Hopi Foundation honors Fabri for work with torture survivors

The Hopi Foundation, with a center focused on the treatment and prevention of torture in Tucson, honors Dr. Mary Fabri for work with survivors of torture

By Hopi Foundation

KYKOTSMOVI, Ariz. - The Hopi Foundation announced that Dr. Mary Fabri of Chicago, Illinois will receive the 2009 Barbara Chester Award for her work with survivors of torture. The award will be presented at a formal ceremony in Flagstaff, on Oct. 3.
"In keeping with The Hopi Foundation's mission to promote traditional values of stewardship and care for all of life, we are pleased to honor the healing work of Mary Fabri," said Barbara Poley, executive director of The Hopi Foundation.
Fabri has worked on the frontiers of human compassion and commitment for and with torture survivors. Besides her outstanding clinical work, Fabri has made significant contributions as a co-founding clinical member of the Heartland Alliance Marjorie Kovler Center, the torture treatment program in Chicago, serving as president of the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs, clinically administering the Bosnian Mental Health Program, and being an advocate and trainer in the field of torture treatment.

Over the years, Fabri has contributed significantly to efforts to provide mental health treatment to survivors in Guatemala, Haiti, Rwanda, Iraq, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The scope of her efforts on-site in the international arena have greatly broadened individual and community therapeutic capabilities, reflecting innovative approaches, and have touched the lives of many. The award consists of a $10,000 prize and a Hopi hand-crafted silver eagle feather sculpture.
The award was established in 1999 to honor the life and work of Dr. Barbara Chester who helped pioneer the fields of torture treatment and sexual assault.
Requests for nominations for the award are sent to over 500 torture treatment centers and human rights organizations around the world. A diverse selection committee then evaluates nominations.For more information about the Barbara Chester Award, please refer to http://www.barbarachesteraward.org/

The Hopi Foundation's programs include the Center for the Prevention and Resolution of Violence in Tucson
The Center for the Prevention and Resolution of Violence
Established in 1997, a center located in Tucson, Arizona which provides social, legal and educational services to refugees who are victims of torture. Owl & Panther Youth Project -- an anti-violence prevention project initiated the “Writing from the Darkness Project” which is a special creative writing, counseling program for at-risk children affected by torture, traumatic dislocation, refugee status or other family factors.

About the Hopi Foundation
The Hopi Foundation is a 501-(c) 3 non-profit organization incorporated in 1987. Its mission is to meet the charitable needs of the Hopi through grants, technical assistance and other services to villages and nonprofit organizations serving Hopi.For more information, visit http://www.hopifoundation.org/

Comment:
My name is Yesenia Sotelo and I work with Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights. Thank you for writing about our Kovler center (http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2009/09/hopi-foundation-honors-fabri-for-work.html). We could really use your help in the next few weeks.

This year was hard for many of the people we work with. Parents lost jobs, families lost homes, many fell into poverty, all while funds for services in city and state budgets were reduced and sometimes completely eliminated. But at Heartland Alliance, budget cuts haven’t stopped our work, we’re still providing help to people who need a home, or a doctor, or protection from harm.

However, we need support to provide these services and I hope that you can help. Can you post to Censored News about our Hope for a Hurting World gift catalog? People can buy gifts for each other from the gift catalog, and all of the proceeds go to providing services for the people in our community who need our help right now.

You can check out the gift catalog online at http://www.heartlandalliance.org/gifts. There are great gifts, including things like winter outerwear for a child, health care for a homeless person, or job skills training for parents. I’m really proud of the work Heartland Alliance does, and I hope others can be a part of giving back at the holidays.

I’ve attached a couple of images that you can use on your blog. You can also check out some videos of the people we work with at http://www.youtube.com/heartlandalliance. Please let me know if you have any questions. I really appreciate your help.

Yesenia

Yesenia Sotelo
Manager of Interactive and New Media
Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights
208 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1818
Chicago, IL 60604
312.660.1325
ysotelo@heartlandalliance.org