Kelly
Ohlson, Mary and Paul Bates, John Kefalas, Matt Glesmann, Eric Levine and
Cherie Trine have been named winners of the 2002 “Green Giant” awards by
the Poudre Valley Green Party. The awards were announced during the party’s
recent benefit concert at Avogadro’s Number in Fort Collins.
Kelly
Ohlson and Mary and Paul Bates won “Lifetime Achievement Awards.”
John Kefalas won the “Love and Compassion” Special Award. Matt Glesmann
won the “Upstart” award, and Eric Levine and Cherie Trine were given the
“Defenders of Air Quality” Award.
Kelly
Ohlson has been called the "Environmental Conscience of Fort
Collins,"
and has given heart and soul to the local environmental movement for two
decades. A recycling pioneer and champion of six open space campaigns, he was
instrumental in founding the City's Natural Resources Department and Natural
Resources Advisory Board. Kelly is a former Fort Collins Mayor, City Council
member, and Larimer County Public Trustee, and has acted as friend, mentor and
sometimes critic to other community activists for over 20 years.
Mary
and Paul Bates have devoted over 100 years between them working for peace and
social justice.
From their time in Iowa when the children were little and Paul was
fired from the factory for supporting a union organizing drive, to last week's
peace demonstration on the corner of College and Mulberry, the Bates have
always been on the front line. Mary has been a long-time anchor of the
Northern Colorado chapter of the Women's International League for Peace &
Freedom, and was recently honored by the National Civil Rights Museum. Paul
has been active in Fort Collins since the teach-ins of the 1960's and taught
popular courses at Colorado State University like "Literature of Social
Protest" for many years. The Bates have traveled extensively throughout
the world, and continue to be active in the Unitarian church and on local
issues like police brutality and racial discrimination.
John
Kefalas is a tireless advocate for peace and justice. He has served in the
Peace Corps in El Salvador, helped build schools in the embattled Chiapas
region of southern Mexico, lobbies in the state capitol on behalf of the
homeless, the poor and working families for the Northern Colorado Social
Legislation Network, and is a founder and mainstay of the Center for Justice,
Peace & the Environment.
Matt
Glesmann is a Fort Collins High School graduate and political science major at
Colorado State University whose activism and sense of social justice goes well
beyond his years. A co-founder of the CSU Campus Green Party and co-president
of CSU’s Amnesty International Chapter, he has been active on issues of
corporate globalization, sweatshops and fair trade, and is currently helping
organize the Fort Collins Association of Independent Responsible Businesses
(FAIR Business).
Eric Levine and Cherie Trine have fought for public health and air
quality for many years. Often working together, they have been in the trenches
doing the research, asking the tough questions and helping galvanize others to
stand up against polluters. Recently they were instrumental in stopping Holnam
Cement’s plans to burn tires in their cement kiln in LaPorte, which would
have put hazardous waste into the air we all breathe. Eric is currently chair
of the Fort Collins Air Quality Board, and a violin teacher. Cherie is
currently a day-care mom, and is also active in the Million Moms March against
gun violence. Both are active in the Sierra Club.