City of Davis

May 29, 2009

Council to Recognize 2009 Thong Hy Huynh Award Winners on June 16

Contact:

• City Manager’s Office
• (530) 757-5602

Recipients in six categories have been selected to receive Thong Hy Huynh awards recognizing significant contributions in addressing, improving and/or resolving civil and human rights issues in the city of Davis. The City Council will present the awards at the City Council meeting on Tuesday evening, June 16th, in Community Chambers, beginning at 6:30 pm. A simple reception will follow the awards ceremony. All winners of the Thong Hy Huynh Awards are listed on the City’s Perpetual Plaque, which is kept in Community Chambers.

The Thong Hy Huynh Awards are named after Davis High School student Thong Hy Huynh, who was killed in 1983 in a racially-motivated stabbing while on campus. Every year, the city’s Human Relations Commission recommends recipients for the awards based on nominations from the community.

The categories for awards and the names of recipients in each category are as follows:

Lifetime Achievement

Winner:

Dorothy Foytik

Nominated By:

Ellen Pontac

The Lifetime Achievement Designation is awarded for significant civil rights efforts over a long period of time while improving the quality of life in Davis. The recipient may be an individual who or community organization that has promoted positive human relations in the community.

For more than half a decade, Dorothy Foytik has been a bridge of support for women and families new to Davis. In her nineties, she is the force behind a program called Connections, which assists international visitors and new residents, specifically women, to Davis. Her work with this program means that its many participants over the years have felt welcome in Davis, learned about American and other cultures and have had new doors of opportunity opened for them.

Humanitarian Award

Winner:

Verena Borton

Nominated By:

Ann Privateer

Recognition for significant efforts in improving the quality of life for Davis residents by directly addressing the needs of specific groups within the community in the areas of health, human services, housing or employment.

Verena Borton, a resident of Davis for more than thirty years, is the president of the United Nations Association, Davis and an active volunteer with International House. She and her husband, Ray, have organized the weekly film showings at I-House for many years. Through her work with UNADavis, she has also been instrumental in spearheading the United Nations Association Film Festival, Traveling Film Festival Davis, which highlights documentaries about human rights issues worldwide. Verena and Ray were also designated as Davis Citizens of the Year in 2005.

Civil Rights Advocacy

Winner:

Rev. Kristin Stoneking

Nominated By:

Alex Achimore

Civil Rights Advocacy provides recognition for significant efforts and achievement in speaking on behalf of those who have little voice or are unable to speak for themselves or assert their civil rights.

Her nominator writes, “As the Director and Campus Minister at the Cal Aggie Christian Association, Kristin Stoneking works with students of many faiths to assist them in proudly articulating their faith practices and beliefs in a way that others can hear…She has been active in building bridges between faith communities that have had long standing difficulties with each other, and in so doing, sows the seeds of peace more broadly. Four years ago, Kristin developed her vision of building a Multifaith Living Community on the grounds of the CA House, and it was realized and opened last fall…Faith is just one more aspect of our diversity that can be misunderstood and cause bias, discrimination, and ultimately, acts of hatred.”

Community Education and Awareness

Winners:

David Greenwald

Nominated By:

Ann Privateer, Pam Nieberg

The Community Education and Awareness designation is awarded to an individual or group for educational efforts in promoting positive human relations, civil rights, cultural awareness and peaceful means of conflict resolution. These efforts have increased awareness of and appreciation for differences in our multicultural community.

David Greenwald began the blog, The People’s Vanguard of Davis, in 2006 and currently maintains it. The blog focuses in large part on local politics and has become an alternative to mainstream news sources in the community. Mr. Greenwald also hosts a live weekly radio show on KDRT. The show focuses on local politics and includes local officials.

Excellence in Community Involvement

Winner:

St. Martins

Nominated By:

Ann Privateer

This award is given to a business or professional organization that has a record of significant efforts in promoting and practicing equal opportunity. This organization has contributed to community efforts that promote positive human relations and civil rights in Davis.

St. Martins Episcopal Church has graciously opened their doors and facilities to host community meals on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Without the generous provision of their facility, Davis Community Meals would not be able to provide nutritious meals for those in need. Members of St. Martins often volunteer their services to assist with the preparation, serving and clean-up of meals.

Peace Officer of the Year

Winner:

Captain Darren Pytel

Nominated By:

Trease Petersen

The Peace Officer of the Year Award is given to a Davis or Yolo County peace officer who has displayed exceptional interpersonal skills under challenging circumstances. These efforts have resulted in effective conflict resolution or intervention and have promoted positive human relations in our multicultural and diverse community.

In 2008, Capt. Pytel began working on a program to pro-actively reduce truancy in our Davis schools. Throughout the process of shaping, molding and refining the Davis Truancy Intervention Program, Capt. Pytel stressed the importance and significance of the “home visit” component of the program. Sheila Smith, Davis Senior High Vice Principal states, “Since implementing the truancy program our attendance has increased each reporting period. More importantly, though, through the process of the truancy program we have identified students who will benefit from community support and intervention. Capt. Pytel has been a strong proponent of intervention rather than enforcement throughout the process of developing and implementing the truancy program.”

Captain Pytel also developed the newly implemented School Resource Officer position and the Citizen’s Police Academy. Chief Landy Black, said “Capt. Pytel’s stewarding and shepherding the development of this important program was instrumental in actually taking the SRO program from concept to successful implementation.”