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2010
Proclamation Activities
The Connect
Foundation worked to have Juneteenth became an official state
holiday observance (annually on the 3rd Saturday in June) and
Govenor Tom Vilsack signed it into law on April 11, 2002. We will be
expanding the annual proclamation-signing ceremony to increase the
participation of the general public.
Also, realizing the importance of an enlightened electorate within a
representative democracy, the Iowa Juneteenth Observance annually
recognizes political activists who work to increase voter education,
registration, and participation of minorities in the political
process. We annually present the distinguished Liberty Award to two
individuals who have demonstrated success in this area. Past recipients of the Liberty Award are Governor
Chet Culvert, Attorney William Morris, Attorney Roxanne Conlin,
Honorable Leon Mosley, Hon. Leonard L. Boswell, Robert L. Smith,
Jessie Taylor, Mary Ann Spicer, John Campbell, Phyllis Kelly, Jamie
Fitzgerald, and Attorney Stephen Roberts.
If you have the name (and contact information) of political
activists that you think should be recognized with our Liberty
Award, please click here to provide us with the
information.
2009 Proclamation Activities
Annual Proclamation Ceremony
Location:
State Capitol Building, Governor’s Office
Date: June
18, 2009
Iowa Governor
Gov. Chet Culver presenting the ‘Annual Juneteenth Proclamation’ to Gary
Lawson in a ceremony at the Capitol on June18, 2009 with participating
state officials and Iowa Juneteenth Observance Planning Committee
representatives.
Annual ‘Liberty Award’ Presentation
Location:
State Capitol Building, Secretary of State’s Office
Date: July
21, 2009
Presentation:
The Iowa Juneteenth Liberty Award was presented to Polk County Auditor,
Jamie Fitzgerald (Democrat); and W. Stephen Roberts (Republican), Senior
shareholder with the Davis Brown Law Firm. The award is given in recognition of the recipients’ time and efforts
regarding voter education and participation within the Iowa minority
community.
Jamie Fitzgerald
W. Stephen Roberts
The Iowa
Juneteenth Observance ‘Liberty Award’ ceremony at the Capitol on July
21, 2009, was presented to two distinguished citizens who made special
efforts to increase minority voter education and participation. (left to
right) Gary Lawson; Jamie Fitzgerald (Democrat), Polk County Auditor; W.
Stephen Roberts (Republican), Senior shareholder with the Davis Brown
Law Firm; and the Iowa Secretary of State,
Michael A. Mauro.
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