The City of Bloomington's Human Rights Commission has once again taken the helm in celebrating local champions of equality and social justice. Hanging in the air is a sense of accomplishment and recognition, for the recipients of the 2025 Omar Bonderud Award have been announced. This year's laurels are shared between Normandale Community College's equity and inclusion team and Unidos MN, a notable coalition dedicated to uplifting immigrant and underserved communities.
According to a Bloomington Briefing article, Normandale Community College's team has worked diligently to consciously create an environment where inclusion is not just a buzzword, but a practice. This dedication to fostering equity-minded education and professional growth within its realms has rightly earned them this outstanding acknowledgment. Highlighting the gravity of their service, Amy Fairgrieve, Normandale’s equity and inclusion projects coordinator, noted their role in aligning with the college's ideals around equity, completion, and the overall campus culture.
Meanwhile, Unidos MN, with the magnetic leadership of co-founder Daniel del Toro at the forefront, has been recognized for their indefatigable efforts in education, advocacy, and civic participation. Their work embodies the spirit of the award by directly engaging with the community to provide resources, support, and a voice to those commonly sidelined in the societal narrative.
In a statement obtained by the Bloomington Briefing, Fairgrieve eloquently articulated the significance of their mission: "Our work supports the college’s goals around equity, completion and campus culture." She then went on to express a fundamental belief in education and in the potential of the students. Fairgrieve stated their drive: to empower college employees, thus enabling them to better champion the success of their students, expressing, "When our employees feel a sense of belonging and confidence at work, we can better support our students to succeed."
Under the guiding principles of Omar Bonderud, for whom the award is named, these two entities have been able to not just stride but, at times, to leap toward an ever-improving future where human rights take center stage. Learning more about the award and its past recipients can offer a retrospective view of the community's ongoing battle for human dignity and respect, a history accessible through the city's official announcement on their website.
