HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Holland residents Dean and Mary DeRidder and former Hope College Spanish professor Herb Weller were honored this month by the city’s Human Relations Commission with the 2021 Social Justice Awards, giving to “individuals and organizations who exemplify the virtues of social justice by promoting equal opportunity and equal access for all residents in the areas of Housing, Education, Employment, and Government/Community Relations.”
Dean and Mary DeRidder, founding members of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (P-FLAG) more than 20 years ago, received the education award, as advocates for the LGBTQIA community in Holland. The DeRidders co-founded Gender Safe, as well as advocated for the passage of Holland’s housing ordinance that passed in Holland in 2021 (ten years of effort), as well as helped start Holland’s annual Pride Festival in 2005.
The Human Relations Commission awarded lifetime achievement honors to Herb Weller for “dedicating his life to building a culture of learning and connection>”
He was nominated for his bridge-building community work while at Hope, for continuing to assist with translation services in his retirement and being a part of the team that works to build relationships with our sister city Querétaro, Mexico.
A recording of the award ceremony is online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRqVY2rpiGw
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