Arthur
Flemming Community Leadership
Award
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Flemming Community Leadership
Award
Arthur Flemming Community Leadership
Award
In memory of Dr. Arthur S. Flemming, these Community Leadership
Awards were created to recognize the contributions and achievements
of individuals and their impact on improving the quality of life in
their neighborhoods. The awards honor community leaders who have provided
or are providing exemplary service, leadership and commitment to their
neighbors and neighborhood as a whole. Each recipient receives a cash
stipend.
Dr. Arthur S. Flemming
Dr. Arthur S. Flemming was a longtime activist, with a distinguished
career in the field of public service and education for over a half
century. He led an extraordinary life of service to his country,
acting as an advisor, cabinet member and confidante to eleven presidents,
from Truman to Clinton. Dr. Flemming served as the Chair of the
Washington, D.C. LISC Local Advisory Committee from 1982 until 1993,
and remained active on the committee until his death in 1996.
During Dr. Flemming’s illustrious career, his numerous posts
included Chairman of the United States Commission of Civil Rights from
1974 to 1981, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare under President
Eisenhower, and United States Commissioner on Aging from 1993 to 1998. He
was an official with a passion for civil rights who reached across
party lines, working for Republicans as well as Democrats. In
the field of education, he was president of three institutions of higher
learning: Ohio Wesleyan University, University of Oregon and Macalaster
College. His religious devotion led him to become president of
the National Council of Churches from 1966 to 1969. In 1994,
President Clinton awarded Dr. Flemming the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Dr. Flemming had a tireless devotion to improving the neighborhoods
of Washington, D.C. He believed in focusing on quality of life
improvements, education, employment, and community leadership. Upon
learning of Dr. Flemming’s death, President Clinton spoke of
him as a leader who transcended party, generation and race in search
of consensus on some of the great issues of the day. A humanitarian
of the highest degree, Dr. Flemming’s legacy is an inspiration
to all who desire to make a difference in their community
