Bismarck’s Dream Center and Sister Kathleen Atkinson were named the 2022 recipients of the Bismarck Human Relations Committee (HRC) Humanitarian Award.
The Dream Center Bismarck and Atkinson will be recognized by the HRC at the December 12, 2023, regular City Commission meeting. The meeting will be held in the Tom Baker Meeting Room in the City/County Building at 221 North Fifth Street. The award presentation will occur at the onset of the meeting, which begins at 5:15 PM.
Individuals, businesses or non-profit organizations that exhibit leadership in the area of human rights are eligible for award nomination. The recognition is intended for organizations and people that educate, identify, protect and promote personal dignity with a focus on eliminating discriminatory barriers that would prevent people from reaching their full human potential.
About This Year’s Winners
The Dream Center Bismarck opened in June 2019. Every week the organization helps about 1,000 households receive groceries. They provide 750 Great Start Breakfasts to families and disseminate 1,100 sack lunches, while providing 1,800 banquet meals to the community.
The Dream Center was nominated by Rhonda Styles-Rohde. “The Dream Center is such a blessing to our community and it, plus its founders (Jim and Cindy Barnhart), should be recognized,” said Styles-Rohde in her nomination. “Food is the focus, but their hope is that a person will take in other services provided by partnering entities. Dream Center Bismarck is a non-profit organization whose main goal is to bring ‘Help for Today. Hope for Tomorrow’.”
Atkinson is a Benedictine Sister of Annunciation Monastery who made life vows in 1985. She has authored two books, “God is Always There: Psalms for Every Moment,” and “Letting Go & Letting God” and is the founder of Ministry on the Margins, an organization that assists individuals and families going through transitional times in life, re-entry into society and after serving in prison or homelessness.
Atkinson was nominated by Krista Rausch. “Through her work, Sr. Kathleen does what many people cannot or will not do – she looks beyond the sins of the past to help convicted felons and people as they recover and/or re-enter society, connecting them to crucial resources and helping them find meaningful employment,” said Rausch in her nomination. “She has sat with them in difficult times and celebrated alongside them in times of triumph. In addition to selflessly serving a population in need, she has influenced many to step up and make a difference in our community.”
More information about the annual Humanitarian Award and the HRC is available at the City of Bismarck's HRC page.