Top Latino “Jazz Great” to Perform at the 12th Annual Baha’i Human Rights Awards

Santa Paula News
Published on: November 29, 2002

The 12th Annual Human Rights Awards, sponsored by the Baha’is of Ventura and Western Los Angeles Counties, will feature the music of Freddie Ravel, renowned jazz and R&B artist, at the December 8 event which honors both the 54th Anniversary of the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights, and also individuals who have made humanitarian contributions within their communities.

Ravel, whose musical style reflects his strong Latin roots and his lifelong passions for jazz and R&B, his diverse heritage and his intense spirituality, promises to bring additional excitement to this stirring celebration.

This year the awards banquet will be held at the Embassy Suites, Mandalay Beach Resort in Oxnard. The keynote speaker, Rebequa Getahoun Murphy, an Associate of the International Center for Ethical Leadership at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, which provides ethical leadership training for youth and youth service providers throughout the United States and in other parts of the world, will impart her extraordinary inspiration.

The 2002 recipients of the Human Rights Awards are Ms. Ethel Hayman, whose accomplishments as an educator have gone far beyond the call of professional duty and Rick Schroeder, Executive Director of Many Mansions in Thousand Oaks, a private non-profit housing corporation that owns and operates seven apartment complexes and houses over 1300 people.

Ethel Hayman exhibits leadership in the educational field. As an elementary, and now a middle school teacher, for 25 years, she has often been the sole voice advocating health education in the Oxnard School District. She has coordinated the anti-drug and tobacco education programs for the District and, for the past ten years, has chaired the AIDS/Human Growth and Development committee. Health advocate, trainer, teacher, coordinator, facilitator, leader, dream-maker and anti-drug proponent, Hayman is a gentle, kind individual whose selfless work touches many students in her quest to develop responsible, healthy individuals.

Before becoming Director, Mr. Rick Schroeder volunteered at Many Mansions. In 1996 he joined the Board of Directors and in 1999 became Board President. As an attorney, he has provided free legal help to the agency’s clients. Schroeder has a willingness to serve and give back to the community, especially to those less fortunate. His quest is to improve the basic quality of life by providing affordable housing and social service programs to the poor, disabled and mentally ill. Many Mansions also provides services to residents to encourage self sufficiency, including a reading program, summer camp, providing scholarships for AYSO Soccer, Tae Kwon Do Karate, Little League Baseball and a free weekly medical clinic.

Also being recognized for humanitarian achievements are: Dennis Stafford and Faith Holmes of Woodland Hills for co-founding the non-profit organization “Oneness” which provides education to eliminate racism and promote racial unity through music and the arts; Robin Martin of Ventura for promoting inter-faith dialogue and organizing the annual All-Faiths Women of Vision Conference; John and Jackie Treuting of the Conejo Valley for organizing exchange programs for Japanese students and Adopt-a-family food share programs; Jeannette Scovill of Thousand Oaks for producing educational programs for local cable TV and promoting the education of women; and Larry Wayman of Oxnard for founding the Faith Connection of Ventura County which reaches out to people of all racial and religious backgrounds to offer solace to families when acts of violence disrupt their lives.

Former recipients of the Human Rights Awards will be acknowledged, including the Santa Paula Police Department’s D.A.R.E. Program, Jeanne San Carlo for the Flair Reading Program at Blanchard Community Library, Elsa Campbell MFCC, Dan Robles for community service, the Santa Clara Valley Hospice/Home Support Group and Dr. Gabino Aguirre who was a recipient of the award in 1992 when he was Principal of Moorpark High School.

For tickets or for more information, please call (818) 991-4575 or email HRAVentura2002@aol.com