Pearl Leonard-Rock(r) accepts the Best Practice in Service Delivery award for Edgewood College. Eileen Mershart, Chief Executive Office of the YWCA Madison, presented the awards at a ceremony at Monona Terrace.

Madison, Wis. (Nov 12, 2007) – Edgewood College was honored recently at the Communities of Opportunity Racial Justice Summit at the Monona Terrace in Madison. The Summit recognizes outstanding work in diversity of 42 Dane County businesses and organizations who participate in a Diversity and Best Practices questionnaire. Edgewood College was recognized for ‘Best Practice in Service Delivery.’

The College was recognized especially for its Center for Diversity and Inclusion. The Center was designed to inspire curiosity and involvement in multiculturalism with the intention of preparing students to serve as builders of a just and compassionate world, Edgewood College officials said. Edgewood College welcomes men and women from all backgrounds, religious affiliations, ethnic and racial identifications, and sexual orientations. The Center focuses on the special needs of an ethnically-diverse student population, and acts as a campus-wide catalyst to promote the celebration of diversity, officials said.

The Director of the Center, Pearl Leonard-Rock, accepted the award on behalf of the College. Ms. Leonard-Rock was praised in the citation of the award for “giving special attention to students of color on campus, personally assisting with skill-building tutorials and culturally diverse activities, as well as providing support services that better equip them to act on their own behalf with integrity and self-confidence.”

Other organizations honored at the Summit include the UW-Madison School of Social Work, for ‘Best Practice in Retention,’ the Grassroots Leadership College for ‘Best Practice in Diversity Training,’ and Alliant Energy for ‘Best Practice in Retention and Organizational Climate.’