Human Rights Commission seeking nominations for awards to be presented at Unity Breakfast

The executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights will be the keynote speaker for the Oct. 28 breakfast.

Nominations are being accepted for several awards that will be presented at Hopkinsville’s Unity Breakfast on Thursday, Oct. 28, at the James E. Bruce Convention Center.

The breakfast starts at 7:30 a.m. The keynote speaker for the annual observance of Human Rights Week will be Terrance A. Sullivan, the executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights

The awards are:

  • Hal and Bettye Thurmond Award — awarded to an individual or group who’s making a difference to improve the community through their dedication to human relations. This award is presented by the Hopkinsville Human Rights Commission. 
  • Unity Awards — given to an individual or group in the Hopkinsville community who contributes to the spirit of unity. This award is presented by the mayor of Hopkinsville. A new Unity Award has been added this year to include residents of Christian County (outside the Hopkinsville city limits) and will be presented by the judge-executive.
  • Bernard Standard Award for Excellence — acknowledges outstanding service and devotion that goes above and beyond the call of duty, recognizing an individual who sets a high standard of excellence that has made our community better.
  • Volunteer of the Year Award — to recognize and honor a volunteer for their outstanding service to Hopkinsville. 

Nominations are due Sept. 24 and can be submitted on the commission’s website

The theme of this year’s breakfast is Our Unity is Our Strength, and Our Diversity is Our Power, the commission announced. 

Advance tickets are $20, and tables for eight guests can be reserved. Tickets at the door will be $30. To purchase tickets or for more information, contact the commission office at 270-887-4010 or hrc@hopkinsvilleky.us.

Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. She spent 30 years as a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition.