Darlene Johns, Rufus King High School, Recognized

Darlene Johns with Lucy Rosenberg

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 10, 2014

 

CONTACT: Emilio DeTorre, Youth & Programs Director, 414-272-4032 x223

 

MILWAUKEE, WI – The ACLU of Wisconsin named Darlene Johns Youth Civil Libertarian of the Year.  Out of several hundred other students in ACLU student alliances, Darlene rose above all of these young people to be recognized.

Johns, a Rufus King High School junior, knew from a very young age that she wanted to “be the change…” in the world. She leads workshops, participates in many events and volunteers with community organizations that focus on educating and standing for the rights of the people. As president of the Rufus King ACLU Student Alliance, Johns makes sure student rights are protected and upheld not only within her own school but in all schools.  

“It was an absolute honor to receive the Jack and Lucy Rosenberg Youth Civil Libertarian of the Year Award from the ACLU!” said Johns. “The ACLU staff has supported me all the way! The work that they do is incredible! They’ve shown me that the voices of the students matter.”

“Darlene is a wonderful young woman who will continue to be a credit to Milwaukee in the future,” said Emilio DeTorre, Youth and Programs Director.  “She has had a tremendous impact on other students within her school, and the larger Milwaukee community to whom she has presented.  She’s volunteered over 150 hours with the ACLU to present for hundreds of other high school students, Darlene has worked with middle school students on civil liberties art projects, and shared an important youth perspective with adults at other ACLU events like our Banned Book Reading, where she recited poetry for an audience of more than 80 people.”

Milwaukee County Supervisor Khalif Rainey will be honoring Johns with a citation at the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors meeting on Thursday April 24, 2014 at 9:30am in the County Board Room at 901 N. 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233.

State Senator Nikiya Harris and Representative Latonya Johnson will recognize Johns at the Rufus King Awards Program on May 15, 2014 at 6:00 pm. 

The ACLU of Wisconsin has approximately 6,000 members who support its efforts to defend the civil liberties and civil rights of all Wisconsin residents. For more on the work of the ACLU of Wisconsin, visit our webpage. Find us on Facebook and Twitter at ACLUMadison and ACLUofWisconsin.

 

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