Posted: 3/12/03

Carlsons win human rights award

Dr. Willard and Jan Carlson were selected on Saturday, March 8, as the winners of the First Annual ìBridging Our Differencesî Human Rights Award.

Members of the Forest Lake Human Rights Commission and three other invited judges made the selection after reviewing and independently scoring applications.

Human Rights Commission Chairman Dale Swanson, Judy Bull, James Heck and Gena Doyscher represented the Commission. The invited judges were Thelma McKenzie, President of the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissons, Bill Bresin, Chair of the District 831 School Board, and Richard Simpson from the Forest Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Willard and Jan Carlson will receive an engraved plaque and their names will also be engraved on a plaque that will hang in city hall. The plaques will be presented to the Carlsons at the Forest Lake City Council Meeting on March 24 at 6:30 p.m.

Funding for the plaques was provided by The Saint Paul Foundation in a grant to the Human Rights Commission. The public is invited to attend the brief presentation of the award.

The Carlsons were nominated for the award by two individuals, Lilly Olson a long-time friend of the Carlsons and Pastor Kristine Schroeder one of three pastors at Faith Lutheran Church in Forest Lake where the Carlsons worship.

Pr. Schroeder said, ìWill and Jan have been in the forefront of several different venues of human rights.î

Both Pr. Schroeder and Lilly Olson elaborated on the Carlsonís sponsorship (along with Joyce Winnick and others) of a Hmong family, their sharing of their property with Hmong gardeners, their housing of and caring for African guests and their work with Cambodian Elders.

Olson pointed out that the Carlsons found housing, furniture, clothing and everything a family of five would need when relocating from a Thailand refugee camp to the cold, climate of Minnesota, on a winter day.

The Carlsons, Schroeder stated, ìPlayed a large role in bridging the gap when a Boy Scout Troop was harassed on a hike in our area two years ago by encouraging and leading a time of coming together and support by this community.î

One of the requirements of the application process was the nominee be engaged in human rights activities during 2002.

The Carlsons encouraged volunteers to purchase presents for struggling Hmong families during the holidays and they personally distributed gifts and established relationships, built on love and trust, with those families.

They continue to fund educational efforts of minority children and they are actively involved in projects to provide clean drinking water and sanitation/hygiene training to communities in Tanzania.

They have continued to make our community a welcoming place for people of other cultures. They extended the use of their apartment to a Bosnian refugee woman and her son and they assisted them with school and work needs.

According to one nominator, ìThey have a calming presence that listens and understands. This presence also transforms the desire to act and not just stand idle. Will and Jan have passionate hears which get a lot doneóthey have been able to encourage others to commit themselves to promotingócommunity.î

The Commission encouraged applications that established the ability of the nominee to engage others in human rights activities. It was clear to the Commission that the Carlsons have done that over many years and in the past year.

The Commission wishes to thank other nominators for their participation in this first award process. It is anticipated that many more submissions will be received in future years. The community of Forest Lake is encouraged to observe and document outstanding contributions to the enjoyment and protection of human rights during 2003. The award is open to individuals, groups or businesses. Guidelines for the 2003 ìBridging Our Differencesî Human Rights Award will be announced in future months.

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