Iowa 2024 Community of Character Award PresentationCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Presentation(s) # 01.
Copyrighted
August 19, 2024
ITEM TITLE: Iowa 2024 Community of Character Award Presentation
SUMMARY: Scott Raecker, Executive Director of The Robert D. and Billie Ray
Center at Drake University, will present the Iowa 2024 Community of
Character Award. A video will also be shown.
SUGGESTED
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Community of Character Announcement Supporting Documentation
Photo from Aug. 2 Character Awards event Supporting Documentation
2024 Community of Character Certificate Supporting Documentation
Photo on stage at event Supporting Documentation
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Randy Gehl, Public Information Officer
SUBJECT: Community of Character Celebration
DATE: Aug. 15, 2024
INTRODUCTION
Dubuque
AFAe11oMI
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
The purpose of this memo is to summarize the Community of Character community
celebration event planned for Monday, Aug. 19.
BACKGROUND
Earlier this summer, Drake University's Robert D. and Billie Ray Center selected
Dubuque to receive the Community of Character Award as part of the annual Iowa
Character Awards. Through the awards, the Ray Center recognizes individuals,
organizations, and communities throughout Iowa that show the center's six pillars of
Character Counts®: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good
citizenship. The awards were presented during a ceremony in Altoona on Aug. 2. A
delegation of Dubuque leaders attended to accept the award. (See attached photo)
DISCUSSION
Dubuque will celebrate its 2024 Iowa Community of Character award with a community
event and official presentation on Monday, Aug. 19.
In recognition of the award, the City of Dubuque will host a community celebration in
Washington Park on Monday, Aug. 19, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The public is invited to
attend to learn more about Character Counts® and enjoy complimentary treats. The
City of Dubuque Leisure Services Department's Rec-N-Roll trailer will also be on hand
for kids to explore activities ranging from bean bag toss to imagination playground
blocks.
The community celebration will be followed by a meeting of the Dubuque City Council
where Scott Raecker, executive director of the Ray Center, will share remarks and
present the award to the council. A video which was produced for the Iowa Character
Awards ceremony will also be shown at the meeting.
REQUESTED ACTION
There is no requested action.
Drake
" jam ! BiI
�y1 3 TheRohe ertDnterand
Ptake
-t1T Rohc�10 antl PAR H /�n
BVlhe Ray Centel COII '� Tne Robert D. and �II'II,C`.
Billie Ray Center
11�Y �El ^ The RetenD an '+� 0 BiIieR may(
4-14 Billie Ray Center � \ Blllle RaYq 11_e
The
Ray Can.
bert D nd
From left to right: Jon Roussel) (Dubuque resident), Laura Roussell (Dubuque City
Council member and Dubuque Trees Forever executive director), Mike Fortman (TH
Media publisher and 2023-2024 Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce board chair),
Amy Gilligan (Telegraph Herald executive editor), Ric Jones (Dubuque City Council
member), Alex Dixon (Dubuque Racing Association president and chief executive
officer and 2023-2024 Greater Dubuque Development Corp. board chair), Nancy Van
Milligen (Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque president and chief executive
officer), Katy Wethal (Dubuque City Council member) and Mike Van Milligen (Dubuque
city manager).
NEWS RELEASE
June 14, 2024 — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dubuque Named 2024 Community
of Character
Dubuque has been named Iowa's 2024 Community of Character by the Robert D. and Billie Ray
Center at Drake University.
The Ray Center annually recognizes Iowa individuals, organizations, and communities that
show the center's six pillars of CHARACTER COUNTS®: trustworthiness, respect,
responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship.
Dubuque was nominated by Robert Palmer, the former General Counsel and Director of
Government Affairs with the Iowa League of Cities. "Dubuque is a great city with a lot of heart
and city officials that care. The community has a story of population loss followed by
stabilization, recovery, and continued growth," said Palmer. "The city officials are passionate
about the wide variety of residents they have and what it takes to meet their needs. Language
barriers, employment, and embracing cultural identity are challenges that has Dubuque faced
and overcame gracefully."
"Dubuque residents should be proud of this acknowledgement. Our community has certainly
demonstrated tremendous character in responding to past and current challenges," said
Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh. "Change is not always easy, but Dubuque is navigating
change with a commitment to creating an equitable community of choice."
Scott Raecker, executive director of The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, said, "We are honored
to celebrate Dubuque as the 2024 Community of Character for the Iowa Character Awards.
Dubuque is an inspiring example of how communities can work together to promote positive
values and make a meaningful impact on the lives of all their residents."
The Iowa Character Awards will be presented at a special event in August at Drake University.
The Ray Center honors two of Drake University's most respected alumni —Robert D. and Billie
Ray —whose humanitarian efforts, character, and leadership set an inspirational example for
generations. The center strives to improve civility through character development and ethical
leadership. The Ray Center's vision is to transform lives and strengthen communities by
equipping individuals and communities with strategies to practice good character by
demonstrating trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship.
Through public awareness and programming grounded in research, the Ray Center helps
create strong, vibrant communities that value positive, healthy relationships and respectful
behavior. Its initiatives benefit people of all ages and are easily adaptable for families, schools,
workplaces, athletic teams and organizations, and more.
###
MEDIA CONTACT:
Hilary D. Ortmann, Director of Events & Administration
The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University
515-271-2915, hilary.ortmann@drake.edu
_emir, or
arc
The Robert D. and
Billie Ray Center
CHARACTER
COUNTS!
Drake
The Robert D. and
Billie Ray Center
!Drake
The Robert D. and y [MRpY[E OWNiD
Billie Ray Center
Drake
u\1\111)111
The Robe'
Billie Ray
The Robert D. and
Billie Ray Center
The Robert D. and
Billie Ray Center
The R � -,nd
Biller
r
trararra
cozaw
og'agaii,i
obzga44,
Dubuque
In honor of your 2024 Iowa Character Award
for demonstrating trustworthiness, respect,
responsibility, fairness, caring, and good citizenship.
ott Raecker, Executive Director
Robert D. and Billie Ray Center
Drake
UNIVERSITY
The Robert D. and
3illie Ray Center