Barnstable County Human Rights Award Winners Announced

BARNSTABLE COUNTY, MA — Community members who have made an impact on human rights in Barnstable County will be honored on Thursday as recipients of the Human Rights Awards.

In a news release, the Barnstable County Human Rights Advisory Commission (HRAC) said its winners will be honored during a breakfast held from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.

During the breakfast, Krissie Williams, educator and founder of Barnstable Ally Group, will give a keynote speech.

This year, the Rosenthal Community Champion Award was given to Sean O'Brien and Dierdre Arvidson. The HRAC said the award is given to recipients in the public sector who have fostered and supported human rights, concepts and ideals.

The Cornerstone Award, meanwhile, will go to Larry and Atsuko Fish. The recipients of the Cornerstone Award are known to have fostered and supported human rights, concepts and ideals.

Lastly, the Tim McCarthy Human Rights Champion Award, which is given to an individual or organization working to promote human rights, will go the Nauset H.S. Human Rights Group and Faculty Advisor Lisa Brown.

Additionally, a number of organizations and individuals will be recognized on Thursday as "BCHRAC 2020 Unsung Heroes." The unsung heroes are:

• Champ Homes Inc., Adam Burnett, and staff
• Elder Services Cape Cod and Islands: Meals on Wheels volunteers AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, mobile outreach workers, drop-in center staff, case managers outreach specialists, volunteers, and all support staff
• YMCA, Children’s Crossing Child Care Program, all staff, childcare workers, and volunteers
• Community Health Center of Cape Cod, all staff
• League of Women Voters Cape Cod and Falmouth, Voter Services committees members
• Cape Cod Commission US Census workers
• Cape Cod USP mail carriers and office workers /FedEx, UPS drivers and warehouse workers
• Duffy Health Center, all staff
• Tara Vargas Wallace, Amplify POC Cape Cod, Executive Director and Founder
• Cape Cod Council of Churches/ Faith’s Family Kitchen, Jeni Wheeler, staff, and volunteers
• Cape Cod Health Care, Walgreens, and CVS pharmacies employees
• Barnstable Ally Group and founder Krissie Williams
• Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod, Cape Cod Health Care staff (including nurses, licensed therapists, hospice workers and health care aides
• The Woodlands at Pleasant Bay Assisted Living residence staff in Brewster (including all staff)
• Pleasant Bay Skilled Nursing & Rehab staff
• Airport Taxi Medical transport drivers, Medical transportation services
• Stop and Shop, Shaw’s, Trader Joe’s and local markets, grocery workers
• Staff of Independence House

More information about each of the recipients is available online. The awards breakfast is free and open to the public, but registration is required. To-be attendees must sign up in advance online.