The Marie Civic Leadership Award

The Marie Interfaith Civic Leadership Award was started in 2004 by Paul and Irving Spitzberg to honor their mother, Marie Spitzberg. The purpose of the Marie Award is to recognize leaders who are able to bring people from different faiths and different parts of the community to address important issues and challenges which face Arkansas.

The 2009 issue is aging. We are excited about the possibility of a number of papers being developed from this year's symposium. Also, we anticipate this web site to develop into a site where fruitful and productive discussions may occur about the issues of importance to our state.

We are proud to honor former U.S. Senator David Pryor for his years of tireless and diligent advocacy on behalf of seniors in Arkansas. It was truly a great event.

I hope each of you who visit this web site will capture the vision of The Marie Award and become engaged in the work of making Arkansas a better place for all to live.

Stephen Copley
Chair
The Marie Award Board of Directors

Former U.S. Senator David Pryor Receives the 2009 Marie Interfaith Civic Leadership Award

Former U.S. Senator David Pryor received the Marie Interfaith Civic Leadership Award on Sunday, May 3 in Little Rock.

The Marie Interfaith Civic Leadership Award recognizes leaders who mobilize people of different faiths and different segments of the community to address important issues and challenges facing Arkansas.  Each year an issue is chosen to be highlighted, and the 2009 issue is aging.  Sen. Pryor was honored for his four decades of work on the aging issue beginning as a young congressman and continuing through his terms as governor of Arkansas and chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging.

More About Sen. Pryor>>

2009 Program Agenda>>

View Photos>>

Program to Include Panel On Aging

In addition to the award ceremony, there was a panel on aging moderated by Sen. Pryor. Participants were Jeanne Wei, M.D., Director of the Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging at UAMS; U.S. Representative Vic Snyder; and Lou Tobian, Associate State Director of AARP Arkansas. Dr. Wei spoke about healthcare for seniors, Rep. Snyder about government support and Tobian about housing and transitions.

Download the Press Release>>

About The Marie Award

In 2004, Paul and Irving Spitzberg initiated the Marie Interfaith Civic Leadership Award an award to honor their mother, Marie Spitzberg. Growing up, they saw a positive role model in her values and civic activities in partnership with their father, Dr. Irving Spitzberg. Marie Spitzberg lives interfaith leadership in her service to all regardless of religion or economic circumstance.

Past recipients of the Marie Interfaith Civic Leadership Award include Mimi Dortch, 2005; Jim Davis, 2006; Grainger Williams, 2007; and the congregations of Bethel AME Church and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 2008.

The logo of the Marie Interfaith Civic Leadership Award symbolizes how people of all faiths look upward to God and reach outward toward each other. It is rendered in black and white to represent that people of all races as well as all faiths are working together to lead their community.