Park Forest, IL–(ENEWSPF)– The Park Forest Commission on Human Relations recently presented the 2008 Good Egg Award to Danielle Gladstone of Park Forest and Sharon Minster of Flossmoor. A ceremony was held prior to the start of the regular board meeting. Sharon Minster was unable to attend due to an out-of-town commitment.
Gladstone, a teacher working with the gifted program at Mohawk Intermediate School, said she felt honored to receive the award, "My dad used to tell me about this award."
Nominated by Commissioner Mike Elliot, Gladstone brings students every year to the Black History Month events in Freedom Hall. She enjoys teaching, "These are the schools I went through, and now I get to work in them, so it’s fantastic."
Commissioner Alfreda Keller praised Gladstone in her presentation, "Miss Gladstone has enthusiastically embraced the idea of racial diversity. As a teacher, a softball coach for Rich East, and as an active member of the community, her service has helped make Park Forest a better place to live."
Keller also spoke about Sharon Minster, a retired teacher from School District 170, "She was principal Highland Preschool in Chicago Heights, and she served in many other capacities in that school district." Keller said she nominated Minster for the award because of "her caring, and wanting to be there to help people."
"Her service to the community has helped improve intergroup relationships in the south suburban area. Her unselfish commitment to bridging the gap between racial, economic and cultural differences is demonstrated by her active work with not only students in School District 170, but with families as well."
The Good Egg Award recognizes leadership and community service that has had a significant impact on fostering inter-group relations and equal opportunity in the South Suburbs. The first award was bestowed in 1973 on the late Harry Teshima, who laid the groundwork that ultimately attracted the first African-American residents of Park Forest.