Mayor Rybak honored for leadership promoting public health by state group
MN Public Health Association give Mayor the B. Robert Lewis Award
June 19, 2009 (MINNEAPOLIS, MN) – Mayor R.T. Rybak has received the 2009 B. Robert Lewis Award for his public health leadership. The Minnesota Public Health Association presented Mayor Rybak with the award at their annual meeting Thursday evening at the Wellstone Center in St. Paul.
The B. Robert Lewis Award honors an elected official each year who has distinguished him/herself in aggressive pursuit to establish and maintain health as a human right. The award is named after late Minnesota Senator B. Robert Lewis, who served from 1973 until his untimely death in 1979. Lewis carried many significant pieces of legislation, mainly concerning health and social change.
“Mayor Rybak has been a leader and catalyst for a significant number of important public health initiatives to improve both community and personal health,” said MPHA Leadership Co-Chair Linda Olson Keller.
Mayor R.T. Rybak was nominated for the award because of his leadership roles in Youth Violence Prevention, Safe Routes to School, Home Grown Minneapolis, creating a greener city and his dedication to being a model for personal health and fitness. Rybak initiated efforts in each of these areas and was named the Fittest Mayor in America by “Men’s Fitness” magazine.
“I am honored to receive this award,” said Mayor Rybak. “It is a priority for me to be directly involved in health matters concerning our city, and being recognized by the Minnesota Public Health Association for my efforts is deeply appreciated.”
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