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| Jeffrey A. Raffel, Charles P. Messick Chair of Public Administration and director of the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy |
10:05 a.m., Dec. 23, 2002--Jeffrey A. Raffel, Charles P. Messick Chair of Public Administration and director of the School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy, was awarded the Delaware division of the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) Community Builders Award at a ceremony Dec. 4 at the DuPont Country Club in Wilmington. The NCCJ Community Builders Award is given annually to two community leaders whose volunteer and professional work furthers the organization’s efforts to fight bias, bigotry and racism.
UD Provost Daniel Rich, who has known Raffel, since they both were doctoral students at MIT 36 years ago, introduced him at the award ceremony. Rich said Raffel came to the University in the 1970s, when urban areas were in crisis and the Division of Urban Affairs was created at UD to address those problems.
“What were needed were highly skilled and energetic scholars and teachers willing to leave traditional academic roles behind and risk their careers on the possibility that they could make a difference in meeting the challenges of urban America…. Jeff Raffel was one of the first faculty hired by the University of Delaware to take on this challenge…. For three decades, his work has been directed first and foremost at making a difference in his community. For three decades, he has taught hundreds of graduate students how to make similar differences in their own lives and in their own work. His contributions stand as one of the best examples anywhere of the success of this model…,” Rich said.
“Jeff Raffel has tackled every major education policy issue facing Delaware schools and communities over the last 30 years…. Ask anyone who has worked on education policy issues in Delaware over the last three decades, and they will tell you that Jeff Raffel has made a difference---and is still making a difference,” he said.
Lisa Oursler, director of the Delaware NCCJ, said Raffel received the award because of his more than 30 years of work in supporting desegregation in Delaware schools. “His research and analysis, his understanding of the issues surrounding school desegregation were invaluable to our efforts to promote equity for Delaware students. For me, he is the foremost authority on educational reform in the state,” she said.
Honored along with Raffel was H. Raye Jones Avery, executive director of the Christina Cultural Arts Center. For more than 25 years, she has worked for and supported urban community-based development. Raye, a graduate of UD, is working toward a doctorate in urban affairs and public policy.
Founded in 1927 as the National Conference for Christians and Jews, NCCJ promotes understanding and respect across all religious, racial and cultural lines through education and advocacy. NCCJ has been active in Delaware since 1946 developing interfaith clergy dialogue and school-based youth programs.
Article by Barbara Garrison
Photo by Kathy Flickinger
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