Audrey Cooper

Name: Audrey J. Cooper

From: Ithaca NY
Family: Children – Heather, Jemal, and Amber; Grandchildren – Ashlie, Jemal Jr. and Keenan
Hobbies: Playing Scrabble™ (both on-line and the board game), baking, reading, and gardening
Volunteer Work: Board of Directors, Greater Ithaca Activities Center; Board of Directors, McGraw House
Quote to Live By: “Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.” – Chief Seattle

Audrey Cooper has taken leadership and commitment to human life and dignity to a whole new level in Tompkins County. Whether it is sitting with a family whose loved one has been hospitalized or planning the next large community celebration, she does it with the kind of passion and compassion that is second to none.

Audrey was the brainchild behind the county-wide, all inclusive Sister Friends Luncheon in honor of Women's History Month; an event that is now in its 7th year. Through her work as Director of the Multicultural Resource Center, she has developed and infused throughout Tompkins County Talking Circles on Race and Racism. This dynamic, interpersonal and soul searching series of dialogues provide a unique opportunity for participants to explore how race and racism manifest in their lives, to share this information confidently and confidentially with others as they consider ways to use it to change the quality of their human interactions and move towards better racial harmony.

For the first time, perhaps in its history, Downtown Ithaca, was host to the First People's Festival, planned and organized by Audrey. This festival was a celebration of Native American life and culture, was held in October 2010 and was a resounding success. Additionally, Audrey has been involved in planning and organizing the Tutelo Park Festival, the MLK Day On celebration and is very active with the MLK Community Build project, to name a few. She gives freely of her time and talent on numerous boards and committees,dealing with school issues, community safety, youth needs and healthy living.

To me Audrey is the poster child for "being part of the solution and not just part of the problem." Like many others she will complain about what's not happening right in our community but unlike many others she doesn't stop there, she goes on to engage others in trying to figure out how to fix it. As a devoted mother to her own three (grown) children and several other young people in our community, she has demonstrated what it means to be fearless in standing up for your convictions and for what is fair and just for all humans. Audrey gets my vote for being an outstanding woman everyone in our community should know. I am honored to nominate her for this recognition.

Nominated by Leslyn McBean-Clairborne

Bio:
I am the Director of the Multicultural Resource Center at Cornell Cooperative Extension TC. I am involved in developing programs that build bridges across differences, including Talking Circles on Race & Racism, Sister Friends Celebration & The First People’s Festival. I am enrolled as a member of the Sand hill Band of Lenape and Cherokee. I am also a recipient of the New York State Harriet Tubman Humanitarian Award and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Award of CDRC.

I could not do the work I do without the support of my family and friends. I am most humbled by being recognized as one of the 20 outstanding women as I know there are so many fabulous sisters who should be honored along with me.