Happy Hour - Inclusive Communities

HUMANITARIAN AWARDS 2023

This year our awardees are Echohawk Lefthand, Kyle Dey, Amelis Long, and the Urban Abbey & Rev. Debra McKnight.
Our Honorary Event Chairs for 2023 are Sarah & Adam Yale.

A Note from Event Chairs

Sara and Adam Yale

Welcome to the 2023 Inclusive Communities Humanitarian Awards! We are thrilled to co-chair the event this year on August 4 at the Venue at the Highlander. We are proud to celebrate the work of several deserving community members, as Inclusive Communities honors them with awards as the Otto Swanson Spirit of Service Partner of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and Humanitarian of the Year. In addition, Inclusive Communities will present the Mart Sedky Corporate Leadership Award for the second year, named in honor of the late Mart Sedky.

For 85 years, Inclusive Communities has helped youth, adults, organizations, and communities to open hearts and minds to worlds beyond our own, and to help us all figure out how to have meaningful, respectful, and challenging conversations around identity, bias, equity, and justice. The challenges and opportunities of tomorrow will demand more diverse perspectives and solutions than yesterday and even today. We invite you to help Inclusive Communities meet this need with the gift of your time or financial contribution. Let’s continue the work to ensure that Nebraska has the most equitable communities that lead to a more just society..

We look forward to seeing you on August 4!

2023 AWARD HONOREES

Video Credit: Digital Moxie Studio

PAST HONOREES

Humanitarian of the Year

This award recognizes individuals for their outstanding service, contributions of time, effort and resources to the community and dedication to the goals, values and mission of Inclusive Communities.

1955 W.O. Swanson
1956 John Rosenblatt
1960 Gerald T. Bergan
1961 Morris E. Jacobs
1962 Milton S. Livingston
1963 Ralph Svoboda
V.J. Skutt
1964 Richard Walker
Gen. Thomas Power
1965 Dr. Abe Greenberg
1966 Leo A. Daly
1967 Peter Kiewit
1968 W.A. Strauss
Einer Juel
1969 Fr. H.W. Linn
Rev. Carl Reinert
1970 A.F. Jacobson
1971 Morris F. Miller
1972 Dr. A.B. Pittman
1973 J.D. Anderson & Eugene Leahy
1974 General John Meyer
1975 Sam Greenberg
Helen Cherniack
1976 Ben Morris
Archbishop Daniel Sheehan
1977 Milton R. Abrahams
Dr. Ronald Roskens
1978 Dale Te Kolste
William Hinckley
1979 John D. Diesing
Eugene Skinner
1980 Fr. Robert P. Hupp
James Paxson
1981 Rabbi Sidney Brooks
Dr. Claude Organ
1982 John Kenefick
Tom Osborne
1983 Charles A. Monasee
Thomas Nurnberger
1984 Robert Daugherty
Lloyd Skinner
1985 General Bennie Davis
Mike Harper
1986 Walter Scott, Jr.
Dr. D.B. “Woody” Varner
1987 Marge & Charles Durham
1988 Bernie Simon
Dr. Del Weber
1989 General John T. Chain
Rev. Michael G. Morrison, SJ
1990 Eugene A. Conley
Ike Friedman
1991 Thomas R. Burke
Robert M. Spire
1992 Thomas J. Skutt
Roy A. Smith
1993 Marian & Harold Andersen
1994 Herman Cain
1995 Carmen & John Gottschalk
Howard J. Kaslow
1996 Barbara & Bill Fitzgerald
Donald A. Yale
1997 Liz & Dave Karnes
Alan Simon, Fred Simon, &
Steve Simon
1998 Kimball & Bruce Lauritzen
Stanley Slosburg
1999 Phillip G. Schrager
Harley D. Schrager
Ann & Ken Stinson
2000 Jean & Bob Bell
Cookie & Jerry Hoberman
2001 Cindy & Mogens Bay
Nancy & Harlan Noddle
2002 Judy & Bob Bates
Debbie & Lew Trowbridge
2003 Mary & Dick Holland
Susie Buffett
2004 Judy & Jack Baker
Carol & G. Richard Russell
2005 Ann & John Nelson
Maxine & Joseph Kirschenbaum
2006 Rhonda & Howard Hawks
Gail & Michael Yanney
2007 Lin & Michael Simmonds
The Late Karen & George
Rozmarin
2008 Ivel & John Reed
Cindy & Wayne Sensor
2009 Henry A. Davis
Shirley & Dr. Michael Sorrell
2010 Mary Joy & Tal Anderson
Sharon & Dick Davis
2011 The Late Dr. Rubens Pamies
Martha & David Slosburg
2012 Susan & Michael Lebens
Dorothy & Dr. Stanley Truhlsen
2013 Stephanie & Jack Koraleski
Betiana & Todd Simon
Stacy & Bruce Simon
2014 Ramona & Deryl Hamann
Annette & Paul Smith
2016 Marian Ivers (in memoriam)
2017 Tri Faith Initiative
2018 Urban League Nebraska
Young Professionals
2019 Marta Nieves
2020 Bobby Brumfield
2021 Essential Workers
2022 Nancy Williams

Volunteer of the Year

This award is presented to one of Inclusive Communities’ committed volunteers who dedicate their time, energy, sweat, and passion to support our programming, advocacy, and mission.

2008 Mike Honeyman
2009 Hillary Nather-Detisch
2010 Christine French
2011 Emilio Herrera
2012 Ronald Moore
2013 Ebony Banks
2014 Kevin Custard
2016 Carrie Healy
2017 Nate Johnson
2018 Cornelius Rhone
2019 Emily Schirmbeck
2020 Haji Weliyo
2021 Alexis Sherman
2022 Bradley Ekwerekwu

Otto Swanson Spirit of Service Award for Partner of the Year

This award is named after Otto Swanson, one of Inclusive Communities’ early founders, and honors individuals and groups whose lives or chosen field of work exemplifies the mission of Inclusive Communities.

1987 Kathleen Serverens
1988 Project Homeless
1989 Bob Armstrong
1990 Rev. James P. Scholz
1991 Shirley Goldstein
1992 Mary Dean Harvey
1993 Rabbi Aryeh Azriel
1994 Denny Holland
1995 Joe Edmonson
1996 William E. Ramsey
1997 Truman Care
1998 Frank Hayes
1999 Brenda J. Council
2000 Alcurtis Robinson
2001 Ben Gray
2002 Alberto Gonzalez
Steve Hogan
Bob Wolfson
2003 Rev. John P. Schlegel, S.J.
2004 James A. “Jim” Swoopes
2005 Cecil L. Hicks, Jr.
Omaha Community Foundation
2006 Fr. Thomas M. Fangman, Jr.
Dr. Magda Peck
Rev. L.C. Menyweather-Woods
2007 Brad Ashford
Rabbi Myer Kripke
Retired Sergeant Teresa B. Negron
2008 Carol Woods
Charles Drew Health Center
Fred Schott
2009 Empowerment Network
Institute for Holocaust Education
2010 Katherine Fletcher
2011 Evelyn “Evie” Zysman
2012 Susan & Michael Lebens
Dorothy & Dr. Stanley Truhlsen
2013 OneWorld Community Health Center
2014 Maricia Bredar
2016 Carol Joy Holling Center
2017 Gene Haynes
2018 Lakeisha Bonam
2019 Barbara Weitz Community
Engagement Center
2020 Omaha Public Power District
2021 OutNebraska
2022 Joyce Cooper

Necessary Trouble

2021Frederick Franklin
2022 Maddi Intravartolo

Humanitarian Awards Event Chairs

Humanitarian Awards Event Chairs have long been selected for their generosity to Inclusive Communities and leadership in the community. Many have been (or go on to be) honored at the same event with the Humanitarian Award. *Indicates they have already been honored.