Edina Seeking Nominations For 2021 Human Rights Award

EDINA, MN — The Edina Human Rights and Relations Commission is asking residents to submit nominations for its annual award.

The 2021 Tom Oye Human Rights Award is given to people or groups who worked to promote human relations and advance human rights. Oye helped start the city’s Human Rights and Relations commission, on which he served for more than 30 years.

Oye, a second-generation Japanese American, served in the 100th Infantry Battalion of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II, according to a news release. He received the Immortal Chaplains Foundation’s Prize for Humanity in 2003.

4 Edina Schools On Coronavirus Outbreak List: MDH

The award was established in 2006 and has since honored nearly two dozen people for their “efforts to foster respect and dignity for others in the advancement of human rights,” according to a news release.

The Edina High School Black Student Union earned the 2020 Tom Oye Human Rights Award for creating the “Seeds of Change” public art installation, which showcased messages of inclusion and racial justice along West 50th Street in downtown Edina last summer.

Early Voting In Edina: What To Know For 2021 Election

Nominations for the 2021 Tom Oye Human Rights Award must be submitted by Nov. 8. Anyone who lives, studies or works in Edina, or makes significant contributions to the city, is eligible for the award.

Nomination forms can be found on the city’s website.