Monday, April 18, 2016

HRRC Recognizes Edina Resident with Tom Oye Award

Edina, Minn., March 21, 2016 – The Human Rights & Relations Commission (HRRC) will honor Lauren Morse-Wendt with the Tom Oye Award for her steadfast work to help develop new opportunities to homeless young adults.

“Lauren Morse-Wendt has led a collaborative campaign to create the first apartment building for homeless young adults in the west metro. Her dedication has brought Edina together to take pride in caring for all young people, providing an opportunity for everyone to thrive, and embracing an inclusive community vision,” explained Jackie Sullivan, who nominated her for the award.

Morse-Wendt helped to lead a successful campaign to develop housing opportunities in Edina for homeless young adults. Construction is expected to begin this summer on 66 West apartments, a new housing opportunity for young adults in the southwest metro who have experienced homelessness. Morse-Wendt is a member of the 66 West Taskforce and helped to drive this project forward.

In the process of organizing 66 West, Morse-Wendt helped shed light on the issue of suburban youth homelessness and advance a conversation about Edina’s community vision.

“The results have been inspiring. There is growing awareness of the stories of Edina youth who have no home to return to when the high school or Southdale Library closes,” said Sullivan.

The award was established in recognition of the late Tom Oye who helped found the HRRC in 1970 and served on it for more than 30 years. Oye was also a Nisei soldier in World War II, a second-generation Japanese American who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. In 2003, Oye received the Prize for Humanity by the Immortal Chaplains Foundation.

Morse-Wendt will receive the award at the Volunteer Recognition Reception at Braemar Golf Course on April 20. Individuals who live, study or work in Edina, or who make significant contributions to Edina, are eligible for the Tom Oye Human Rights Award. Nominees were evaluated based on their efforts to foster respect and dignity for others, model courage and/or compassion in the advancement of human rights, and demonstrate leadership by example for improving human relations or advancing human rights. 

For more information on the award, contact HRRC Staff Liaison MJ Lamon at 952-826-0360 or MLamon@EdinaMN.gov.

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The City of Edina
4801 W. 50th St., Edina, MN 55424
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