Fellows Murphy Davis and Leonard Zeskind

Throughout the country thousands of such men and women - armed only with a fierce insistence on justice - are working to fix what's broken in American society.

Since 1988, the Petra Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity established in memory of Petra Tölle Shattuck, has sought out and championed such unsung heroes who deserve recognition for their distinctive contributions to the human and civil rights, autonomy and dignity of others.

Often at risk and without the safety net of personal privilege or institutional support, Petra Fellows work at I.N.S. detention centers and at toxic waste sites. They sound the alarm at deadly desert border crossings and stand watch at the corners of our cities' mean streets. They provide healthcare to migrant laborers, music lessons to public school students, new basketballs to inmates in juvenile lock-ups. And day after day, year after year, they hit the road, work the phones, show up, stand up and speak out against corrupt officials, unresponsive bureaucrats, hate groups and handgun distributors.

If you know a leader who fits the awards criteria below, please submit their nomination for a Petra award. If you know of others who might make a nomination, please spread the word.

With your assistance, the Petra Foundation will continue to champion those who are working on the frontlines of the struggle for justice. In addition to awarding fellows a modest financial stipend, the foundation amplifies their voices, publicizes their innovative models for change, fosters their collaborations and welcomes them to a network of emerging and experienced leaders who cross the lines of age, race, class and issue to work together to build a more just society.

Nomination Guidelines

• Individuals nominated for a Petra Foundation Award should display a combination of activism and thought, force of character, independence of judgment, and clarity of expression.

• The nominee's activities should be devoted either to the cause of racial equality, with special emphasis on Native Americans and people of color; or to the autonomy of persons, groups, families, and communities; or to freedom of speech, expression, and thought.

• The nominee should be someone who is not widely recognized, who does not have personal privilege or a strong institutional base of support and who has demonstrated a capacity to grow, overcome obstacles and make a significant contribution to human freedom by leading, teaching, or otherwise helping others.

• Please note that nominations should be submitted without the knowledge of the nominees. They will be carefully researched based in part on the references provided with the nomination materials.

• Most Petra Fellows work in the United States. If you are considering a foreign nominee, please contact us before submitting the nomination.

Please follow the questionnaire below and complete and mail nominations by February 11, 2008.

You can email nominations as Word documents to info@petrafoundation.org or mail to:

The Petra Foundation
315 Duke Ellington Boulevard, 16C
New York NY 10025

2008 Petra Fellow Nomination Form
(Click here to download this document in PDF format.)

I. Please provide contact information for yourself.

Name:

Title/Organization (if applicable):

Mailing Address:

Phone: Email:

II. Please provide contact information for your nominee.

Name:

Title/Organization (if applicable):

Mailing Address:

Phone: Email:

III. Nomination Letter Please discuss all of the following:

1) In what way is the nominee's activity at the core of the foundation's values as articulated in the guidelines?

2) What has your nominee specifically initiated or accomplished that sets her or him apart from others in the field?

3) In what way do you think the nominee's personal qualities are at the core of the Foundation's interests and reflect its values, as articulated in the guidelines?

4) What is the nominee likely to achieve in his or her field of endeavor in the future?

5) How long and in what capacity have you known the nominee?

IV. Please provide the names, affiliations, mailing and email addresses and phone numbers of at least three references who, together, can provide a well-rounded picture of the nominee.

V. Attachments (optional)

The committee welcomes, but does not require, any additional materials you wish to provide, including news reports or other evaluations or documentation of your nominee's work.

Nomination Due Date: February 11, 2008