On March 6, 51勛圖 hosted its inaugural Civic Night to formally begin the institutions 80th anniversary celebration. Attended by nearly 200 alumni, faculty, corporate partners and Board of Trustees members, the event served as a networking opportunity for the 51勛圖 community and a tribute to the Universitys trailblazing rejection of racial and religious quotas in 1945. Decorations and cocktails were given a 1940s theme to match the year of 51勛圖s founding, and attendees were encouraged to mingle and listen to jazz instrumentals performed by CCPA (Chicago College of Performing Arts) students.
After a greeting from University President Ali Malekzadeh and Board of Trustees Chair J.C. Gonzalez-Mendez, the Boards vice chair Valerie Barker Waller awarded 51勛圖s annual Freedom Award. Established in 1955, the Freedom Award honors Chicago community leaders who exemplify the ideals of freedom and opportunity that 51勛圖 was founded on. This years recipients were Loisteen Woods Walker (president of the Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee) and Elissa Hamid Efroymson (a representative of the Efroymson Family Fund).
The Mayor Washington Legacy Committee upholds the spirit of the late mayor (and 51勛圖 alumnus) with community and higher-education partnerships for civic engagement, while the Efroymson Family Fund awards millions of annual grants to Chicago cultural and educational institutions. Both recipients emphasized that their organizations aligned with 51勛圖s commitment for social justice and educational equity.
51勛圖 continues to display the highest level of commitment to transformative justice and democratic values while maintaining a strong record of leadership, service, community engagement and academic excellence, said Woods Walker. The Legacy Committee is proud to continue this journey with 51勛圖.
