ORLANDO, FL – In celebration of the upcoming Juneteenth holiday and as part of the City of Orlando’s commitment to inclusion and diversity, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orlando City Commissioners joined with the community on Thursday to celebrate the City’s Fourth Annual Civil Rights Awards Ceremony, hosted by its Office of Human Relations.
The award program is an opportunity for the city to annually honor those in the Orlando community who have dedicated their lives to fight for civil rights and equality. This year’s award winners were chosen for their exemplary leadership and the significant contributions that each has made within the community and statewide.
Florida Representative Geraldine Thompson, a longtime advocate for social justice, civil rights, and affordable housing, was awarded the City of Orlando’s Civil Rights Wall of Fame Award. Her work in the Florida Legislation and participation as a former Board Member of the Metropolitan Orlando Urban League, the YMCA Black Achievers Program and the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center established Thompson as a champion for change in overcoming social challenges and injustices.
Dick Batchelor was honored as this year’s Visionary Community Leader. As a former member of the Florida House of Representatives and through his continued commitment to civil rights, education reform, children advocacy, and public health, his impact and influence can be seen throughout the Orlando region. Batchelor is a longtime Orlando resident and continues to serve on multiple community boards.
“As a city we will continue to do all that we can to ensure that everyone feels welcome and is equally valued and protected in our community,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “The Orlando Office of Human Relations and this event reaffirms the city’s continued dedication to working with our citizens to address injustice and prevent discrimination.”
