Recipients of the Human Rights Award may be individuals or groups. Since last year, the HRC selected one individual and one organization to receive this award.

Human Rights Commissioner Kristin Sprenger said this year. HRC received several nominations and decided to recognize two individuals –Gibbs and Uehling–along with The Grand.

All recipients of the award have worked for social justice, worked for the betterment of life for a protected class and made a contribution to the advancement of human rights.

Gibbs was the first to receive an award. She was initially nominated by Jamie Fay, who introduced her during the award ceremony.

Ali Gibbs accepts the 2026 Human Rights Award, saying she is grateful to live in a community that has a long standing history of prioritizing human rights. Photo by Clay Schuldt

Fay said Gibbs is always fighting for the rights of others and helps people see what they would not normally see, standing up for those who need it.

“Ali is active in the community for the cause of equity and inclusion and weaves it into everyday conversations she has on a regular basis,” Fay said. “Ali makes me a better person every day and she is well deserving of this award.”

In accepting the award, Gibbs said she was grateful to receive it and she was in strong company along with the other award recipients.

“I am grateful to be part of a community that has a long standing priority of supporting human rights,” Gibbs said.

The second award went to Betty Uehling. She was nominated by Eileen Birek.

Betty Uehling, former ECFE Coordinator for School District 88, accepts 2026 Human Rights Award and thanks the district staff for helping her make connections with area families. Photo by Clay Schuldt

Birek said she nominated Uehling for her 33 years serving as Early Childhood Family Coordinator for District 88. Uehling retired from the position last August. Birek said as ECFE Coordinator, Uehling worked for the betterment of every young child in the community as well as their whole family.

“Betty created educational opportunities that strengthen the well-being of children and parents,” Birek said.

Uehling also served as District 88’s human rights officer. Birek said Uehling was always dedicated to the rights and well-being of her employees and students.

Uehling thanked Birek for the nomination and thanked the HRC for recognizing all other individuals and organization in the community.

Uehling said throughout her career, she strived to offering programming that would be welcoming to all families in the community, but she wanted to recognize District 88 staff who helped make the connection with the families and kept them coming back to ECFE programs.

The final Human Rights Award was given to The Grand Center for Arts and Culture. The nomination came from Ginny Walters.

Waters said she was inspired to nominate The Grand because it was the only organization in New Ulm with a cultural equity statement.

“The Grand openly acknowledges systems of power and oppression against particular groups of individuals and as an organization actively worked to provide programming and showcase arts and culture that brings to light and fights against systems of power and oppression,” Walters said. “In their programming, they are extraordinarily welcoming to all individuals. Each week, they provide live music in the Kabaret that is sometimes not the typical live music heard around town, and they do not charge the public to attend these performances.”

Walters added that the artists featured in The Grand’s gallery and the artists in residence are a wide variety of backgrounds. She said this provided a unique experience and an added benefit to the New Ulm community.

John Kellen, executive director of The Grand, accepted the award along with other staff and board members, Tegan Daly, Olivia Norquist, Joe Weckwerth and board member Maggie Schwab.

Kellen said it was a wonderful surprise for The Grand to receive the Human Rights Award and said it was a group effort.

“We want to have a place that is welcoming to everyone,” Kellen said. “Everyone should have the support of the arts. I believe that the arts are not a luxury, they are intrinsic.”

He said there are many communities in Minnesota that do not have an arts center and it is something to be treasured.

Kellen thanked the many donors who invested in The Grand to keep it going for decades.

Olivia Norquist, the marketing and program coordinator for The Grand, said she was thankful for the strong support for the arts in New Ulm.

Tegan Daly, the program Coordinator for The Grand’s cellar press said she was continually surprised by the New Ulm community and their support for the arts. She said the public is always interested and open minded about the different artists who take part in the programming.

Joe Weckwerth, who does operation support for The Grand, said he has only been at the art center for a few months but said all the staff, volunteers and board members are working toward a bigger mission of bringing arts to the whole community.

Maggie Schwab, a 25 year volunteer and board member of The Grand said the art center has offered a great opportunity for the community to explore the arts.