This summer at the 2011 Netroots Nation conference in Minneapolis, 15 “unsung heroes” received the first Freedom from Fear Awards, honoring ordinary people who have committed extraordinary acts of courage on behalf of immigrants and refugees—individuals who have taken a risk, set an example, and inspired others to awareness or action.
The winners included four DREAM students who walked 1500 miles from Miami to Washington, D.C., to dramatize the barriers facing undocumented immigrants. (The Open Society Foundations supported the Trail of Dreams that the four students led). Also honored were two men—one American and one South Asian—who rescued trafficked guest workers from virtual servitude.
Also honored was a police chief who was vilified for speaking up against local enforcement of federal immigration laws and an African American legislator in the Deep South who helped pass a model anti-racial profiling ordinance, citing the unlawful targeting of immigrants in his state. Other winners were LGBTQ and undocumented youth who have spurred others to come out of the shadows.
The Freedom from Fear Award was created by philanthropic leaders Geri Mannion and Taryn Higashi as a way of “paying forward” $10,000 they received as co-recipients of the 2009 Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking, presented by the Council on Foundations. Friends and colleagues, including staff at the Open Society Foundations, contributed additional funds to meet a $100,000 challenge grant from the W.K.Kellogg Foundation, thus enabling 15 winners to receive $5,000 each and a commissioned art piece. The awards were administered and produced by my organization, Public Interest Projects.
AIR SHOW SOARS TO GARY AIRPORT
Post-Tribune (IN) August 21, 1999 PHOTO - 3 TOP: A member of the flight crew of an Air Force T-38 Talon jet trainer salutes before takeoff Friday at Gary/Chicago Regional Airport. ABOVE: Secret Service agent Jim Crane looks into an F-16 used by the Thunderbirds precision flying team as the Red Barron pizza company's Stearman Squadron of biplanes streaks through the sky. LEFT: People of all ages peer through fencing in Gary to watch the coming and going of airplanes connected to the Chicago Air and Water Show. (LARRY A. BRETTS/POST-TRIBUNE) THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM THE PRINTED VERSION. here chicago air and water show 2011
Mike Godoy, 40, of East Chicago heard the planes flying overhead as he was driving by the Gary/Chicago airport on Friday and decided to make a beeline to the excitement. Godoy and other people from the community watched the military aircraft and civilian acts - including the U.S. Air Force's Thunderbirds and their F-16 Fighting Falcons - that will be featured in the 41st Chicago Air and Water Show today and Sunday.
"I'm off today, and it's a nice day," Godoy said. "To get this close to these jets are once in a lifetime. You are a hundred yards from these guys. They are just awesome machines." Roger Hruskovich, director of marketing for the airport, said 25 military planes and civilian acts like Red Baron Pizza Squadron, staged their aircraft in Gary.
"This is the staging area for the military aircraft participating in the Chicago Air and Water Show on Saturday and Sunday in the Oak Street Beach area," he said.
Hruskovich said the participants used to use the Glenview Naval Air Station, which closed, or the military area at O'Hare International Airport, which also closed.
Tom Womack, 33, of Austin, Texas, who is on hand with the Red Baron Stearman Squadron, said this weekend will be his first time flying in the Chicago show.
"It's exciting to be here," he said. "It's a pretty city. I look forward to seeing it from the vantage point above the lake, looking over at the city." Womack sad the red and white airplanes were used in World War II and by the Tuskegee Airmen as military trainers. website chicago air and water show 2011
Capt. Duane D. Hayden of Chicago, a support flight commander, said 54 men and women, including ground and air, will take part in the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds act.
"They are going to be doing a number of aerobatics maneuvers, different formations and flying solo," Hayden said. "People are excited to see the aviation aircraft because of the technology, the thrill of flying, the speed and performance of the aircraft." Hayden said the Gary Jet Center and the Gary/Chicago Airport staff are friendly and supportive of the men and women who use the airport as a staging area for parking, re-fueling and setting up.
Sonja Reillo, 29, of East Chicago brought her children, T.J., 2, and Jackie, 8, to see the airplanes.
"My son T.J. loves planes," she said. "My husband, Tito, was working, so I said I'd come here with the kids. The weather is perfect. The kids are looking forward to seeing the fast army planes and flips." J. W. Robertson of Gary said he does not plan to go to the Chicago Air and Water Show, but was glad he came out on Friday to the Gary/Chicago Airport.
"Too many people will be at the air show in Chicago - here it's really nice and you can enjoy it better," Robertson said.
This year's water show runs 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. both days; the air show is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (312) 744-3315; TDD (312) 744-2964. THIS ELECTRONIC VERSION MAY DIFFER SLIGHTLY FROM THE PRINTED VERSION.
The Open Society Foundations work to improve the lives of the world's most vulnerable people and to promote human rights, justice, and accountability. This blog aims to bring that work a little closer by giving our experts and grantees a platform to reflect on their issues, sharpen their thinking, and engage in a conversation on how to advance open society values around the globe.
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