9 Community Service Honorees Honored In Palm Springs

PALM SPRINGS, CA —Seven people and two organizations will be acknowledged Monday for their contributions to promoting and protecting human rights, social progress, better standards of living, and equality, the Palm Springs Human Rights Commission said.

The ceremony, titled Promoting Universal Human Rights Close to Home, will begin at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the council chamber at City Hall, 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way, according to city spokeswoman Amy Blaisdell.

"This year's honorees have improved the quality of life for Greater Palm Springs and Coachella Valley residents over the course of many years, as well as helped the unsheltered, senior citizens, LGBTQ+ youth and families, active-duty military and veterans, people living with HIV, communities of color, artists, and performers, and many others," Blaisdell wrote in a statement.

The City of Palm Springs shared the list for the 2023/24 Community Service Awards recipients and a little bit about them:

• Brad Prescott: Prescott gifted what is now a preserve for open space in Palm Springs that will be cherished for generations."
• Dee Dee Wilson Barton: " Barton’s commitment to the LGBTQ community has included being the top sponsor of the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast."
• Rabbi Dr. Jules Long: He is the founder, spiritual leader, and teacher of the faith-based outreach organization Desert Outreach Synagogue.
• Tommi Rose: Since relocating to Palm Springs in 2002, Rose’s volunteerism has focused on LGBTQ youth advocacy and counseling, volunteering with the United Services Organization (USO) and Soldiers Organized Services (SOS), which provide rides to servicemen and women between Palm Springs and Twentynine Palms.
• Willie Rhine: Two of Rhine’s favorite words are “Be Nice.” He discovered the joy of being nice and giving back when he started volunteering his time and donated his construction skills at the Special Care Unit at Desert Regional Medical Center, working with HIV patients, among numerous other accolades.
• Tom Oliver & Matthew Stocker: "The pair received the Everday Hero’s Award from DAP Health honoring 'ordinary people who make a difference in the community.' The couple volunteer their time, money, and skills to help make the world a better place and to help as many people as possible."

The two organizations receiving awards are:

• Coachella Valley Filipino Festival Committee: This new and inclusive festival, open to everyone, took place at the Palm Springs Cultural Center on October 8, 2023 and was attended by thousands of residents and visitors from throughout Southern California.
• LGBTQ+ History and Archives of the Desert: This community-based archive documents, collects, preserves, and makes accessible the history of LGBTQ+ individuals, businesses, organizations, and events centered in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.

The Palm Springs Human Rights Commission is a nine-member commission of volunteer citizens appointed by the City Council for three-year terms. It meets at 5:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. Meetings are open to the public and anyone with a human rights issue or question is invited to participate and speak in the public comment period that begins each meeting.