HomeTop StoriesThese individuals and organizations won the Holland's Social Justice Awards in 2024

These individuals and organizations won the Holland’s Social Justice Awards in 2024

HOLLAND — For more than two decades, the Holland Human Relations Commission has recognized individuals and organizations making a difference in the community through Social Justice Awards.

On Wednesday, January 15, the HRC honored the 2024 winners.

Back row, from left: Sarah Lewakowski, Mosaic Counseling; Jim Greydanus, Holland Deacons Conference; Kay Walvoord, Holland Symphony Orchestra; Steve Stegeman, HeartSafe Netherlands; Chase Magsig, Dutch public schools. Front row, from left: Jake Norris and Lori Corbat-Appledorn, 3Sixty; Karinna Martinez, Dutch public schools; and Jennifer Brozowski, Ottawa County Community Action Agency.

This year, awards were presented in the categories of housing, education, government relations, community relations, health care and accessibility, along with a lifetime achievement award. The Holland Youth Advisory Council also awarded a Youth Social Justice Award.

This year’s winners were:

  • Kaj WalvoordLifetime Achievement Award

  • Chase MagsigAccessibility Award

  • Karinna MartinezYouth Social Justice Award

  • Mosaic adviceEducation Award

  • 3SixtyCommunity Relations Award

  • Ottawa County Community Action AgencyGovernment Relations Award

  • Houses of Brothers and SistersHouse price

  • HartSafe NetherlandsHealthcare price

For the past 33 years, Walvoord’s name has been synonymous with the Holland Symphony Orchestra, including 20 years as executive director. She started the Music Unites Us concert series, organized free concerts at Kollen Park and worked on collaborations with Herrick District Library and Big Read Lakeshore.

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More: Holland Symphony leader retires after 33 years

Magsig is a Deaf Language Model for Holland Public Schools, where he is a promoter of two-way communication between the deaf/hard of hearing and the hearing world. He also teaches American Sign Language and taught a free online ASL class in 2023. When not in school, he uses ASL at Camp Sunshine and also works with Michigan Hands and Voices.

Martinez is a student in Holland High School’s Early College Program and serves as a voice for the underrepresented and a promoter of equality for the marginalized. She tutors bilingual students and helps immigrants learn civics with the goal of passing the citizenship test. She is also in her third year on the Dutch Youth Advisory Council.

For eight years, Mosaic Counseling has provided free mental health services to more than 30 schools in Ottawa County, with the goal of removing barriers for families and students. They have trained 12,000 adults and teens in their suicide prevention program and work with several local organizations to raise community awareness.

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3Sixty’s work focuses on equal opportunities and inclusivity in local neighborhoods, including the Tulip City Walls Mural Festival and a Tool Library.

OCCAA is part of a network of agencies that believe that every family should have the opportunity for financial independence. Their programming focuses on food security, utility assistance, emergency home repairs and energy efficiency.

Brothers and Sisters Homes ensures that each resident in their adult foster homes is valued and involved in the community through employment, participation in community and church activities and more.

More: The Netherlands is officially a HeartSafe Community

HeartSafe Holland aims to equip the community with the ability to respond to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by providing hands-only CPR training at local businesses, schools and community events. In 2023 alone, the organization trained 15% of the community’s population, approximately 4,300 people.

For more information, visit socialjusticeawards.cityofholland.com.

– Contact reporter Austin Metz at ametz@hollandsentinel.com.

This article originally appeared in The Holland Sentinel: Holland Human Relations Commission names social justice winners for 2024

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