Published in the High Desert Advocate May 9th, 2019 Edition.
Local teacher and councilwoman Kathy Durham received a letter from the Secretary of State of Nevada stipulating that she was to be honored on May the 14th, as a recipient of the 2018-2019 Jean Ford Democracy Award in the category of Educator.
The award honors exemplary service in promoting participatory democracy in the State of Nevada. She is invited to Carson City on May the 14th, 2019.
Named in honor of Jean Ford, the Advisory Committee on Participatory Democracy (ACPD) has established an award program to recognize the exemplary service of Nevada citizens who have played a key role in promoting participatory democracy in Nevada. The award program is designed to honor deserving citizens who have benefited their communities, state and nation through their participation and leadership in furthering the democratic process.
Eligibility: Any resident of Nevada is eligible for nomination. Awards are by category which include: Community, Educator, Elected Official and Student
Nominations: Any resident of Nevada or any organization operating therein may nominate a citizen of Nevada for the Jean Ford Democracy Award.
Applications: Submit application and supporting documentation to: Nevada Secretary of State, Attn: Advisory Committee on Participatory Democracy, 2250 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Suite 400, North Las Vegas, Nevada 89030
Criteria: The ACPD will select all award recipients based on leadership, innovation, and sustainable influence on participatory democracy in Nevada.
The deadline for applications had to be received by January 28, 2019
Who is Jean Ford?
Jean Ford, a Nevadan since 1962, recognized that improvements were needed in her community. So she volunteered to help with projects such as preserving Red Rock Canyon as a park and creating the Clark County Library. From volunteer and citizen activist, Jean quickly moved into the Nevada Legislature, serving first in the Nevada State Assembly (1972- 1976) and then in the Nevada State Senate (1978-1982). Between those two legislative terms, she earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Improving the legislative system intrigued Jean. She fought for openness in government, supported the Equal Rights Amendment, and introduced a variety of bills intended to eliminate discrimination based on sex and to create services for women.
Following her days in the Legislature, Jean continued traveling throughout the State, serving Nevada in many capacities from public servant and private entrepreneur to educator. Her list of accomplishments includes:
• Director of Community Relations for the Clark County Library, 1979-1980;
• Owner of a consulting business and co-owner of Nevada Discovery Tours, 1981- 1986;
• Appointed by Governor Richard Bryan to the first Nevada Commission on Tourism
and Economic Development in 1983
• Director of Nevada Office of Community Services, 1985-1989
• Director of the Women’s Studies Program at UNR 1991
• Proposed the creation of the Nevada Women’s Archives at UNR 1991
• Co-founder of the Nevada Women’s History Project (NWHP) 1996
Source of Information: Jean Ford: A Nevada Woman Leads the Way (University of Nevada Oral History Program, Reno, Nevada, 1998)
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