The Red Bandana Fund is proud to name Artemis Moonhawk and Sarath Suong and the Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM) as the 2016 recipients of the Red Bandana Award. The Award honors individuals and groups whose work embodies the spirit and work of Richard Walton, a longtime activist in the Rhode Island area who died in 2012.
This is the fourth year the awards have been given.
Past recipients include:
Eric Hirsch, 2015
The workers at the Renaissance Hotel, 2015
Henry Shelton, 2014
Providence Student Union, 2014
and Amos House, 2013
The Red Bandana Fund was created to help sustain Rhode Island’s community of individuals and organizations that embody the lifelong peace and justice ideals of activist Richard J. Walton. Through the Red Bandana Fund, an annual financial award is made to an organization or individual whose work best represents the ideals of peace and social justice that exemplify Richard’s life work.
Richard Walton had an outdoor party every year, on the banks of the Pawtuxet Cove in Warwick, in which people from all over the country would gather from all walks of life and political activism to raise money for Amos House. He did this every year, on his birthday, up until his death December 27, 2012. The Red Bandana Fund has continued this tradition every year since then.
This Sunday, June 5, between 4 and 7pm, at Nick-A-Nees 74 South Street in Providence, the 4th Annual Red Bandana celebration will be held. There will be food, drink, music and laughter. They were many deserving nominees this year, all of which one could make an excellent argument for winning the award. The awardees for 2016 are:
Artemis Moonhawk, also known as Mama Dreads, founded and runs Mama Dreads Mission of Love, grassroots operation to help the homeless. Amanda Smith, a friend and fellow advocate says, “Artemis
sees the invisible people, feeds them nourishing meals and gives hope and hugs to those who have little or
none.” Colleen Polak, a teacher and friend, says that Artemis “does what we’re all supposed to do; but she
does it reflexively so that while the rest of us are still thinking about it, she has already done it.”
You can find out more about here: Artemis Manie Butti Moonhawk https://www.facebook.com/Mama-Dreads-Mission-of-Love…/
Sarath Suong is Co‐Founder and Executive Director of the Providence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM).
Both he and PrYSM are being honored for their work to mobilize the Southeast Asian communities and
the youth of Providence to stand up for their right to live free from injustices. Most recently, the
organization launched the Community Defense Project to provide free and low‐cost legal help and
counseling for victims of police brutality.
You can find out more about here: Sarath Suong https://www.facebook.com/PrYSMProvidence/
Bill Harley, president of the Red Bandana Fund that oversees the award noted, “Choosing this year’s
awardees was tough. There were many nominations of amazing individuals and groups, each one
deserving of recognition. Artemis and Sarath represent all of the people working to make a better life for
us here in the Rhode Island area. Those of us who remember and were close with Richard Walton know
he would approve.”
The celebration, at Nick‐a‐Nees is open to all, with donations to the Fund accepted. In addition to the
awards ceremony, there will be performances by the Christ Monti Band and the Extraordinary Rendition
Band.
“Last year’s party burst out onto the street with dancing! Harley commented. “It was a true celebration of
Richard, his words and spirit, and the people of Rhode Island who work to make the world a better,
happier place.”
“Last year’s party burst out onto the street with dancing! Harley commented. “It was a true celebration of
Richard, his words and spirit, and the people of Rhode Island who work to make the world a better,
happier place.”
So come this Sunday and join with us as we gather together to honor the past, and the future, in memory of Richard Walton. Buy yourself a an official, Richard Walton, Red Bandana and a beer, as we toast those who have worked for, and continue to work for, social justice in Rhode Island.
See you there.
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To find out more about The Red Bandana Fund or to make a contribution, click here http://www.soup.org/page1/RedBandana.html.
(Core participants in organizing the event this year include: Rick Wahlberg, Barbara Wahlberg, Karen Malcolm, Jane Murphy, Stephen Graham, Ellen Fingeret, Maggi Rogers, Ed Benson, Zack Mezera, Mary Ann Rossoni, Bill Harley, Jodi Glass, Cathy Barnard & Richard Walton, Jr.)