I would like to nominate Brian Stefan Szittai, program coordinator for the InterReligious Task Force on Central America (IRTF).  For the past ten years Brian has been working with IRTF to engage people in issues of human rights and social justice both in Central America but also here in Cleveland.  IRTF is one of the few Latin America solidarity organizations to continue working for justice after the Central American civil wars of the 1980’s and 1990’s ended.  Brian is also very involved with Cleveland’s Catholic Worker Movement, Ohio City Land Trust, and many other important Cleveland social justice organizations.

I would like to nominate Carol Richards to be among the Upstanders.  She saw the need for increased literacy in our area 25 yrs ago.  She jumped into the breach to help others.
Her company, North Coast Educational Services (NCES), has helped thousands of NE Ohio children to develop their reading and math skills.
Her focus on learning disabled students led to her establishment of a summer camp for students with specific learning disabilities.  The remarkable success stories from camp participants demonstrate total quality of life improvements for participants.
Carol’s knowledge has been distilled into the award winning RICHARDS READ Systemic Language program, a multi-sensory method to teach language arts.

I enjoyed your program this morning.  I’d like to nominate my son Tim Evans, a history teacher at St Ignatius High School as a person who is making a difference by choosing to participate in the African-American experience.  Tim is one of the local coordinators/contacts of the Lost Boys of Sudan of Cleveland, OH.  Their story and Tim’s involvement have been profiled in several columns by Regina Brett of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  There is an upcoming awards dinner honoring Regina Brett and Sister Mary Frances Harrington, CSJ, on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 @ 6:00 PM at Massimo da Milano, 1400 W. 25th St.  Call 440-808-8528 for reservations.

You can choose to participate by contacting Hands On Northeast Ohio, Cuyahoga County’s Volunteer Action Center. www.handsonneo.org