CCS has announced the winner of the 2009 Murnane Social Justice Award, John Aarons, who is being recognized for his accomplishments in several different arenas. Aarons has earned national recognition for his work in the development of the “Options to Anger” curriculum, a model aimed at reducing anger and violence in youth. Locally, he has made a positive impact in our community through his work with young people.

The Murnane Social Justice Award is presented annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of social justice and the common good. Over the past twenty years, Aarons’ work has primarily been with the Lane County Department of Youth Services in programs serving delinquent youth.

He has worked closely with CCS’ Young Father’s Program case manager, Art Zamudio, who has been co-facilitating an “Options to Anger” class for the Young Fathers Program participants this year with AaronsZamudio notes: “John was at one time my Juvenile Probation Officer and he had an impact on my life in a positive way in 2004. Since I have made this new beginning, John has mentored me, assisted in getting me a scholarship through the Grace Serbu Foundation for college, and has personally trained me and co-facilitated the “Options to Anger” curriculum, which has a great impact on the fathers I serve.”

Aarons’ dedication to the work of instructing the Young Fathers participants was demonstrated to Zamudio when Aarons, who volunteers his time to the program, came to facilitate the class the week his friend, and colleague of 30 years, had died.

Zamudio continues, “John is so dedicated that on the day or maybe the day after his close colleague John Crumbly passed away, he still showed up to YFP “Options to Anger” class, that we were not even paying him to do. When I asked him if he wanted to go home, he simply answered that there is work to do and he was exactly where he needed to be.”

Aarons’ service has ranged from work with groups in county detention programs, counseling in juvenile probation programs, to the coordination of Lane County Department of Youth Services educational programs for delinquent youth who have been suspended or expelled from traditional or alternative schools. In addition, John coordinates the competency groups based on cognitive behavioral intervention strategies.

Aarons serves as adjunct faculty at both the University of Oregon’s Substance Abuse and Prevention Program (SAPP) and the Lane Community College’s Criminal Justice Program, instructing students with the “Options to Anger” curriculum he, Crumbley and Northwest Media producer Lee White developed.

The Murnane Social Justice Award, established in 2002, is given to persons who have worked on behalf of the low-income, elderly and/or disenfranchised members of our community, or who have worked and advocated for social justice and advancing the common good. The award is named in honor and memory of Monsignor Edmund J. Murnane, founder of Catholic Community Services (formerly Catholic Charities of Lane County). Monsignor Murnane’s commitment to providing care and service to those in need was unwavering, as was his kindness and generosity of spirit.

Prior recipients are:

2008: Sr. Monica Heeran

2007: Ron Chase

2006: Susan Ban

2005: Ibrahim Hamide

2004: Sr. Margaret Graziano

2003: Jeanne Benson

2002: Rev. Dan Bryant