Turnstone Center Honored by Indiana University’s Building Bridges Award during MLK Jr. Celebration

FORT WAYNE, IN (March 21, 2022) – Turnstone Center was named one of Indiana University’s 2022 Building Bridges Award recipients during its annual Social Justice Conference held on January 17 to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Indiana University faculty, staff, and students came together virtually to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with its second annual Social Justice Conference. The celebration included speakers, panel discussions, and music provided by the African American Arts Institute, as well as the presentation of the winners of the 2022 Building Bridges Award and the inaugural MLK Student Organization Grant.

The Building Bridges Award honors Indiana University faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners across IU's campuses who capture King's spirit, vision, and leadership. The MLK Student Organization Grant awards $500 to a student organization for programs, event sponsorships, or efforts supporting inclusivity, respect for diversity, and community service.

Turnstone Center was the community recipient of the Building Bridges Award for the IU Fort Wayne campus. Turnstone Center regularly partners with the local campus to promote disability awareness and education. The IU Fort Wayne campus nominated Turnstone Center for its display of passion for change, commitment to helping and empowering others, and leadership in promoting the principles of unity, equality, and diversity through its continuum of supportive services that address the unique needs of people with disabilities and their families.

The student recipient for the IU Fort Wayne Campus was Yusra Saleh, a senior majoring in Health Sciences and a current member and past officer of the Muslim Student Association. The association creates a positive foundation for students to learn about Islam, expands the thinking and horizons of all of its members in an Islamic fashion, and positively educates the public about Islamic culture.

For more information about the Building Bridges Award, please visit IU’s Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs website. For more information on the 2022 MLK Day social justice conference, please visit mlkcelebration.iu.edu.