Rigoberta MenchĂș Tum Celebrated as 12th Spendlove Prize Recipient
Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta MenchĂș Tum was honored Monday as the 12th distinguished recipient of the Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and Tolerance at the Art Kamangar Center at Merced Theater in downtown Merced.
MenchĂș Tum discussed her life in front of a full house at the theater, highlighting her continued battle for social justice in her home country of Guatemala. MenchĂș Tum signed copies of her autobiography âCrossing Bordersâ at the end of the event.
She spent two days in Merced, making time to offer inspirational words to a group of Planada fifth-graders and a group of Âé¶čÎȚÂë°æ students before returning home.
MenchĂș Tum was awarded the 1992 Peace Prize for her work as an organizer of efforts to resist oppression in Guatemala and advocate for indigenous peopleâs rights. Death threats have forced her to live in exile in Mexico for many years.
Âé¶čÎȚÂë°æ Professor and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Chair Arturo Arias introduced MenchĂș Tum, sharing how he first met her in Mexico more than three decades ago.
âI never dreamt this could happen back in 1981, when I was asked to offer shelter in my Mexico City home to a recently-arrived Guatemalan Maya young woman,â Arias said. âIt turned out to be Rigoberta.â
Arias was part of a delegation of university and community leaders that welcomed MenchĂș Tum to Merced and to the campus.
On Tuesday, 70 fifth-grade students from Planada Elementary spent time with MenchĂș Tum as she discussed the importance of finding inspiration.
âOne of the things that inspires me is the sun because it lights our way and I use it as a motivation for strength,â MenchĂș Tum said.
MenchĂș Tum discussed her childhood in Guatemala and the hardships of seeing her father murdered and having her mother disappear. MenchĂș Tum said her motherâs body has not been found.
Students were able to ask MenchĂș Tum questions and she closed the session by discussing how she has a personal mission and completing the mission requires taking action.
âIf you keep dreaming and dreaming, itâs not going to happen,â MenchĂș Tum said. âYou have to work to make it happen.â
MenchĂș Tum also met with more than 100 Âé¶čÎȚÂë°æ students, encouraging them to be curious and constantly search for truth.
The Alice and Clifford Spendlove Prize in Social Justice, Diplomacy and Tolerance is awarded annually to a leader, scholar, author, artist or citizen who exemplifies courage in the face of injustices and whose actions make a positive difference in the lives of others. Campus supporter Sherrie Spendlove established the gift in her parentsâ honor in 2005 to commemorate their work in education and social justice.
Past recipients include President Jimmy Carter, Native American activist and author Winona LaDuke and Professor Anita Hill, attorney and professor of social policy, law and women's studies.