SUTTON, Ruby

SUTTON, Ruby. (New Orleans, IA- ). Recipient, FIRST CITIZEN AWARD, 1984. Sutton is one of Dubuque's most often identified activists for racial understanding. She began her work in the community in the early 1970s as a volunteer with River Valley, Inc., an agency involved with the war on poverty. Later she was an employee of the agency and its successor, Operation New View. She has directed the Washington Opportunity Center in Dubuque and similar agencies in Delaware and Jackson counties.

Among Sutton's volunteer efforts in Dubuque was activity with the Dubuque Housing and Realtors Board, Correctional Services Advisory Board, Consortium on Aging Network, Equal Opportunity Commission, Teenage Pregnancy Task Force, and the YOUNG WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (Y.W.C.A.). As a member of the Dubuque Human Rights Commission, she fought to remove Clarence W. "Rainbow" DUFFY for printing ethnic and racial jokes in a neighborhood newsletter.

Sutton's efforts to combat racism have included membership in the Urban Potential Committee that brought Reverend C. T. Vivian from Georgia to deliver seminars on racial issues. Sutton also participated in the Equity Education Committee of the DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT that worked toward the development of a cross-cultural curriculum.

In addition to her award from the TELEGRAPH HERALD, Sutton received the 1987 Y.W.C.A. Women of Achievement Award in the area of "human and civil rights."]