Several prominent citizens of the Cleveland's Ethnic Community were honored with the “FREEDOM AWARD” July 18 by the American Nationalities Movement at the group’s annual Captive Nations Dinner, held at the Toscana Party Center in Cuyahoga Heights. About 160 People attended the event.
The American Nationalities Movement has chosen American Cultural Ambassadors and husband and wife team David and Renate Jakupca for the 2012 Freedom Award "in recognition of their pioneering work in the Environmental Art Movement to help create a more sustainable and equitable world. Through their international advocacy and educational activities promoting from a cultural perspective, the Jakupca’s have contributed to the revitalization of cultural and environmental diversity, and the strengthening of local communities and economies worldwide."
Also honored was Parma Municipal Court Judge Kenneth R. Spanagel for his active and life long role in local ethnic communities.
When future Cleveland Mayor Ralph Perk launched the American Nationalities Movement in 1959, dozens of nations lay trapped behind what was then called an Iron Curtain of communism.
For years, with leaders like Senator George V. Voinovich, the Cleveland-based group lobbied and petitioned on behalf of people unable to speak for themselves.
Most of the original “captive nations” — including Hungary, Poland and Lithuania — are now independent democracies. But the group’s president, Judge Ralph J. “Rocky” Perk Jr., insists its ideals and goals remain as timely as in his father’s day.
“We are honored and deeply humbled to receive this award," the Jakupca’s e-mailed President Ralph Perk Jr. upon learning of their selection. "It is a special privilege to receive this honor from the American Nationalities Organization that has as its aim the fostering of both scientific and spiritual values on a worldwide level”.
"We are profoundly grateful to the American Nationalities for recognizing and celebrating the value of scholarship and the importance given to the interchange and balance between scientific advancements and spirituality, and for the opportunity the prize gives for intercultural and inter-generational exchange," they continued. "Conscious of the list of scholars who have previously received the Freedom Award, we thank you with great pleasure, gratitude and humility."
ABOUT: "David and Renate Jakupca have combined their expertise in ecology, art and culture to really unravel the evolutionary dynamics of humanity,” said Patrick Cahill, Board member of ICEA. "It is fitting that on the ICEALITY SILVER REVELATION, the 25th anniversary of ICEA, that they receive this award and underscore humankind's view about the integrative nature of the process of freedom and peace for all."
In a historic re-unification if the Greater Cleveland Community, as part of the Iceality Silver Revelation, North East Ohio Area has been 'branded' as the Home of the Environmental Art(s) Movement by the International Center for Environmental Arts (ICEA) as a 'Cultural Industry', to foster civic identity, cultivate tourism, and brand Ohio Environmental Arts and Culture District in the Bioregion.
Together, the Jakupca’s founded the International Center for Environmental Arts (ICEA) in 1987 to meet the compelling needs of ordinary citizens for access to current, balanced, understandable information about complex global issues. Today, the International Center for Environmental Arts (ICEA) is a force for socially responsible activity as stated clearly in its mission statement: “ICEALITY” or "Theory of Iceality on Environmental Arts" - to assist in the understanding of the relationship between Humans and their Environment through Arts and Culture while ultimately promoting a sustainable global culture of peace network.” Over the years, ICEA has gained a reputation for excellence based upon a unique library of specialized and current information on global importance and a wide range of imaginative programming and collaborations with other organizations to meet the needs of a broad constituency. With affiliates across the globe, the ICEA supports the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and Code of Ethics and a range of programs that strengthens them. It supports research, information sharing and effective action throughout the global environmental arts network.
The "Theory of Iceality on Environmental Arts" is practical study on the aesthetics of the relationship between Humans and their Environment through Arts and Culture, ultimately promoting an effective sustainable global Culture of Peace between all Living Things (Human, Animal and Plant Kingdoms)
At the ARK in Berea, David Jakupca has for the past four decades, been a highly vocal scholarly leader that has used the Arts as a tool for social change. Major institutions have christened him as the "Spiritual Father of the Environmental Art Movement," for his pioneering work on the Theory of Iceality.
Renate was born in Austria , and as director of ICEA , she is committed to developing the potential of the arts to reach ordinary people, bringing them clear information about the complex challenges we all face. Her work has taken her to the past 9 U.N. Conferences in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa .. One successful approach Renate developed together with her partner was to re-cycle huge quantities of information generated by the United Nations’ conferences around the world, and to make it accessible in the form of presentations and exhibits.
David and Renate Jakupca have been married for 39 years and, in all that time, have excelled in their commitment to the Greater Cleveland Community and beyond. What they consider their most important contribution, is the Worlds Children Peace Monument (WCPM). The WCPM serves as a multicultural peace milestone and, in time, will become the largest monument dedicated to Global Peace for all Children. In America , it is the backbone of the coast-to-coast Great American Peace Trail.
Together, they have won many honors including from the United Nations, the Nelson Mandela Leadership Award, and TIME Magazine as one of their 2000 Millennium "Heroes of the Planet". David and Renate have been appointed American Cultural Ambassadors when they represented the United States at EXPO2000 - the World's Fair in Hanover, Germany. In 2010, they were recognized as American Red Cross Community Heroes.
Both are officers and members of many local ethnic clubs and organizations, including Clevelandpeople.com where David is the German Ambassador and Renate is the Austrian Ambassador to Cleveland .
Additional Quotes:
And we reaffirm our commitment to do our part in bringing this sacred and colossal mission to fruition." Letter of Support from the Interchurch Council of Cleveland, Rev. Thomas Olcott., Ex. Dir., June 15th, 1993.
Cleveland Magazine, upon receiving the 1994 Reader's Choice Award for Best Artist.
"David Jakupca and his International Center for Environmental Arts (ICEA) is a team of art experts who have successfully fused not-for-profit idealism with for-profit pragmatism. The result is the country's only comprehensive professional artist run cultural program exclusively devoted to environmental and humanitarian concerns facing mankind in the 21st century. Spending his time devising strategies that have allowed his art work to influence people worldwide in promoting a better way of living, the ‘better way’ is by successfully demonstrating that a socially aware artist with a vision can make a real difference at the global level. Ed Burns, President Cleveland Jaycees 1994
"People doing extraordinary things to preserve the environment."
Time Magazine, Nominated as Millennium Heroes of the Planet, April 2000
"David and Renate Jakupca have been the leaders in showing how the Theory of Iceality on Environmental Arts works -- how small changes can lead to big ones. It is particularly fitting that as they approach the zenith of their careers, it coincides with this year's award. They are universally recognized and have been the honored guests at an extraordinary number of lectures and symposia all over the globe celebrating the Iceality of Peace."
India Keyes, Community Cultural Activist, Freedom Award 2012
"With the founding of the 'Great American Peace Trail', the Pathfinders [David and Renate Jakupca] have blazed a Trail in the History of Peace so that all others may follow, this is a natural extension of Man's capabilities" Christ Herbert, City of Parma Educator, at Parma Peace Stone Ceremony.
ABOUT: Parma Municipal Court Judge Kenneth R. Spanagel has served the Parma Municipal Court since 1988, having been elected and re-elected in 1987, 1993, 1999, 2005 and 2011. He succeeded his father, George Spanagel, and between them they have served as judges of that court since August 1969.
Kenneth Spanagel has served as Presiding and Administrate judge of the court.
He received his degree in communication studies from Northwestern University and his law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. While president of the Parma Bar Association, Spanagel received the Ohio State Bar Association’s “Award of Merit” for Parma Bar Association activities.
Spanagel is a past president of the Association of Municipal and County Judges of Ohio and received its “President’s Award” for distinguished service both to that association and the Judiciary of Ohio. He serves as one of three municipal court judges on the Ohio Criminal Sentencing Commission, having been appointed by the late Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer.
He is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association; Parma Bar Association; Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association; Ohio Traffic Rules Review Commission sub-committee on the Multi-Count Uniform Traffic Ticket; and the Ohio State Bar Foundation. He is co-editor of the judicial publication The Chronicle.
Spanagel frequently teaches law to judges, lawyers, and citizens.
He is a long standing member of Divinity Lutheran Church, were he serves as a Sunday school teacher, singer during contemporary services, assisting minister, Communion assistant and children’s sermon presenter.
Spanagel is a member of Deutsche Centrale (German Central) in Parma and the Cleveland American Middle East Organization. For many years he was a frequent speaker on the Slovak Radio Hour, sharing news of the community and ANM activity for freedom behind the Iron Curtain.
Spanagel lives in North Royalton with his daughter, Lindsay, grandson Blaine, and dogs Roxie and Coco.
By Rick Haase, Sun News
http://www.cleveland.com/parma/index.ssf/2012/07/parma_judge_honored_for_his_su.html
http://www.americantowns.com/oh/cleveland/news/local-husband-and-wife-team-honored-for-global-community-service-10178871
http://youtu.be/16yb4jGOHyw
http://www.TheICEA.com
http://www.clevelandpeople.com/other/events/2012/anm-summer.htm
Video and Text of Ambassador Renate's Acceptance Speech;
Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen!
We are so honored to be here this evening. It is always wonderful to get together with everyone at a time when support for one another is so appreciated. I want to thank all who worked with us to make this event happen. I clearly realize the scale of this project and this makes me even more proud of this achievement
We would like to give special thanks to the American Nationalities Movement, Judge Perk and Irene Morrow for recognizing our accomplishments and honoring us this evening
I would also like to welcome some first time visitors and long time supporters, Joannie Miller, Bob Cunningham, Dieter and Christa Herbert, and most of all, my parents John and Hella Gottschick and my sister, Ilse Mayer who always believed in us.
We are very proud as to where the International Center for Environmental Arts has brought us…..this year being our 25th Anniversary of our organization and the pronciples of the Theory of Iceality. The Arts are extremely crucial during adolescence as it is a time when kids are learning more about self awareness and their identity in the world. Our Peace Project with our Peace Stones can actually help children and teens express themselves, giving them a voice and making them feel more connected with other teens and children around the world. As we erect these Peace Stones throughout the world, together they will become the World’s largest Monument dedicated to Peace. Our children's COASTWEEKS project has been successful and ongoing for the past 17 years in Ohio. What we need to do now is to have the Coastweeks Project and the Great American Peace Trail be implemented in all 50 States.
The International Center for Environmental Arts is an understanding of the relationship between humans and their environment through the Arts while at the same time cultivating a sustainable Culture of Peace and Iceality. By bringing positive awareness, by communicating, by listening to people, ICEA will do everything possible to try and change people’s way of thinking for the betterment of society by bringing out the importance of sustainability in the future by means of alternative methods to survive for a much healthier environment. This world has so many cultures and all striving for the same goal and realizing we are ALL the same, reaching for what is really important in life and that is PEACE FRIENDS and harmony among us all.
Thank you and God Bless!
