Paula Kent Award for Social Justice
The Paula Kent Award for Social Justice
Purpose: To honor Paula Kent’s long tenure at Calumet by bestowing an award on an annual basis to a member of Calumet Nation who once or is doing exceptional work in the area of social justice (environment stewardship, racial justice, fairness for LGBTQ persons, economic justice, and justice for women are examples of areas of social justice). To celebrate the work being done by people who make up Calumet Nation who are spread across the globe and who are doing immeasurable good wherever they are. To be among the forward leaning entities of the ELCA that celebrates God’s beauty and wonder in ways that might not be immediately popular or understood throughout the whole Church but that which is held up as vitally important by respected Lutheran theologians across the Church. To inspire campers, young adult staff members, alums, and family campers to fulfill God’s call to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. Details: On an annual basis, an award will be granted to one or more persons who are a part of Calumet Nation. Typically, the total amount available for the annual award(s) will be determined in similar fashion to Calumet’s spending policy for its own endowment funds. The fund will have an opening balance of at least $5,000 primarily made up of gifts from donors who want to participate in honoring Paula Kent in this way. A small working group will be determined each year by the Board of Directors to work with the Executive Director and/or the Director of Development to identify persons from Calumet Nation who are doing important work related to justice. The group may consist of past board members, staff or staff alums, and rostered leaders. There are no set restrictions on the size of this group or how many times a person can serve. Every effort will be made — over the long term — to identify social justice leaders that represent a whole array of social justice efforts. These social justice efforts may be part of an organized group from within the Church and these may be social justice efforts that not at all organized within the Church. Individuals who are granted these awards might be members of a Church body and they might be people who are doing great work far outside the organization of the Lutheran Church or any other church body. The financial award(s) will be granted as an honorarium and will be used at the discretion of the awardee. There are no strings attached. The small group, led by the ED and/or DD will make a recommendation to the Board of Directors who will have the ultimate decision-making authority on who each year’s awardee(s) will be. The award will be given at a time that is convenient. Each year, the Paula Kent Award will remind Calumet Nation and the whole Lutheran community of New England of our call to work for justice hope, and peace. The process for everything related to the Paula Kent Award may be changed by the Board of Directors as time goes on. A bit about Paula Kent: Paula was the longest serving Calumet employee who retired at the end of 2018. From here earliest days on the year-round staff, Paula championed the work for justice, hope, and peace. She advocated for excellent decision-making that was anchored in sustainability and fairness. Paula was speaking openly about fairness for all people long before it was widely accepted in Church circles. She helped Calumet be a good as it could be as it relates to the environment and marginalized people. We at Calumet believe that this will be something that Paula will truly appreciate for years to come. And it will be a yearly reminder to her that her ministry here at Calumet is one that will live on.