Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Commission

The Bill Hobbs Human Rights Award recognizes members in the community who work to build an environment that promotes fair and equal treatment for everyone. It is presented every December in conjunction with Human Rights Day. 

While nominations are open year-round, the deadline for submitting nominations for 2023 is Oct 18, 4:30. Nominations received after Oct 18 will be considered for the following year's award.

Bill Hobbs

Bill Hobbs served on the Golden Valley Human Rights Commission from 1965 to 1995, joining shortly after moving to Golden Valley.

In 1999, he received the HRC's first Human Rights Award, named after Hobbs himself. The award is meant to recognize an outstanding citizen who has worked to build an environment that promotes fair and equal treatment for everyone.

Since then, the Bill Hobbs Human Rights Award has been presented to eight community members/organizations for their dedication in making Golden Valley a more welcoming and inclusive city.

Nomination Process

Nominations may be submitted by either an individual or an organization (ie, a club, social agency, unit of government, religious denomination, school, or business). Fill out the online nomination form.

• Nominees must live, work, or conduct business in Golden Valley during the nomination year.
• Nominee activities proposed for recognition should have a positive impact or clearly improved understanding or cooperation in the areas of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, or familial status.
• Nominee services must be either voluntary or above and beyond a paid employee's usual job responsibilities.
• Members of the Golden Valley Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission are not eligible for the award while serving on the commission.

Selection & Award Process

• The recipient is selected by members of the Golden Valley Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission.
• The DEIC may give special consideration to activities that have occurred for an extended time, at least part of which have taken place during the current year, and that have had a significant impact on an affected group or individual.

The award is presented during a City Council Meeting. The recipient's name is inscribed on a plaque permanently displayed in Golden Valley City Hall. In addition, the recipient receives a similar plaque inscribed with his/her organization's name.

Past Winners

The MLK Human Rights Contest is open to students in grades K-12 who live in Golden Valley, attend a school in Golden Valley, or attend a Robbinsdale Area District or Hopkins District school. Winners receive a cash prize.

2023 Themes

Pre-K–Kindergarten (Theme: Inclusion)

• Quote: “We cannot walk alone.”

Grades 1–12 (Theme: Equality/Justice)

• Quote (grades 1–3): "If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way."
• Quote (grades 4–7): "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend."
• Quote (grades 8–12): "The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy."

Submissions

Students may enter any creative submission that exemplifies the themes and quotes above, including, but not limited to: artwork, poetry, videos, songs, raps, or essays. Audio or video entries can be submitted through YouTube or other multimedia platforms. Entries must include:

• students name, address, phone/email, and grade level
• parent/caregiver name, phone/email
• school name and teacher contact information

The contest is open to K–12 students who live in Golden Valley, attend a school in Golden Valley, or attend a Robbinsdale Area District or Hopkins District school.

Cash prizes may be given to up to two students in each grade range: Pre-K–Kindergarten, 1–3, 4–7, and 8–12. Winners will also be recognized at the Sweet Potato Comfort Pie event.

Jan 15, 2023, from 2–4 pm
Breck School
123 Ottawa Ave N
Golden Valley, MN 55422

Submissions are due by 4 pm Dec 21, 2022 and can be submitted to Tara Olmo at 7800 Golden Valley Rd, Golden Valley, MN 55427.

Winners and Submissions

2023

• DeAngelo Dungey
• Samuel Schwartzentruber
• Sondre Thoresen
• View all submissions.

2022

• Renee Woolever - 2022
• Owen Ruzicka - 2022

2021

• Amaya Young - 2021
• Aya Ouazizi - 2021

In 2018, the Golden Valley City Council voted to create the Rising TIDES Task Force to provide recommendations on how to fulfill the City's newly adopted Equity Plan. Over the next 2 1/2 years, the task force spent its time researching and engaging with the Golden Valley community on various equity-based topics. Stemming from the Task Force's work was a proposal to create a more permanent body of appointed community members committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This new commission would also replace the Golden Valley Human Rights Commission (HRC).

The HRC served the Golden Valley community for more than 50 years, providing guidance to the City Council on human rights issues, helping build community by creating opportunities for dialogue on human rights issues, sponsoring events like the HRC's Annual Day of Service, and directing persons to resources on human rights.

More past HRC community outreach events include:

• Antisemitism, Xenophobia, and Hate: Local and Global Challenges
• Climate Change in Minnesota: Implications and Disparate Impacts
• Green Card Youth Voices
• Human Sex Trafficking Awareness Program
• Mental Health Awareness Program
• Movie Night: Buried Above Ground (documentary on PTSD)
• Movie Night: MN Nice? (documentary on bullying)
• Preventing Genocide (Joint HRC program)
• Restore The Vote Discussion
• Why Treaties Matter

HRC & Rising TIDES Archived Documents

• View archived HRC Agendas and Minutes
• View  HRC Final Report
• View  Rising TIDES Agendas and Minutes
• View  Rising TIDES Final Report