The Vincent L. Hawkinson Foundation for Peace and Justice was founded in 1988 to honor the Rev. Vincent L. Hawkinson, pastor of Grace University Lutheran Church in Minneapolis from 1955 to 1985. He was a community leader who witnessed courageously to a vision of political and social change, and vigorously advocated peacemaking and racial equality. Since its founding the Foundation has annually recognized outstanding peace and justice leaders and given scholarship awards to students who have demonstrated a commitment to peace and justice.

“We hope that in recognizing these outstanding leaders, others will be inspired to speak and act in the causes of peace and social justice.” Rev. Eric Hucke, chairperson of the Hawkinson Foundation board of directors

This year our own Mary Lou and Gene Ott received the honorary award, along with legal advocate, Luther Granquist. The ceremony was held at St. Joan of Arc Church on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. (11/6/05).

Mary Lou and Gene Ott have shared a life dedicated to peace and justice. Married in 1955, they have 10 children and 18 grandchildren. Early in their life together, they became active in civil rights and anti-war movements. Years ago they also helped found the Marriage Encounter program in Minnesota.

While her children were growing up, Mary Lou volunteered in programs helping women and children. Committed to nonviolence, she became active in the Honeywell Project and Women Against Military Madness. A determined activist, she has been arrested more than 20 times. Recently she helped found the Nonviolent Peaceforce, where she works daily as an unpaid volunteer. In 2000, she and Gene traveled to Iraq as part of the campaign to lift the sanctions.

A family practitioner, Gene spearheaded the Hennepin County Medical Society’s partnership in the early 1990s with the Twin Cities United Way for its “Success by 6” initiative, aimed at ensuring the healthy development of children from birth to start of school. The United Way awarded him the first Mary M. Gates Volunteer Achievement Award for his efforts to provide pre-natal care to low-income urban women. Gene led efforts to bring quality health care to the Phillips and Powderhorn neighborhoods in Minneapolis. Internationally, he has worked with volunteer physicians in Haiti, Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba and South Africa. In retirement, he works as the volunteer director of medical affairs for the free St. Mary’s Health Clinics, founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. He has served on the boards of Blue Cross-Blue Shield, Catholic Charities and Catholic Eldercare.

Luther Granquist, an attorney with the Minnesota Disability Law Center (MDLC), was recognized for his career-long dedication to upholding the rights and human dignity of people with disabilities. Granquist worked tirelessly throughout his career to make sure that persons with disabilities are treated with dignity and respect and are provided the services they need to become as independent and productive members of the community as possible.

At a particularly moving moment in the award presentation, Gene Ott gave his own thanks for the efforts on behalf of the disabled. He emotionally acknowledged his own disability from birth and told the crowd that his teacher in high school made him aware of programs for persons with disabilities and that is how he was able to go to college and later to medical school.

Son of a Lutheran minister, Granquist graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College and Columbia University School of Law. In 1969, he joined the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis, and has litigated high profile landmark cases on behalf of minorities, people in poverty, and people with mental and physical impairments. He is the father of three sons and resides in St. Paul with his wife, Anita Schermer.

The Hawkinson Scholarships seek to further Pastor Hawkinson’s commitment to peace and justice by identifying and assisting students who have demonstrated a commitment to peace and justice.

The 2005 Hawkinson Scholarships were awarded to 10 students:

• Anna Jaquith, is currently serving in an internship with A SEED (Action for Solidarity, Equality, the Environment and Development). Anna is a graduate of Metropolitan State University with a B.A. in Social, Political and Cultural Studies of the Americas.
• Brian McElroy is currently conducting a 10 month study in Haiti. Brian is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in economics.
• Kristi Rendahl, is currently employed as manager of institutional philanthropy at The Center for Victims of Torture in St. Paul. Kristi is a graduate of Concordia College in Moorhead and is currently studying for a master’s degree in non-profit management at Hamline University.
• Melissa Alva, graduate of Duluth East High School is a first-year student at Lake Superior College in Duluth majoring in psychology and theater. While in high school, Melissa participated in Planned Parenthood’s peer and service learning program, planning for Take Back the Night, and served as a mentor for pre-adolescent girls.
• Homa Azargoshash, is currently pursuing answers to profound questions concerning suicide bombings and martyrdom ideology in the Middle East. Homa is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee with a B.A. in international studies and comparative religious studies.
• Leslie Ball, is currently pursuing an M.A. in the arts and theology at United Theological Seminary in New Brighton, motivated by a desire to understand and respond intelligently to fundamentalist religious zealotry. A tireless advocate, Leslie founded the BALLS Cabaret, an experimental stage for artists to try out their new work, and donates profits to human rights groups. Leslie(right, 1995 winner of Minnesota Female Songwriter of the Year) also performed the lovely music for the event.
• Sarah Dunne works with Women Against Military Madness coordinating interns for its conscientious objector program. Sarah is a graduate of Hamline University with a B.A. in political science and social justice.
• Gloria MacWilliams-Brooks is currently conducting a study of domestic violence in Novgood, Russia. Gloria is a senior studying political science and Russian at St. Olaf College in Northfield.
• Ed Heiser created a language arts curriculum designed to promote peaceful empowerment of at-risk students in grades 5-8. Ed is a senior at St. John’s University in Collegeville studying English and peace studies.
• Shelby Seeberg, at age 8, spoke to a North Dakota legislative committee in favor of keeping the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday in North Dakota (the effort was successful). She has been outspoken against the Iraq war and a lifetime volunteer. Shelby is currently a sophomore at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD studying special education.

and

Rose Grengs has been a SJA parishioner since 1982. She is an immigration attorney and passionate about the subject. She is a member of the choir and active in the Peace Movement. She and her husband, Paul, routinely attend the 11:00 Mass. She is the mother of four children and grandmother of two. She is looking forward to retirement, travel and enjoys music, especially singer, songwriter, Greg Brown.

You can help support the Foundation and its commitment to work faithfully for Justice and Peace by becoming a contributing member of the Foundation. Large or small, donations are welcome. For further information about the Foundation or to make a contribution, please write to the Foundation in care of: Grace University Lutheran Church 324 Harvard St. SE Minneapolis, MN 55414.

Note: Some of the above information about the awardees is summarized from the Vincent L. Hawkinson Foundation November 2005 newsletter.