Diversity Awards

The Multicultural Forum on Workplace Diversity
Friend of the Forum and Winds of Change awards

Deadline for nominee submission is January 8, 2010.

Please send your nominee selection information to mcf@stthomas.edu. Information should include the following information for the appropriate award selection.

Friend of the Forum Award

Presented to an individual who…

• Has demonstrated sustained support of the Multicultural Forum
• Has made significant contributions to the Multicultural Forum in time, talent, leadership, content, vision or financial support
• Has increased visibility or helped expand the Multicultural Forum within the local community or throughout the United States
• Has expanded the focus of the Multicultural Forum as a nationally recognized premier diversity conference

Winds of Change Award

Presented to up to two individuals who…

• Has demonstrated sustained support of workplace diversity
• Has raised awareness of workplace diversity issues
• Has been a catalyst for change for workplace diversity or impacted change within an industry, organization or community

2009 Award Recipients

Friend of the Forum Award: Syl Booth

Winds of Change Award: Lee Butcher and Ghafar Lahanwal

2008 Award Recipients

Friend of the Forum Award: Terri Ricci and Vivian Tanniehill

Winds of Change Award: Richard (Dick) Gaskins and Eric Watson

Meet The Artist....Rabi Sanfo

My art is contemporary African art inspired by my country, Burkina Faso, and Africa in general.  Through my art, I want to share the rich and impressive history and culture of West Africa.

The shapes of my sculptures, furniture and decorative objects are inspired by words, stories, fables and situations that come into my mind, and my culture.  By the magic of bending, grinding and welding, I try to give these inspirations a form, an expression and a touch of life so when I get lost in a deep contemplation, I feel like they are living.

View Rabi Sanfo's homepage: www.mnartists.org/rabi_sanfo 

Rabi Sanfo
Yarbi Design
1224 Quincy St NE Suite B25
Minneapolis, MN 55413
612-227-8960

   Know the Art.... Mother Earth

Sanfo says, "This piece is about global warming, wars and people not taking care of the earth. Mother Earth's spirit contemplated herself and she saw that she was wounded everywhere. She started crying and asked, 'What have you become?'''

When first seen by members of the award selection committee there was a visceral reaction to the power of Mother Earth. We saw the globe, the mother figure, the wind blowing past. Here was the world being held up, to be viewed by all, to be seen in its true light with all its flaws and sorrows. The earth was being presented to us so that we could first recognize the injustice and hurt that is present. Only then can we work to change and perfect it.