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p 19


The idea of the park was conceived by Mark Avery, whose bronze bust of Martin Luther King was installed at the Transportation Center in 2009.


“These are people who  to help those that have  


 action to help those that have been marginalized in our community,” said Jan Poulson, Celebrating Community Project Steering Committee Member. “They will be honored for demonstrating an unrivaled commitment to helping others. Some have accomplished small tasks that are great and noble, and others have made a positive   is that they have given their energy and heart to advocate for equal opportunity and justice for the members of their community.”


In March 2013, Avery and his wife, Terri, with the co-sponsorship of the Sioux City NAACP,  Foundation. The Celebrating Community Project www.celebratingcommunityproject. com was then proposed to city community leaders.


Thirteen committees representing marginalized populations in Sioux City were each invited to select one honoree. The committees represent a broad cross-section of the community,


including African Americans, Hispanic/ Latino Americans, Jewish Americans, Native/ Indigenous Americans, Asian Americans, Elderly, Women, Children, the Homeless, Veterans, Disabled Americans, Victims of Domestic Violence, and those Recovering from Addictions/Substance Abuse.


Five honorees have been announced, and the names of eight additional honorees will be released in upcoming months. Those selected include Marilyn Murphy, who advocated on behalf of women in poverty and in abusive environments. Connie Spain, who advocated for those recovering from alcoholism and drug addiction by founding halfway houses and local treatment centers. Sgt. John Rice, a decorated veteran of WWII and the Korean War who was killed in action. He was refused burial in Sioux City because he was Native American, which is a powerful example of racism and  are often discounted or dismissed when their service is completed. Rabbi Albert Gordon, a spiritual teacher, and one of the founders of  and Beulah Webb, considered a pioneer and moving force behind many senior citizen programs in the Sioux City area including the senior center, housing, and education.


Each sculpture will be placed on a granite base with a plaque describing the honorees work. The plaque will include a QR code that enables smart phone access for additional information about the life of each subject on the website.


Although Mark Avery is the lead artist for the project, other artists have been employed to work on fabrication of a steel sculpture, formed as an arc, and inspired by a quote from Martin Luther King Jr: “The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.” The arc


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