Henry Shelton, Providence Student Union to be honored
The Red Bandana Fund will be a legacy to help sustain Rhode Island’s community of individuals
and organizations that embody the lifelong peace and justice ideals of activist
Richard J. Walton.
Richard
was a father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He was a social and political
activist, working against homelessness, poverty, and injustice.
In addition to
his affiliation with Stone Soup, Richard had a deep personal involvement with
Amos House in Providence.
For many years Richard was an adjunct instructor in
the Department of English at Rhode Island College and was the founding
president of its Adjunct Faculty Union.
Richard
was the heart and soul of Stone Soup Coffeehouse, serving as President of the
Board for most of the 32 years of Stone Soup’s existence. For many people he
was also the face of Stone Soup as its long-term master of ceremonies.
The 2013 Red Bandana Fund Award was presented to Amos House in
Providence which makes a difference in the lives of others by
providing basic needs, education and businesses such as the Friendship Cafe,
More than a Meal Catering, and Bristol Harbor Homemade Baking Mixes.
This
year, the Red Bandana Fund is proud to name Henry Shelton and the Providence
Student Union as the recipients of the Red Bandana Award for 2014. The Award
honors individuals and groups whose work embodies the spirit and work of
Richard Walton, a longtime activist in the Rhode Island area who died in 2012.
The awards will be presented on June 8 at a celebration at Nick-a-Nees, 75
South St. in Providence, from 4 to 7 pm. The event is open to the public and is
family-friendly.
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| Henry, near center in striped blue shirt, watches Gov. Chafee sign the Henry Shelton Act |
Henry
Shelton is known throughout the region for his steadfast commitment to
bettering the lives of all Rhode Islanders, especially the poor and
disadvantaged.
As a longtime director of the George Wiley Center, he has been a
fixture on the streets and at the statehouse for decades, advocating for
fairness in housing, public transportation, and medical care.
As a close friend
and cohort of Richard Walton, we know Richard would be smiling to see Henry
receive the award.
The
committee also recognized the groundbreaking work done by the Providence
Student Union in addressing important issues of education in creative and
powerful ways. The PSU is in important voice in the debate over the value of
high-stakes testing, challenging the NECAP tests as a requirement for
graduation, and has forced officials and politicians to address their concerns.
We feel it’s important to honor a new generation of young people working to
make a better world.
“This
is our second year giving the award,” said Bill Harley, a member of the
selection committee. “We chose the awardees from a great list of nominations,
and decided to acknowledge both young organizers, and one of our long-time
heroes. Too often, the people who are in the trenches working for all of us
don’t get recognized. We hope the Award begins to address that shortcoming.”
“We’re
continuing Richard’s tradition of having a party to celebrate his birthday
every June,” Harley added. “We hope all the people who attended Richard’s
parties in the past will show up for the event. And you can bring your favorite
dish for the potluck.” Last year’s recipient was Amos House.
The
Red Bandana Fund, PO Box 41057, Providence, RI, 02940 redbandanaaward@gmail.com …to honor Richard Walton and others like him who
work to improve the human condition.
You
can find out more about Henry Shelton at http://www.georgewileycenter.org/ and more about The Providence Student Union at http://www.providencestudentunion.org/
Through the Red Bandana Fund, an annual financial award will be made to an
organization or individual whose work best represents the ideals of peace and
social justice that exemplify Richard's life work.
He was a dedicated advocate of worker rights
and committed to the nurturing of young people as a college professor.
He gave hundreds of hours of service every
month to organizations including Amos House, the George Wiley Center,
Providence Niquinhomo Sister City Project, the Green Party, and Stone Soup Folk
Arts Foundation.
These organizations, as well as the city of
Pawtucket, along with a committee of his close friends led by Bill Harley and
Stone Soup Folk Arts Foundation are working with Richard's family to help
establish the Fund.
Your donations continue to support the Red Bandana Fund and help "…
honor Richard Walton and others like him who work to improve the human
condition."