This year the New Ulm Human Rights Commission will award its Human Rights award to three recipients – Betty Uheling, Ali Gibbs and the Grand Center for Arts & Culture.

Betty Uehling, dedicates her position as ECFE Coordinator for District 88 for the betterment of every young child in this community as well as their whole family. She created educational opportunities to strengthen the well-being of humans from birth through parenthood. She served as the district human rights office. As well as authentically always demonstrating great respect for the equal human rights for her employees.

Ali Gibbs, is always fighting for the rights of others. She helps people to see what they wouldn’t normally see and proudly stands up for people 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.

The Grand Center for Arts & Culture, are the only organization in New Ulm with a Cultural Equity statement. They openly acknowledge systems of power and oppression against particular groups of individuals and actively work to provide programming and showcase arts and culture that brings to light and fights against those systems of power and oppression. 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. The artists featured in their gallery and the artists in residence are of a wide variety of backgrounds, again providing a unique experience and an added benefit to our community.

The awards will be presented to the recipients on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the New Ulm Community Center, 600 North German Street.