PURPOSE

The purpose of this award program is to recognize and celebrate outstanding accomplishments and sustained commitment by an individual, community organization, state agency and/or business organization in the area of promoting appreciation for diversity and cultural understanding.

The Partners for Progress nominating committee will present a Trailblazer Award once a year at the annual summit. There is no limit as to how many times any person or group can be nominated or receive this award. Anyone can nominate a potential recipient of this award. Nomination forms can be found on this website or obtained by calling Trudy Mifflin at (302) 739-3613.

CRITERIA

The following criteria shall be followed when determining nominations for the Trailblazer Award:

Nominations should reflect achievements by a specific person or organization through specific work with other individuals or groups, or through a specific product or activity that has a visible, tangible, or measurable impact on the perception of, attitude toward, respect for, and treatment of other persons in the areas of diversity and cultural understanding.

Nominated individuals or groups should have been engaged in this activity within the past two years from the date of the nomination.

Nominations should be made in writing on the proper nomination form to the Partners for Progress nominating committee.

You may submit as many separate nominations as desired.

The nominator must sign the nomination form and complete the form where applicable.

Additional relevant information, e.g., letters of support, newspaper clippings, photographs, etc. may be submitted with the nomination form.

The nominee must live, work, or be located within the state of Delaware.

The Partners for Progress nominating committee will screen and judge the nominations. The decision of the committee will be final.

Nominations for the Trailblazer Award may be submitted anytime prior to 4:30 PM on May 31st.

Submissions should be faxed with cover letter to Trudy Mifflin at (302) 739-1181 or mailed to the Partners for Progress Nominating Committee, Attn: Trudy Mifflin, Office of Management and Budget, 122 William Penn Street, Suite 101, 1st Floor, Haslet Building, Dover, DE 19901

Winner will be notified in writing by June 30th. The notification will contain information about their attendance being required at the annual summit and to provide a brief biography and recent picture for the summit program.

Cabinet Secretaries and Summit Committee Representatives are ineligible to receive this award.

EXAMPLES OF CRITERIA

1. INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

   To be presented to an individual who has:

   Demonstrated dedication and commitment to advocating diversity and/or cultural understanding;

   Led the development of contemporary measures to fight discrimination and prejudice and the effects of past discrimination; and/or,

   Fostered positive communication and actively promoted inter-group relations among persons of different races, ages, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientations, religious backgrounds, or physical and mental abilities.

2. BUSINESS, STATE AGENCY AND INDUSTRY AWARDS

   To be presented to a business or industry that has:

   Developed and implemented an effective equal opportunity or affirmative action program as demonstrated by a diversified work force in which all persons are afforded opportunities for employment and upward mobility, regardless of race, ethnic origin, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other prohibited basis of discrimination; and

   Demonstrated corporate responsibility by devoting resources for the improvement of the state of Delaware.

3. COMMUNITY GROUPS

   To be presented to a community group that has:

   Demonstrated sustained commitment to the raising of the level of awareness and concern for the values and importance of diversity and/or cultural understandition; and

   Demonstrated corporate responsibility by devoting resources for the improvement of the state of Delaware.