New Orleans ACORN Organizer wins RFK Human Rights Award.
Stephen Bradberry, the Head Organizer of ACORN's New Orleans chapter.
On Tuesday, October 4th, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial announced that it will award its 2005 Human Rights Award to Stephen Bradberry, the Head Organizer of ACORN's New Orleans chapter.
As an ACORN organizer, Bradberry has fought to protect the
economic, political, and social rights of our member communities through campaigns targeted at increasing voter participation, preventing predatory lending, and preventing lead poisoning in children.
Since Hurricane Katrina, Bradberry and the staff and members of
New Orleans ACORN have been organizing survivors of the Hurricane from temporary offices in Baton Rouge. They are fighting for a rebuilding plan that will allow people, especially residents in the lower 9th Ward,to return home soon, and live in a stronger and better community.
The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award was established in 1984 to honor courageous and innovative individuals striving for social
justice throughout the world.
From the Press Release:
ON RFK'S 80TH BIRTHDAY, NEW ORLEANS ACTIVIST TO BE PRESENTED RFK HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD
Stephen Bradberry to be Awarded For Protecting the Rights of Low and Middle Income Families in New Orleans as Part of Program to Commemorate Robert F. Kennedy's 80th Birthday
Washington, D.C. -- This November, Robert F. Kennedy would
have celebrated his 80th Birthday. In honor of this occasion, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial will present a program of events on November 16th to celebrate RFK's life and legacy including a special tribute at the annual Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award Ceremony.
The 2005 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award will be presented to Stephen Bradberry, the Lead Organizer of the New Orleans chapter of ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families working together for social justice and stronger communities.
The award ceremony will take place in the Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building at on November 16th at 10:30 a.m.
At a time when our nation is faced with hard questions about the
role of government and the realities of poverty, Stephen Bradberry has become a voice for the low income communities of New Orleans. Even before Katrina devastated the city, one in every four people of New Orleans lived below the federally recognized poverty line. Stephen has fought to protect the economic, political, and social rights of these often forgotten citizens through campaigns targeted at promoting a living wage, preventing predatory lending, preventing lead poisoning in children, and increasing voter participation.
Securing a place for the concerns of low income communities in
government projects was essential to Robert Kennedy's vision of social justice. In a speech in 1966 RFK said that, "[i]t has been a long time since leadership in this country has spoken to the poor and tried to understand the problem of their existence." Kennedy noted that even though government officials may not like working with community leaders, "the price of their discontent may be progress- and stronger and safer communities for our children and ourselves."
This wisdom has become even more meaningful in the wake of
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, as the federal government and the American people are forced to recognize the insecurity faced by America's low income communities and the need for change. Stephen Bradberry's work with ACORN exemplifies RFK's vision of community leadership....
The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award ceremony marks the
beginning of a long-term partnership between the Stephen and the RFK Center for Human Rights that will put the rights of low income families on the national agenda.
Speakers for the event will be determined and the location is
subject to change. Please go to www.rfkmemorial.org for the latest
information on the event.
Source: Robert F. Kennedy Memorial
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"...if men are to be free for that "pursuit of happiness", which
was the earliest promise of the American nation- we will need more than
poverty programs, housing programs, and employment programs, although we
need all of these. We will need an outpouring of imagination, ingenuity,
discipline and hard work unmatched since the first adventurers set out
to conquer the wilderness. For the problem is the largest we've ever
known."
-- Robert F. Kennedy, December 10th 1966
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