, Church of Scientology, Muslim Women’s Council and Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.  The event is free and open to the public.  Networking begins at 5pm and the program starts at 5:30.  For more information or to become involved, visit www.nashvillehumanrights.org.