David Austin Memorial Award

Former Progressive Dane Co-Chair and Elections Co-Chair David Austin dedicated his personal and professional energy to building a better community for all. The David Austin Memorial Award is presented for commitment and work toward creating a just and fair society through progressive public policy and electoral efforts that bring new ideas and new people into the local conversation. With this award, we honor a Progressive Dane member, friend, or ally who:

·  Understands and appreciates the voices of all residents of our community, not just those with power and resources;

·   Creates opportunities for those with new ideas to turn them into achievable goals;

·   Uses their experience and understanding of "the big picture" to guide and educate others;

·   Believes we have a moral and ethical obligation to use our collective energy and resources to build an equal and just world for all.

PREVIOUS HONOREES:

John Hendrick, Heidi Wegleitner, Marj Passman, Arlene Silveira, Kyle Richmond, Wanda Smith, Anna Moffit, Safe Skies Clean Water Coalition and the Vermont Brigade.

2020 Honoree: Occupy Madison

 Kathy Schroeder Memorial Award

Named for a Progressive Dane member whose personal courage and activism in labor, social, and political causes was an inspiration to all who knew her, the Kathy Schroeder Memorial Award is given in recognition of outstanding long-term service to progressive causes, and honors a PD member, friend or ally who:

·         Gives generously of their time and energy to strengthen and expand community organizing efforts that serve ordinary citizens;

·         Cares passionately about fairness and equity;

·         Works with a spirit of humor, creativity, experience and foresight;

·         Takes responsibility for organizational details and makes connections between different issues and different constituencies;

·         Has a long record of fidelity to a vision of a democratic society where burdens and resources are shared equitably.

PREVIOUS HONOREES:

Mary Anglim, Nick Berigan, Jean MacCubbin, Ron Richardson, Bill Keys, Linda Keys, Brenda Konkel, Chuck Smalley, Connie Palmer-Smalley, Barbara Vedder, Dave Carrig, Phyllis Hasbrouck, Norm Littlejohn, Sue Pastor, Martha Kemble, Max Puchalsky and Simone Doing, and Gregory Gelembiuk

2020 Honoree: Diane Farsetta

Progressive Change Agents Award

New in 2020, the Progressive Change Agents Award honors a local organization or leader who disrupts the status quo of inequity in our community by taking meaningful actions that: 

  • Exemplify extraordinary dedication to uplifting the most marginalized voices of Dane County;

  • Show a strong commitment to achieving justice through an intersectional lens; 

  • Mobilize community members to engage in political acts;

  • Align with and advance our Progressive values.

2020 Honoree: Impact Demand

Both the David Austin and Kathy Schroeder Memorial awards recognize Progressive Dane members or affiliated organizations. Historically these awards have usually gone to white people and to several white-led organizations since Progressive Dane is predominantly white.

We challenge Pro Dane members to pay attention to the diverse energy and creative activism that is going on all around us, and to support and celebrate the contributions of all people who are working for Progressive change.