News : CDRC Press Releases

January 20th, 2011

Local Civil Rights Legend Dorothy Cotton Wins

2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. Peacemaker Award  

Ithaca, New York, January 13, 2011 – Dorothy Cotton has won the 2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. Peacemaker Award.  A Selection Committee comprised of representatives from the Community Dispute Resolution Center (CDRC) and the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) chose her from a pool of nominations collected throughout December.

This award, celebrating the life and work of Dr. King, is given to an individual or organization who works non-violently for change, who brings people together to resolve differences and/or promote social justice, and whose work benefits the Tompkins County
community.

The award will be presented at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Community Breakfast on Saturday, January 15^th, 2011 at 9:00 am at the Beverly J. Martin Elementary School Gymnasium on 302 West Buffalo Street in Ithaca.

Dorothy Cotton was the Education Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) for twelve years.  She was the only female member of the SCLC’s Executive Committee which served as Dr. Martin Luther King’s inner circle of lieutenants.  The Executive Committee created and implemented non-violent strategies for social change critical to the victories of the Civil Rights Movement.

Ms. Cotton also led the The Citizenship Education Program (CEP), which fostered the transformation of often poorly educated and disenfranchised people from “victims” to full citizens.  The victories won as a result of this work and the systemic and social changes attained through the growing power of the African American electorate and its emerging leadership ultimately led to state and federal protections against discrimination in voting, access to public accommodations, housing and employment throughout the nation.

Locally, Ms. Cotton is a founder and Distinguished Fellow of the Dorothy Cotton Institute founded December of 2009.  The Dorothy Cotton Institute promotes the non-violent organizing and education principles of the CEP and works to gather the stories, share the lessons, and foster the global realization of human rights.

Jeff Lydon, Executive Director of CDRC, said, “In our quest to foster constructive responses to conflict, CDRC strives to practice the principles embodied by Dr. King.  It is an honor to recognize Dorothy Cotton as one who has always lived those principles, and who has done so much to realize Dr. King’s dream.”

Mr. Lydon will present the award to Ms. Cotton on Saturday, January 15^th at 9:00 as part of the GIAC annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Community Breakfast at the Beverly J. Martin Elementary School Gymnasium on 302 West Buffalo Street in Ithaca.  Dorothy Cotton will address the audience.

ABOUT CDRC

The Community Dispute Resolution Center provides mediation and conflict education services throughout Tompkins, Chemung and Schuyler Counties, its purpose to cultivate constructive responses to conflict.