NORWICH ROTARY CLUBS ANNOUNCE DIVERSITY AWARD RECIPIENTS

Norwich — The Norwich Rotary Clubs have announced the recipients of the diversity awards in advance of the fifth annual Celebrate Cultural Diversity at Howard T. Brown Memorial Park at Norwich Harbor.

At the 7 p.m. event Sept. 19, the fifth annual Lottie B. Scott Diversity Award will be given to Shiela Hayes of Norwich, and the second annual Norwich Rotary Community Diversity Award will be presented to the Norwich Area Clergy Association.

Admission to the event, which features international food, live music and entertainment, is $10 per person, $30 for a group of five. Children under age 12 will be admitted free.

The Lottie B. Scott Diversity Award was established in 2013 to recognize the achievements of an individual who has enhanced interactions in the community and promoted inclusion and equality.

Hayes currently serves as secretary of the Ellis Walter Ruley Project Committee, working to preserve and promote the artwork of Ruley, a self-taught African-American artist from Norwich. She was the vice chairwoman for the 150th anniversary celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation, which included the creation of the David Ruggles Freedom Courtyard. She also served as secretary of the Norwich 350th anniversary celebration and, at the same time, was co-chairwoman of the local celebration of the NAACP’s 100th anniversary. She is past president of the Norwich NAACP branch and has been active in Norwich for the past 40 years.

The Norwich Rotary Community Diversity Award is given to an organization that has a significant effect on diversity by encouraging activities that bring together members of diverse cultures that help further cultural awareness and education.

The Norwich Area Clergy Association, currently led by President Rev. Gregory A. Perry, has provided strong leadership, strength and unity to residents over the past several years. The association has provided the leadership to remember, support and unite people of all races, religious beliefs and sexual orientations through peaceful vigils and gatherings. The group collaborates with community and civic organizations and city police to raise awareness and to educate residents in promoting the theme “Standing United against Hate.”