You are just the kind of person the Sullivan Ballou Fund seeks to recognize and affirm. Since you were an undergraduate at the University of Minnesota in 2001, you have poured your heart into protecting human rights and combating torture. You could have had your choice of jobs in the private sector, but in 2004 you took on the job of coordinator of the Midwest Coalition for Human Rights. With the Coalition’s more than 40 member organizations and many ongoing activities, programs, and educational outreach efforts, this position requires enthusiasm, effective communication, sensitivity to the concerns of member organizations, and a deep commitment to protecting the powerless of the world. You have provided all this with a friendly competence that has earned the trust of the Coalition’s members and enhanced its effectiveness. Moreover, you have been a supportive presence to both the students and professionals who work in the challenging field of human rights.
You have been described as a “quiet doer” who gets the job done without ever calling attention to yourself and your important role. This is pure heart-work, done without a hint of a personal agenda or hope of recognition or reward. This pure expression in the world of the love and compassion in your heart are the qualities that Sullivan Ballou exemplified. We honor you today for your work, but we also learn from you. You teach us that heart energy is what matters. We are inspired by your example.
Congratulations!
Elissa and Bruce Peterson, Founding Members