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From YouTube: Kip Laramie Receives James B. Hunter Human Rights Award
Description
John "Kip" Laramie received the James B. Hunter Human Rights Award in Arlington, VA on Dec. 13, 2012. Laramie is a business owner who, in many ways, has dedicated his life to help others obtain shelter, a healthier life and second chances. He opened the Santa Fe Café in Rosslyn in 1988, and soon began giving away food to homeless in the neighborhood. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to increase services for the homeless. For the past several years, Laramie has served as head of the Homeless Services Committee of the Rosslyn BID. The James B. Hunter Human Rights Award is sponsored by the Arlington Human Rights Commission.
A
I,
have
the
honor
this
evening
to
present
the
award
to
skip
Kip
Laramie
Kip's
efforts
in
rosslyn
status.
Simply
is
that
as
a
business
person,
he
spread
the
word
around
his
restaurant,
the
santa
fe,
by
sponsoring
little
league
teams
and
allowing
students
to
student
art
to
pretty
much
decorate
his
walls.
He
brought
ads
and
programs
for
art
organizations
and
donated
food
to
homeless
programs.
A
He
noticed
people
in
the
shadows
in
rosslyn
who
were
hungry
and
though
he
claims
it
was
a
small
amount
of
food
that
he
gave
to
him
ever
feeling
he
gave
them
a
lot
of
food,
and
but
he
didn't
stop
there,
because
he
wanted
to
do
more
than
just
provide
food.
He
saw
it
and
was
successful
in
helping
to
provide
other
services
to
those
in
need.
A
Now
he's
also
had
a
voice
in
rosslyn,
which
has
enabled
a
span
and
other
nonprofit
groups
to
have
them
their
voices
heard
by
more
people,
and
this
is
to
an
organization
called
Bravo,
and
it's
not
the
Bravo
that
does
the
the
wives
of
atlanta
ending
lives
in
New,
York
and
wives
in
New
Jersey.
But
this
Bravo
is
the
buyers
and
renters
Arlington
voice,
which
is
a
non-profit
group.
A
That's
working
to
preserve
and
create
affordable
housing
in
Arlington
and
it's
another
organization
for
which
kept
has
held
fundraisers,
and
he
served
as
in
advocacy
for
he
is,
for
years,
been
involved
with
the
taste
of
arlington
events
which
raise
money
and
awareness
for
the
arlington
housing
corporation
and
community
resonances.
But
you
know
he
didn't
just
stop
there
with
the
homeless,
because
he
also
got
involved
in
the
youth
of
arlington
and
in
this
involvement
he
served
as
a
member
of
a
group
called
partnership.
A
Why
healthier
arlington
and
in
this
capacity,
helped
put
together
a
program
to
help
youth
who
were
who
were
caught
with
drugs
or
alcohol.
This
program
was
called
second
chance
and
the
program
help
first-time
offenders
to
avoid
suspension
and
the
juvenile
justice
system,
and
instead
it
offered
counseling
and
better
information
on
the
effects
of
drugs
and
alcohol,
but
he
didn't
stop
there
with
kids.
A
Now
he's
a
businessman
which
means
that
he
he
worked
in
all
intend
any
and
for
years
had
the
restaurant
called
the
Santa
Fe,
which
I
understand
closed
this
past
October
after
about
24
24
years
and
this
business,
no
one
left
the
business
all
of
his
employees
stayed
there
for
years,
and
that's
because
he's
the
type
of
employer
who
again
is
a
friend
and
a
mentor
to
his
employees
and
he
was
a
kind
boss
and
he
encouraged
several
of
his
employees
to
become
US
citizens
and
pretty
much
helped
them
through
the
process.
Now
to
his
customers.
A
He
offered
the
food
that
they
wanted
and
even
went
so
far
as
actually
have
some
ingredients
shipped
in
from
New
Mexico.
Because,
again,
this
is
a
restaurant,
that
specializes
in
New
Mexican
food
for
events
such
as
the
health
chili
festival
he
had
his
customers
was
so
impressed
with
the
restaurant
that
a
United
States
flag
that
flew
over
the
Embassy
in
Kabul
Afghanistan.
A
Kips
commitment
to
the
homeless
is
making
a
significant
impact
on
homelessness
and
roslyn
and
arlington
because
of
the
committee's
advocacy.
People
are
less
likely
to
call
police
or
report
problems
involving
homeless
people,
rather
more
people
won't
know
who
to
contact,
and
that
is
a
span
or
to
alert
the
committee
when
there
are
people
who
are
in
need
of
our
services
and
as
a
tribute
to
his
the
work
that
he
has
done
as
the
owner
of
the
Santa
Fe
cafe,
when
word
was
put
out
that
he
was
going
to
close
the
cafe.
A
He
we
see
the
letter
and
this
the
letter
said
it
is
an
honor
and
a
privilege
to
congratulate
you
upon
your
retirement.
After
24
years
of
bringing
a
little
bit
of
New
Mexico
to
Northern
Virginia
New
Mexicans
living
in
and
around
the
Washington
DC
metropolitan
area
have
been
fortunate
to
have
a
place
fortunate
to
have
had
a
place
where
they
can
enjoy
excellent
green
chili
recipes.
A
It
takes
an
immense
amount
of
creativity
and
innovation
to
run
a
successful
restaurant
for
24
years.
You
have
much
to
be
proud
of
with
deep
and
sincere
appreciation.
We
thank
you
providing
a
little
taste
of
home
to
your
fellow
New
Mexicans,
and
we
wish
you
well
in
whatever
path
you
choose
to
follow.
In
your
stage
of
life,
this
letter
is
signed
personally
signed
by
the
two
US
senators
from
the
state
of
New
Mexico,
and
also
by
the
congressional
delegation
from
the
state
of
New
Mexico
as
well.
I
get
the
award.
A
B
Had
warning
that
I
was
going
to
get
this,
so
I
was
able
to
prepare
some
remarks,
unfortunately,
for
you,
madam
ji
county
manager,
admit
madam
chairwoman
of
the
county
board,
arlington
county
officials
and
all
the
lovely
friends
and
loved
ones
that
are
here.
Thank
you
so
much
I
am
so
honored.
If
I
can
mangle
and
off
to
mangled
quote
by
the
late
Senator
Lloyd
Bentsen
I
knew
Jim
hunter
I
was
a
friend
of
Jim
hunters.
Chip
Laramie
is
no
Jim
hunter.
B
However,
I
could
not
be
more
honored
than
to
have
an
award
named
by
Jim
hunter
Jim
and
Patty
hunter
were
regulars
at
the
Santa
Fe
right
after
I
opened
my
business
back
in
1988,
and
they
ate
there
pretty
much
every
friday
night
for
many
years.
He
started
talking
to
me
about
getting
involved
in
arlington
county
and
appointed
me
to
the
visitors
commission,
which
was
a
two-year
learning
experience
for
me,
helped
me
to
get
my
feet
on
the
ground
in
a
corporate
setting.
B
He
also
encouraged
me
to
get
involved
in
taste
of
arlington,
which
was
started
up
back,
probably
92
or
so,
and
I
was
their
first
restaurant
chair
committee
person
thanks
to
Jim
hunter
over
the
years,
I've
been
fortunate
to
be
affiliated
with
wonderful
groups.
Cecilia
Cassidy,
who
is
here,
has
got
me
involved
in
the
Rosalynn
Renaissance,
which
later
became
the
Rosalind
business
improvement
district,
and
it
was
through
her
encouragement,
along
with
Laura
Rinker,
the
founder
of
a
span
that
I
started
to
get
involved
with
a
span
and
Laura.
B
The
I
also
got
involved
with
healthier
arlington
thanks
to
mr.
Richard
Cole,
who
is
head
of
the
health
department
at
time.
It
was
a
two-year
study
that
they
were
doing.
It
was
kind
of
like
Gilligan's,
Island
I
thought.
I
was
going
to
be
a
three-hour
tour,
and
here
we
are
six
years
later
and
I'm
now
co-chair
of
the
whole
thing
and
it's
it's
been
wonderful.
The
things
that
we've
been
able
to
accomplish,
but
as
a
team,
not
not
with
one
person,
ace
band
is
an
incredible
team.
B
They
put
together
a
wonderful
work
body
of
work
through
their
efforts
and
they
continue
to
do
tremendous
work
in
the
community
and
it's
only
going
to
be
growing
and
getting
that
much
better.
I've
had
wonderful
teachers,
Diane
downing,
who
is
here,
Jeanne
Matthews,
Naomi
Klaus,
dr.
Reuben,
varghese,
Lynn,
Hanes
Cecilia
system.
Some
great
people,
John
Healy,
who
is
here,
has
been
a
tremendous
guide
for
me
in
continuing
my
work.
B
They
all
help
to
teach
me
how
to
work
in
a
business
community
and
environment
and
how
to
chair
chair
a
committee
with
something
which
I
had
never
done.
I
have
always
tried
to
keep
the
philosophy
of
doing
well.
By
doing
good,
it
was
the
ethic
of
my
mom,
my
sister
joy,
who
is
here
my
sister
Maria
and
my
brother
Joe,
who
are
not
here
and
I.
Thank
them.
B
So
much
for
helping
to
to
get
me
to
where
I
am
I
especially
have
to
thank
the
staff
of
Santa
Fe
cafe
who,
through
their
hard
work,
it's
easy
to
say.
Yes,
you
know
somebody
comes
in
and
says:
oh
will
you
donate
this,
or
will
you
host
this?
It's
easy
to
say
yes,
because
I
don't
have
to
do
the
work.
It's
the
people
that
are
on
the
underground
with
their
feet,
whether
it
be
the
ace
day
span.
B
Volunteers,
the
people
in
Rosalind
who
are
out
there
doing
the
work,
the
the
people
such
as
victor,
who
heads
the
Ambassador
Program
down
there.
It
really
is
a
team
effort
and
I
had
an
incredible
team
in
the
staff
at
Santa
Fe
cafe
behind
me,
so
I
thank
all
of
you
for
helping
with
that
and
I
especially
have
to
thank
my
lovely
wife
peg
for
all
of
her
encouragement
times.
I
didn't
think
that
I
might
be
up
to
the
task
of
doing
some
of
these
things.
B
B
Would
never
have
gotten
I
would
never
have
gotten
involved
unless
I
had
had
a
personal
invitation
from
Jim
hunter
to
get
involved,
and
that's
all
it
took
it
kind
of
triggered.
Something
in
me,
I
think
we
should.
None
of
us
should
be
afraid
to
ask
somebody
else
for
help,
particularly
when
it's
for
a
third
party
and
doing
the
common
good
that
we
all
share.
I.
Think
that's!
Why
we're
here
I
think
people
just
need
to
be
asked
and
explained
what's
needed,
and
why
and
they're
glad
to
participate.
Some
people
call
it
the
Arlington
way.