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Tuesday, January 22, 2008
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Dunlap marches up to get award
Staff Writer Activism has been a passion for Sara Dunlap most of her life.
When she was 14 she attended a presentation by Eleanor Roosevelt as part of a class assignment. It was in Mrs. Roosevelt's speech that Dunlap learned about Susan B. Anthony. Both women were civil rights pioneers and Dunlap counts them as her heroes.
When she was 20, Dunlap met Martin Luther King Jr. while working at a Montgomery, Ala., airport. That year she also participated in her first civil rights march.
"It meant more to me later than at the time," Dunlap said. "At the time it just felt like an act of defiance."
That spirit of defiance and campaign for human rights stayed with Dunlap even after she and her husband, Tom, moved to the Brainerd area in 1969. Since her arrival she has volunteered with numerous organizations, marched in parades, protested and worked as the director of the St. Joseph's Foundation and Volunteer Services at St. Joseph's Medical Center.
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Sara Dunlap smiled while friends and family talked about their experiences with her at the 10th anniversary celebration of the Crow Wing County Human Rights Commission on Monday in the Central Lakes College cafeteria. Dunlap was awarded the fifth annual human rights award on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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On Monday - the day commemorating the life and legacy of King - the 69-year-old Dunlap was recognized for her work for human rights by the Crow Wing County Human Rights Commission, becoming the fifth recipient of the commission's Human Rights Award.
She was chosen by the commission because of her voluntary actions of cultural inclusion that have demonstrated the values of the human rights commission.
"I shall cherish this forever I'm sure. But I want to share it, also," Dunlap told the 50 or so family and friends who Monday afternoon filled the Central Lakes College cafeteria for her ceremony.
After the ceremony, which featured about a dozen friends sharing stories about Dunlap and performances by Little Otter Singers drum group from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Dunlap said she was overwhelmed.
"You know, I could start crying. It was very heartwarming for me to hear from these people, all of whom are my friends," Dunlap said. "I'll always remember it. It will be in my heart and I guess with all their compliments I've got to work hard to live up to all that."
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Erik (left) and Chris Gahbow of the Little Otter Singers drum group from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe performed Monday at Central Lakes College during the Crow Wing County Human Rights Commission ceremony honoring Sara Dunlap.
» Purchase reprints of this photo.
Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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Dunlap thought she was perhaps too controversial for the award. She also said she wouldn't be where she was without the work of others, and she shared her award with them.
Friends who spoke about her Monday felt she was more than deserving for the award.
"I can't think of any cause of importance that hasn't had Sara at the backbone of it," said Louise Seliski, executive director of the Women's Center of Mid-Minnesota, who has known Dunlap for about 30 years. "I think it's an absolute blessing she lives in our community. Thank you. Thank you, for all that you have done for us."
Dunlap's daughter, Susie Dunlap, said her mother has been an activist for as long as she could remember.
"It didn't surprise me at all when I found out she got this award," Susie Dunlap said. "(They) picked a great person."
Marcia Ferris considers Dunlap her soul sister and mentor. Ferris said in the 20 years they have known each other she has tried to follow in Dunlap's footsteps.
"We need heroes, we need people in our lives that reflect the values and justice we so crave. Sara is that person for me," Ferris said. "I've come to love her so much and respect her. My life is a testament to my mentor Sara."
Other speakers included former Crow Wing County Commissioner and fomer Senate District 12 DFL candidate Terry Sluss, on whose campaign Dunlap worked; Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd; Anne Nelson Fisher, a Brainerd City Council member who has known Dunlap for 10 years and who, like Dunlap, is a member of Brainerd Friends; and Carol Rose, who is chairwoman and 10-year board member with the Crow Wing County Human Rights Commission.
Despite Dunlap's attempt at deflecting the importance of her human rights activism, Rose said Dunlap's always in the middle of it.
"Nobody asks her to do it, she just does it. That's her passion. She's always there," Rose said. "She's just a good lady."
The Crow Wing County Human Rights Commission, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, has previously honored Martha Smolka Anderson, Jan Kurtz, Paul Mans and Dr. Paul Milloy with this award.
MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.
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