(announcement from the MLK Committee) – Each year, the Clinton community MLK Committee awards the annual Peace and Justice Award to an individual or organization whose work in the community honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of non-violence, equality, peace, and justice. The committee is pleased to announce this year’s honoree is Dr. Karen Vickers.
Vickers recently retired as President of Clinton Community College. Her nominator John Bonte wrote, “I believe Karen was instrumental in getting the MLK Celebration started in cooperation with Mt. St. Clare and the YWCA.” In his nomination for Vickers, Bonte shared that Vickers implemented the Diversity Team on the CCC campus. With the onset of the Pangea Institute coming to Clinton, Vickers worked with a team to create programs for the community to welcome the new students and become familiar with Eastern and Western cultures. Bonte states that Vickers was involved in establishing the Maquoketa Learning Center, opening college opportunities for rural Iowans. In a letter of support, Lori Freudenberg states, “She has served in many capacities during her life: Vice-Chancellor for Student Development with the Eastern Iowa Community College, President of Clinton Community College, President of the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce, and a board member of the Clinton Regional Development Center, the Mercy Medical Center, US Bank, and United Way of Clinton, just to name a few. She served with a heart full of grace which was evident in her eagerness to see each organization grow and thrive and do their best to serve all people in whatever walk of life.” “Dr. Vickers also has a soul generated by love, shown by her great care and concern for the students who attended the college. Their goals became her goals,” said Freudenberg.
Vickers’ award marks the 19th year that the MLK Peace and Justice Award has been awarded in our community. Some of the prior recipients of the MLK Peace and Justice Award include Dina White, the Sisters of Saint Francis, Vinson Jetter, LaMetta Wynn, YWCA Clinton, Tiffany Harris, Leslie McCreery, Mardell Mommsen, former Police Chief Brian Guy, Lori Freudenberg, Dr. William Woods, Dick Kissack, and most recently John Bonte and Jennifer Graf.
For more information on the MLK Committee, please contact Mardell Mommsen at 563-244-7006 or visit the Eliminating Racism page of the YWCA website at www.ywcaclinton.org.
