Minneapolis School District Honors Volunteers

Minneapolis School District Honors Volunteersrecess and in the lunchroom during breakfast and
13th August 2006lunch. Lawrence Looking Elk has established a bond
Author: Stacy Andellwith the parents, teachers and students at
The B.J. Reed AwardSullivan School. The parents of the school have
Created in 1988, the B.J. Reed Award recognizesbeen overwhelmed by their children love and
the work of volunteers in the Minneapolis Schools.devotion to Lawrence Looking Elk, who has
The B.J. Reed Award was named in honor ofdeveloped the student's trust in him based on his
Batty Jane Reed who founded the Communitykind, gentle and understanding approach toward
Resource Volunteer Program in 1965. B.J. Reedthem. Lawrence Looking Elk has worked closely
was a Minneapolis School educator who went onwith the student's in Sandy Chapman's classroom
to be an author, poet and mentor. Originally theat the Sullivan School. Ms. Chapman attributes
Community Resource Volunteer Program wasmany of the scholastic gains her students have
intended to give entertainers, craftspeople,made to Lawrence Looking Elk and his work in
professionals, civic leaders and other workingthe classroom. Lawrence Looking Elk has
adults the opportunity to share their time andvolunteered in the Sullivan Elementary School for
skills by becoming a part of the school curriculumthree years and donated nearly 3100 hours of his
giving classroom presentations. The CRV Programtime.
later expanded its focus and became the WISELawrence Looking Elk is active in other ways in
Resource Volunteer Program. This program aimsthe Minneapolis Schools. He volunteers with many
to have volunteers engaged in various functionsorganizations including the Parent Committee for
across the Minneapolis Schools. B.J. Reed retired inIndian Education, is Chairman of the Indian
1981 but continued to be an integral part of theEducation Board, and South High School Site
WISE Resource Volunteer Program until her deathCouncil (PUSH). In addition to volunteer work with
in 1995. The B.J. Reed Award is given annually tothese groups, he vigorously works to raise funds
someone who has made outstanding contributionsfor activities for Native American Students.
to Minneapolis students and the community.Lawrence Looking Elk's experience from being in
Lawrence Looking Elk the 2006 B.J. Reed Awardthe schools and classrooms gives him the insight
Recipientto know what changes are needed and he has
The Sullivan Elementary School, one Minneapolisthe tenacity to work for the changes in the
School, has gained a great deal from theMinneapolis Schools that benefits all students.
volunteer work of Mr. Lawrence Looking Elk.Lawrence Looking Elk received the B.J. Reed
Lawrence Looking Elk has become an almostAward at June 13th meeting of the Minneapolis
permanent member of the Sullivan SchoolBoard of Education. Last month, Looking Elk was
community. The work he does at the schoolalso honored by his colleagues and friends at the
includes, but is certainly not limited to, volunteeringVolunteer Recognition Luncheon held at St. Mary's
in the Media Center, out on the playground duringGreek Orthodox Church in Minneapolis.