The Topeka Human Relations Commission (THRC) is eager to announce Washburn Law Dean Carla Pratt as the individual recipient, and Omni Circle Group as the organization recipient of the 2021 Troy Scroggins Awards. Dean Pratt and Omni Circle Group will be presented with the awards at the January 18 City Council Meeting.
The Troy Scroggins Awards are presented to deserving individuals and organizations for their efforts in furthering the THRC’s mission. The awards recognize outstanding achievements in ameliorating discrimination and prejudice based on race, sex, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, and sexual orientation and advancing diversity in the City of Topeka. The two award categories are Outstanding Individual Achievement and Outstanding Organizational Achievement.
“Dean Pratt’s scholarship and advocacy on race and the legal profession have served as a motivating factor for increasing diversity within Topeka, Washburn Law, and the Kansas legal community,” said Commissioner Nicholas Smith, Chair of the THRC. “Through Dean Pratt’s leadership, Washburn Law has implemented new programs to increase access to legal education for students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and students who are differently abled, which continues its legacy as an exemplary institution becoming of Topeka.”
“Omni Circle Group has made strides at advancing multicultural and multigenerational opportunities for Topeka’s African American community,” said Smith. “Through its community development program, Omni Circle Group acts as an entrepreneurial incubator for minority-owned Topeka businesses. The organization continues to serve the community through its food programs, mentorship, mental health workshops, and providing school supplies to students.”
Pratt is Dean at Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas. Previously, she served as the Nancy J. LaMont Faculty Scholar and Professor of Law at Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law. Her scholarship is at the intersection of Constitutional Law, Federal Indian Law, Education Law, and Race and American Law with emphasis on understanding the role of identity in law and legal institutions. From 2012 to March 2018, she served as an Associate Justice for the Supreme Court of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Fort Yates, North Dakota.
Michael Odupitan, CEO and President, started Omni Circle Group with a vision for change and a mission to unite and strengthen communities through personal and professional development. A former Washburn University student, Odupitan returned to Topeka to give back to the community that he believes saved him. In its three years, Omni Circle Group has launched numerous support groups and workshops to help minorities with business success, improve community mental health, inspire youth through mentorship and community building, and developing a strong e-commerce community in Topeka.
The THRC is a nine-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the City Council. The mission of the THRC is to conduct outreach and educational activities that promote justice and cultural understanding and improve relationships among all citizens of Topeka. You can learn more about the current THRC Commissioners on the City’s website.