Denver, January 9, 2014….The Anti-Defamation League’s Mountain States Office announced today that it will present its 2014 Civil Rights Awards to Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives Mark Ferrandino and Metropolitan State University of Denver and Its Leadership: President Stephen M. Jordan and Board of Trustees Chairman Robert Cohen, at a reception on February 6, 2014.
“Both Speaker Ferrandino and Metropolitan State University of Denver’s leadership have worked diligently and effectively to open doors of opportunity and equality,” said ADL Regional Director Scott L. Levin. “It is a privilege to be able to acknowledge their work with ADL’s prestigious Civil Rights Awards.”
Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives Mark Ferrandino championed passage of the Colorado Civil Union Act in 2013, making Colorado one of 20 states plus the District of Columbia to offer recognition to same-sex couples. Speaker Ferrandino began his political career in 1997 interning for New York Congressman Chuck Schumer. After relocating to Colorado in 2003, Speaker Ferrandino was named Colorado Young Democrat of the Year in 2007, the same year he was appointed to the state legislature, and he was elected Speaker of the House in 2012.
Metropolitan State University of Denver President Stephen M. Jordan and Chair of its Board of Trustees Robert Cohen led MSU to provide access to higher education for undocumented students, which ultimately helped Colorado to achieve passage of the ASSET Bill in 2013. Under the leadership of President Jordan and the MSU Board of Trustees, MSU Denver has achieved university status and seen undergraduate enrollment skyrocket. President Jordan has led the University since 2005. Robert Cohen, in addition to being the Chair of the MSU Board of Trustees, is the Chair and CEO of The IMA Financial Group, Inc., a diversified financial services company.
The Mountain States Office of the Anti-Defamation League has presented Civil Rights Awards to 52 civil rights leaders in Colorado since 1982. Prior recipients include Judge Jim Carrigan, Gerald Quiat, Judge John Kane, Jr., Sheldon Steinhauser, Gary Lozow, Rabbi Steven Foster, Reverend James Peters, Challenge to Amendment Two Legal Team, Dottie Lamm, Jonathan Asher, Ken Salazar, Tim Gill, Lucia Guzman, Hon. Federico Pena, Cleo Parker Robinson, Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., Artie Guerrero, Hon. Wilma Webb, Tim Sweeney and Patricia Barela Rivera.
ADL’s Civil Rights Committee, co-chaired by Daniel McKenzie, Monica Rosenbluth and Holly Stein Sollod, chose this year’s recipients.
For information on attending the Civil Rights Awards Reception on February 6 or becoming a sponsor of the event, please call 303-830-7177, extension 210, or RSVP online at www.adl.org/civilrights2014.
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world’s leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry. For more information about ADL’s work in the Mountain States Region, visit http//:denver.ADL.org.
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