Below is an adaptation of the press release announcing the award: Recipient of the 1995 Merle O. Johnson Human Relations Award
As a result of its "volunteer efforts to combat bigotry and make a positive difference in community relations," the Reading-Berks Human Relations Council presented the Boyertown Area Unity Coalition with the 1995 Merle O. Johnson Human Relations Award on December 7, 1995, at a luncheon at the Berkshire Sheraton in Reading. The award was presented to Unity Coalition Chairman Philip Donnelly and to Boyertown Area Senior High School Principal Roy Cubbler, who was instrumental in organizing the group. The vision of the Unity Coalition is "to create and nurture a caring community climate in which respect for all persons, young and old, is cultivated and in which bigotry is rejected."The Unity Coalition, which had been in existence for one year at the time, was formed in response to organized hate group activity in the Boyertown Area. Since its formation, monthly meetings have been held and the average attendance has been between 30 and 40 people. Dialogue on issues related to tolerance of diversity and grass roots networking to reach out to the community have comprised the agendas of the meetings. The Coalition has also given special community educational forums featuring presenters from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, Floyd Cochran, of Education and Vigilance, and Bill Wassmuth, Executive Director of the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment.
The Coalition co-sponsored "Partnership for Courage," a Fellowship Farms facilitated initiative to convene a State-wide conference centering on the issues of tolerance and diversity.
The Unity Coalition is reaching out to many in the Boyertown area by conveying its unifying principle of tolerance and open dialogue. For example, Boyertown High School students have had an active role in the coalition and have formed their own similar organization in the High School.
In the face of antisocial activities carried out by one or more of the half-dozen identified white supremacist hate groups in the Boyertown area, the members of the Boyertown Area Unity Coalition have chosen to take a responsible, proactive, and nonviolent stand on the issue of bigotry.
