Those in the field of social work dedicate their lives to improving their communities, often without credit or reward, said Farria Coulam of the University of Utah College of Social Work.
But Friday was different at the U. Five people and one organization each received an award named for the late state Sen. Pete Suazo, who first introduced hate-crime legislation in Utah.
"He fought tirelessly his entire life, trying to ensure social justice for all people," said Coulam of Suazo. "We wanted to be able to honor him and in turn honor the people who do this work."
For Julio Espinoza it was a "very big surprise and a large honor" to receive the Pete Suazo Social Justice Award named for his late friend.
"He was a tremendous advocate for minority rights," said Espinoza of Suazo. Espinoza and Brian Riedesel received the award for their work as co-coordinators for diversity at the U.'s Counseling Center since 1998.
"No one can claim immunity to responsibility as long as social injustice exists," Espinoza said.
Not all of the six recipients had known the late state representative for whom the award was named, but all said they were humbled to receive it.
"What they've done truly is a replication of how he lived his life, his commitment to make things better," Alicia Suazo said of those receiving the award named for her late husband.
Joyce P. Valdez, who gave opening remarks at the ceremony, said her friend Suazo, a native of the Salt Lake Valley's west side, was proud of his roots.
"Social justice for Pete was fighting for the underdog, trying to make things better in the community," Valdez said.
The Centro de la Familia de Utah received the award for its work with the Latino community. Evangelina Ortega Neuman, who who spoke on behalf of the Centro, said her branch called La Puerta Abierta, or "open door," works to eliminate the impact of poverty on a case-by-case basis.
"We hope to help decrease the sense of isolation and alienation," she said.
Mack D. Gift, executive director of the Mental Health Association in Utah, was honored for his commitment to social justice over his career.
Joyce Kelen didn't expect to win any awards when she felt compelled to tell the stories of refugee children.
"I was moved by their stories . . . how they survive," she said of her three-year project to document their journeys to the Salt Lake Valley. Her photo and book exhibit "Faces and Voices of Refugee Youth" has toured area schools.
Min Wang, who was not able to attend the ceremony, earned the award for her work, using a $500,000 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant, to develop a guideline for counselors to serve nontraditional at-risk youths. Jane Lewis, who accepted the award for Wang, said simply, "She lives it."
E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com