Longtime Madison community leader and mentor Emanuel Scarbrough will be honored with the 2023 Rev. Wright Human Rights Award, the City of Madison announced on Friday.
“Emanuel Scarbrough’s life and work has positively impacted many individuals in Madison and the community in general,” the City of Madison said in a statement announcing the award. “Emanuel has a warm, encouraging spirit and a genuine desire to see others succeed. He is and has been a dedicated servant to his family, friends, church, community, and city, ever since he came to Madison in 1967.
“Emanuel plays a significant role in several important community programs,” the statement continues, “including the 100 Black Men of Madison’s annual Back to School Celebration – which has provided vaccinations, haircuts, and over 44,000 backpacks filled with school supplies, to Madison area youth; Helping Those Who Help Others – who, in conjunction with Madison’s First Responders, provide groceries around the holidays to low-income families; and Christmas For Children With Responsibilities – supporting local high school students who have “adult” or “parental” responsibilities in caring for younger siblings or their own children, ensuring they have clothing, toys, and supplies during the holiday season.”
Scarbrough serves as a mentor and strong role model for middle and high school students at Whitehorse Middle School, Sennett Middle School, Toki Middle School, Wright Middle School, and LaFollette High School.
The annual Rev. James C. Wright Human Rights Award is presented in honor of Rev. Wright, a civil rights pioneer in Madison who worked to bring about the adoption of the City of Madison’s Equal Opportunities Ordinance in the ’60s. He served as a member of the Equal Opportunities Commission prior to his appointment as executive director for the Equal Opportunities Commission. Rev. Wright retired in 1992 after 24 years of service to the City of Madison.
Scarbrough also served as president and vice president of the Dane County Chapter of the NAACP, and worked to get African Americans on Madison Boards and Commissions. Scarbrough earned the Madison Police Department’s Outstanding Support Award in 2010 for creating a Communication Channel to encourage better relations between the police department and community. At Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center, Scarbrough served on the committee that laid the foundation for the Malcolm Shabazz City High School.
Scarbrough has been a dedicated servant and member of Mount Zion Baptist Church for over 40 years. In 1999, he started working with Mount Zion’s Genesis Development Corporation to educate on the dangers of drugs and alcohol. His work at Genesis led him to become one of the few certified prevention specialists in the state. He served on two of the Governor’s state committees addressing substance abuse in Wisconsin. His dedication to assisting communities, especially underserved communities, in the prevention of harmful substance use, led to his work with the Dane County Transition School.
The Rev. Wright Human Rights Award is given to an individual who best exemplifies Rev. Wright’s dedication and compassion for civil and human rights and who conducts their daily life consistent with these values. The award will be presented at the Madison Common Council meeting on Tuesday, June 20.
