Last Updated on December 13, 2023, 10:38 PM | Published: December 13, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY — Illuminated by the glow of the State Capitol’s stained glass windows, The Oklahoma Universal Human Rights Alliance (OKUHRA) presented its 10th annual Human Rights Awards Saturday, Dec. 9 honoring award recipients for their efforts toward human rights in Oklahoma.
“Human rights are too important to go unnoticed, so we put together about 70 of us who were there in the trenches day after day and year after year,” OKUHRA Chair Wilfredo Santos-Rivera said.
OKUHRA is an organization that advocates for individual rights and freedoms and supports those who have experienced discrimination based on factors such as race, gender, age, and economic status. It was established in 2010 after the dissolution of the Human Rights Commission by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Oklahoma human rights activists and organizations have been recognized by OKUHRA since 2012. The award ceremony coincides with International Human Rights Day on Dec. 10. The nomination process involves word of mouth and outreach to human rights organizations, as well as inspiration from a series by Berlin Green in a now-defunct local publication.
“It’s just so inspiring, especially at a time when there’s so much violence and sadness, to see that the grassroots people are doing beautiful things,” Michaud said. “In Oklahoma, there are so many people who are doing such a fantastic job, and they’re not all on the frontline.”
Individuals can be nominated for the award by anyone, regardless of whether they are a member of the organization. The award committee reviews nominations and selects recipients.
Mark Faulk and Sara Bana from the People’s Council for Justice Reform discussed the plans to build a new jail and provided historical context about the jail as well as expanding on various human rights violations inside the jail. PCJR members also spoke more on the topic at the luncheon following the award ceremony.
“All jails are inhumane, as the concept of forcefully confining human beings in cages is inhumane and unnatural,” Bana said, “But the unconstitutional Oklahoma County Jail is statistically notorious for being one of the deadliest jails in America for a facility its size and documented to be ground zero for its pattern of human rights violations in Oklahoma.”
After Faulk and Bana’s address, OKUHRA Chair Wilfredo Santos-Rivera began announcing the award winners, who ranged in experience from local business owners to nonprofit executives, mental health advocates, criminal justice reform activists, and homeless awareness activists.
“The people that we are honoring, their mission is our mission,” Santos-Rivera said. “It’s a mission of love.”
Award Recipients
Chris Meyers oversees state legislative lobbying and bill tracking at the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives. He is also a professional engineer and serves on the board of directors for Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. and the Grand River Dam Authority.
“We serve in all 77 counties and 94% of the Oklahoma land mass, so serving others is really in our DNA,” Meyers said. “Those we serve, their lives have improved for generations to come. We’re very honored to do that.”
Cathy Cummings is the former Mayor of The Village and a local business owner of Vito’s Italian restaurant and Sean Cummings Irish Bar and was referred to by Santos-Rivera as a “warrior.”
“One of the best ways I know how to serve is to serve people,” Cummings said. “I was able to serve thousands and thousands of people every Christmas for many many years, and a lot of people in this room helped us. It does take a village, and we don’t do anything alone.”
IMG 1925. Caption – Cecilia Hernandez-Cromwel, news director and anchor at Telemundo Oklahoma, accepts her award
Cecilia Hernandez-Cromwel works with Telemundo covering topics like health, politics, sports, and weather. She took an in-depth look at how the Oklahoma City-County Health Department and Tulsa Health Department handled the COVID-19 pandemic in the Hispanic community.
“We do our best to try to inform this community about everything that’s going on and about human rights, and so I feel very honored and privileged to accept this and to work there,” Hernandez-Cromwel said.
The ceremony and luncheon also served as a celebration of Dan Straughan for his 20-year service as Executive Director of the Homeless Alliance. Recently, the Homeless Alliance opened Oklahoma City’s first permanent winter shelter, which was another topic of discussion at the ceremony.
“The scale of human suffering in our community is heartbreaking,” Staughan said. “On any given night, we have 1,500 people here in Oklahoma City who are existing without a home. As a community, we have a lot of work to do and a long way to go, but I am gratified to know that there are folks like you who are willing to take that challenge.”
Mareo Donnell Johnson leads Tulsa’s Black Lives Matter chapter and mentors ex-inmates. He is also the founder of Seeking the Kingdom Ministries.
“Keep up the good work, and I sure will,” Johnson said while accepting his award.
Rafael J. Elias began the Friends of Bolivia in 1993 to assist those in need in Bolivia to receive access to medicine.
“I decided that human rights is health care, and so I set up the medical foundation,” Elias said. “On behalf of all the doctors and nurses and on behalf of the foundation.”
Robert Shawn Watkins experienced homelessness but now works for Curbside Chronicle and has started a Facebook group for those experiencing homelessness to connect to resources.
“It’s been a really good tool that has turned into a lot more than I could have ever imagined,” Watkins said about the Facebook group. “It’s been a great way to connect case workers and church ministries. It’s my way of giving back to the community.”
Hard Luck Automotive helps those in need afford automotive services and repairs. Adam Arthur Ely created the nonprofit alongside his wife Toni Ely in 2017.
“The way I give back to my community is with a wrench in my hand,” Ely said. “At Hard Luck, we helped more than 4,000 Oklahoma families save more than a million dollars in simple car repairs.”
Tamara Nelson’s Sox of Love has been providing socks, laundry, hygiene items, and nourishment to unhoused Oklahomans since 2016. In 2022, 2,861 families received free laundry services.
“We believe that every Oklahoman, every human that arrives on this earth, deserves dignity, respect, and they should have the opportunity to feel hope and know that they are loved,” Nelson said. “We need to dignify every human being by letting them have the opportunity to simply be clean.”
Second Chances Thrift Store was founded by Delisa Jones to employ and empower marginalized individuals, including those who have experienced homelessness, addiction, and domestic violence.
“We know that addiction is a sickness, and it’s not an easy thing to deal with, and we know that addiction and homelessness go hand-in-hand,” Jones said about her work. “We know that going to jail and being incarcerated goes hand-in-hand with all of that as well.”
Debra McTaggard is a mental health access and education advocate and facilitator for National Alliance on Mental Illness. She is also the founder of Give 5, an organization that connects retired individuals with volunteer opportunities.
“Many people who are retired have skills and experiences, but they don’t know what to do with those skills and experiences,” McTaggart said.
Camille Landry is an activist and social justice advocate in Oklahoma City. She is the author of Neglected Oklahoma: Voices from the Margin and a member of The Lucy Parsons Popular Human Rights School.
“Human rights abuses need to be documented and cataloged and shared with other people who are struggling with the same kinds of issues so that we can have a grass-roots approach,” Landry said.
IMG 2059 – Nathaniel Batchelder and Rev. Dr. Kathy McCallie accept the Human Rights Award on behalf of Dr. Boyd Shook
Dr. Boyd Shook passed away in December 2022 at the age of 89. Dr. Shook provided free medical care and health education at his clinic, Fundación Manos Juntas. Activist Nathaniel Batchelder and Rev. Kathy McCallie, Shook’s daughter, accepted an award on behalf of Dr. Shook.
“The life of Dr. Shook was a life very well-lived,” Batchelder said.
Ryan Patrick Cristelli is the founder of Winter Watch, which is an organization focused on providing winter gear to people living without shelter. Cristelli highlighted the value he finds in conversing with those he assists.
“Conversations let us know that they are one of us, and we are one of them,” Cristelli said. “This project has allowed us to feel like we’re doing what we’re supposed to do and what we can do.”
Veronica Zelada is the owner and chef at Cafe Kacao and Cafe Antigua and is an advocate for survivors of domestic abuse.
This is a distinction of immense significance for me not only as a culinary professional, but as an immigrant, survivor of domestic abuse, and advocate for human rights,” Zelada said.
Tim Herbel is the Executive Director at Not Your Average Joe, a local coffee shop that also employs people with disabilities.
“We are so grateful to be nominated, and we are grateful to fight for people of all abilities to be included,” Herbel said.
Other award recipients who were not present include Rusty Mulinix, activist for the homeless community in Oklahoma City and founder of the Oklahoma Pheonix Project; Harlan Hubbard, who mentors those recovering from addiction with Refuge Recover and teaches culinary classes at The Education and Employment Ministry (TEEM) facility; and Jayra Camarena, founder of La Luz, a nonprofit lighting the path forward for Latina victims of domestic violence.
The 10th annual Human Rights Awards included a luncheon where award winners discussed human rights issues, with a focus on the new jail. The ceremony was filled with camaraderie and engaging discussions about the work still to be done for social justice causes in Oklahoma.
Zoe Travers has spent her career covering local musicians, artists, politicians, and everyday folks. She is also Oklahoma City’s most enthusiastic connoisseur of cheese danishes.
