CLA Honors Community Partners with Inaugural Civitas Awards

CLA Dean John Coleman poses with people who received Civitas awards.
Dean John Coleman with Becky Krekelberg and Ashley Laffen, Enterprise Holdings; Michele Thiesen, The Arc Minnesota; Morgan Bailey, Target; Scott Vargo, Hennepin County; Vernon Rowe, Northeast Middle School; Robin P. Hickman, SoulTouch Productions]
Close up of a Civitas Award. It's a small wooden bridge.
The Civitas Awards symbolizes the bridges between the College and the community. It is a replica of the the "Big M" suspension bridge that until recently served as a bridge from the East Bank into the Marcy Holmes neighborhood.
Photo of Becky Krekelberg from Enterprise Holdings receiving a Civitas Employer Partner award.
Becky Krekelberg from Enterprise Holdings receives a Civitas Employer Partner award on behalf of the company.
John Coleman stands near a photo of Patricia Ariza Florez, who won the Dean's Liberal Arts Champion Award
Patricia Ariza Florez, founder and director, Teatro La Candelaria and Corporación Colombiana de Teatro won the Dean's Liberal Arts Champion award. She was not able to be present but will receive the award during the upcoming academic year.
Photo of Robin P. Hickman receiving the Civitas Community Catalyst Award from Dean Coleman while Prof. Catherine Squires looks on.
Robin P. Hickman, CEO and executive producer of SoulTouch Productions receiving the Civitas Community Catalyst Award from Dean Coleman while Prof. Catherine Squires, who nominated her, looks on.
Robin P. Hickman, Catherine Squires, and Amelious Whyte taking a photo together.
(L to R) Robin P. Hickman, CEO and executive producer of SoulTouch Productions, Professor Catherine Squires, and Amelious Whyte, CLA director of public engagement
Staff from CLA Career Services pose with Civitas Employer Partner Award winners.
CLA Career Services staff with Civitas Employer Partner honorees and colleagues. (L to R) Jessica Damm, Hennepin County; Emily Loudon, CLA Career Services; Beth Lory, CLA Career Services; Scott Vargo, Hennepin County, Emily Gasperlin, CLA Career Services, Morgan Bailey, Target; Momin Choudry, Target; Eloise DuBois, Target, Mike Curry, Target; Michelle Theisen, The Arc Minnesota; Gerard Ouedraogo, Target; Ashley Laffen, Enterprise Holdings; Paul Yager, Enterprise Holdings; Becky Krekelberg, Enterprise Holdings.
Kari Smalkoski, co-founder of the Minnesota Youth Story Squad introduces honoree Vernon Rowe.
Kari Smalkoski, a research associate in the Dept. of Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies and co-founder of the Minnesota Youth Story Squad, introduces Vernon Rowe, principal of Northeast Middle School and winner of the Civitas Community Partner Award.
Vernon Rowe and John Coleman stand together talking.
Northeast Middle School principal Vernon Rowe talking with Dean John Coleman at the event. Erik Lindquist of CLAgency looks on.
Vernon Rowe speaking at the podium as he holds a Civitas Award.
Northeast Middle School principal Vernon Rowe accepted the Civitas Community Partner and Civitas CLAgency Awards on behalf of the school.
John Coleman stands with a group of people from Target, which received a Civitas Award.
Target received the Civitas Employer Partner Award. (L to R) Dean John Coleman, Mike Curry, Eloise DuBois, Momin Choudry, Morgan Bailey (who accepted the award), and Gerard Ouedraogo.
Michelle Theissen from The Arc Minnesota receives a Civitas Award from John Coleman.
Michelle Theisen, volunteer development manager at The Arc Minnesota accepting a Civitas Employer Partner Award.
Scott Vargo speaking at the podium holding a Civitas Employer Award
Scott Vargo, University of Minnesota workforce development coordinator for Hennepin County, accepting a Civitas Employer Partner Award.

On June 13, 2019, the college held the first Civitas Awards ceremony. The awards recognize individuals and organizations who are strong partners of the CLA, as well as individuals and organizations who make a difference in the community. They were created to demonstrate our commitment to public engagement and to provide an opportunity to give back to the community that has given us so much.

Honorees

Dean’s Liberal Arts Champion
Patricia Ariza Florez, founder and director, Teatro La Candelaria and Corporación Colombiana de Teatro

Civitas Community Catalyst 
Robin Patricia Hickman, CEO and executive producer, SoulTouch Productions

Civitas Community Partner 
Vernon Rowe, principal, Northeast Middle School, Minneapolis

Civitas Employer Partner
Michelle Theisen, volunteer development manager, The Arc Minnesota

Civitas Employer Partner
Scott Vargo, University of Minnesota workforce development coordinator, Hennepin County 

Civitas Employer Partner
Enterprise Holdings 

Civitas Employer Partner
Target Corporation 

Civitas CLAgency Award
Northeast Middle School, Minneapolis

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