CKCPJ Annual Dinner: A Time for Celebration and Networking The CKCPJ Annual Dinner is our time together to celebrate our successes and spotlight those in our community who wage peace and justice.
2017 Annual Dinner and Network Fair
Dinner - 6:00 p.m.
Networking Fair - 5:00 p.m.
Place and date to be announced.
Past Years
- Sunday, March 6, 2016 - Imani Family Life Center, Lexington
The Networking/Resource Fair lined the hallway where several different organizations were represented. Co-Chairs Janet Tucker and David Christiansen welcomed everyone and Rev. Willis Polk (Pastor of Imani Baptist Church) led a meditation. The following CKCPJ awards were announced (see biographies on these award winners in the March 2016 Peaceways):
- CKCPJ 2016 Award for a Lifetime of Waging Peace: Marilyn Daniel
- Peacemaker of the Year: Kentuckians for the Commonwealth
- Andres Soto, Jr., Youth Peacemaker Award: Dequorian Coulter
- Chuck Sohner Worker's Advocate Award: Jennifer Mossotti
George Ella Lyon, poet laureate of Kentucky and long time advocate for justice and peace, was the keynote speaker. During the networking fair, she had invited participants to note their own efforts to promote peace - and then she compiled the notes into a poem which she read to the audience. She read from her works and then led the audience in a group sing - urging them to sing with the voice they have, not the voice they wish they had, "Sing on!"
- Sunday, March 15, 2015 - Imani Family Life Center, Lexington
The Networking/Resource Fair lined the hallway where several different organizations were represented. Co-Chairs Janet Tucker and David Christiansen welcomed everyone, and The Rev. Carol Ruthven (Rector at St. Andrew's in Lexington) offered a word of thanks and celebration for all peacemakers. Rev. Willis Polk (Pastor of Imani Baptist Church) introduced the Young Gospel Singers, then after they sang, he led a prayer before everyone went to get their food. Janet Tucker presented a commemorative plaque to the family of the late April Browning, a CKCPJ board member. David Christiansen described the work of the Working Family Campaign; April Taylor spoke of the movement #BlackLivesMatter and taught attendees the chants used in Ferguson protests; and, Gail Koehler described the White Privilege Conference and her work with Lexington United. Then the CKCPJ awards were announced:
- Sunday, March 16, 2014 - Imani Family Life Center, Lexington
After the Networking/Resource Fair, the attendees were welcomed by CKCPJ Co-Chairs Rebecca DiLoreto and David Christensen. CKCPJ Board member Marion Gibson led us in a quiet meditation before dinner. Larry L. Johnson, Director of Community Collaboration Initiatives for LFUCG's Partners for Youth, gave the keynote address: "The Right Time to Address Violence: Potential Strategies in Lexington." The CKCPJ awards were then announced: In conclusion, Mrs. Alberta Hill sang, "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen."
- Sunday, March 3, 2013 - Central Christian Church, Lexington
After the Networking/Resource Fair, the attendees were welcomed by CKCPJ Co-Chairs Rebecca DiLoreto and Bruce Mundy. A short meditation period was led by Andres Soto, a senior at The Learning Center at Linlee. The new CKCPJ Peace Plate Campaign was announced - and the attendees got to see the beautiful plate featuring sandhill cranes in flight designed by artist Jaqui Linder of Harrodsburg - and the tagline "Peace is Possible" suggested by CKCPJ Board Member Corey Dunn. The CKCPJ awards were then announced:- CKCPJ 2013 award for a Lifetime of Waging Peace: Rev. Dr. Albert M. Pennybacker
- Chuck Sohner Living Wage Award: UK United Students Against Sweatshops
- CKCPJ 2013 Peacemaker of the Year: Partners for Youth
- Youth Peacemaker Award: Dorneshia Thomas
The keynoter was A. Hasan Davis, Commissioner of the Kentucky Juvenile Justice System (see his bio at http://djj.ky.gov/meetthestaff)
- Sunday, February 26, 2012 - Transylvania University, Lexington
The Peace Resources and Networking Fair took place from 5-6 pm. Dinner featured a vegan-only menu. The President of Transylvania University, Dr. Owen Williams, welcomed the group. CKCPJ then acknowledged their gratitude for the great work and lives of two former Council members recently deceased: Mary Ann Pratt and Raymond A. Wilkie, Jr. George Ella Lyon opened the dinner program with two poems. The CKCPJ awards were announced:- Chuck Sohner Living Wage Award: The Worker's Advocates at Occupy Lexington
- CKCPJ 2012 Peacemaker of the Year: Beth Rosdatter
- CKCPJ 2012 award for a Lifetime of Waging Peace: Yvonne Giles
After the awards, Dr. Brian L. Rich, CKCPJ member and professor of Sociology at Transylvania University, introduced the keynote speaker, Eduardo Nino-Moreno, Transylvania University's Director of Diversity and Inclusion, who spoke on: "A Diversity Voyage: From the United Nations to Transylvania University."
- Sunday, March 6, 2011 - Transylvania University, Lexington
During the Peace Resources and Networking Fair, classical guitarist Michael Fogler played. The program began with a beautiful poem by Danny Woolums and a welcome speech from Mayor Jim Gray. The CKCPJ Awards were announced:- CKCPJ 2011 Peacemaker of the Year: Erin Howard, Bluegrass Community and Technical College
- CKCPJ 2011 award for a Lifetime of Waging Peace: Betsy Neale, founding Executive Director of CKCPJ
After the CKCPJ Peace Awards were announced, our speaker was Dr. Catherine Fosl, historian and biographer of Anne Braden, from the Anne Braden Institute for Social Justice Research in Louisville who spoke on "Beyond the Oppression Olympics: Toward an Intersectional Politics for the 21st Century." Following her presentation Dr. Fosl facilitated a lively discussion with the audience.
- Sunday, March 7, 2010 - Central Christian Church, Lexington
PANEL on the possibilities of a Peace House Living-Learning Community at the University of Kentucky, facilitated by UK Assistant Provost Richard B. Greissman; featuring a conversation with three faculty members from the long-standing Peace Studies program at Bluegrass Community and Technical College (Carol Hunt, Michael Benton, and Rebecca Glasscock).
For details on earlier dinners, please see Peaceways newsletters. |
CKCPJ Annual Awards Chuck Sohner/Workers' Advocate Award
The Council's longest standing award, this recognizes a person or group in Central Kentucky who has made important contributions to civil rights or fairer labor practices. This is an annual award but may acknowledge longstanding efforts as well a efforts in the prior year. Chuck Sohner was a long-time social justice activist in Central Kentucky who worked on civil rights and labor issues and was one of the founders of the Living Wage Campaign. After his death, his family, his wife, Michelle, and his daughter, Amy, set up this award in his honor. Chuck was a board member of the CKCPJ and, in the words of Jeffery Freyman who reviewed Chuck's memoir Final Exams, "a guiding figure in the progressive politics of Lexington from the time he arrived here from California in 1988 until his death in 2003." Peacemaker of the Year Award
CKCPJ began giving this award in 2011. It is to recognize a person or group who has made major efforts to address issues of peace, justice, human rights, or environmental protection/improvement, in the Central Kentucky area in the past year.
Lifetime of Waging Peace Award
An award started in 2011, this recognition celebrates a Central Kentucky person or group whose personal commitment and efforts over a significant period have made sustained and major contributions to the cause of peace, justice, rights, or environmental protection/improvement.
Youth Peacemaker Award
First awarded in 2013, this recognizes the efforts of a Central Kentuckian or Central Kentucky youth group (under the age of 25) who has made important contributions to advancing awareness, developing skills, or leading actions with respect to peace, justice, human rights, or environmental protection/improvement.
To nominate individuals or groups for these awards, please send the following information via email to peaceandjusticeky@gmail.com no later than February 1st:- nominee name(s) and the award you are nominating for
- nominee contact information
- a list of nominee's achievements and a description of why you believe this nominee should be recognized by the award
- your name and contact information (phone, email, address) so that we can ask clarifying and follow-up questions
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