Rosa Parks, who has been called the "mother of the civil rights movements," will be the recipient of the Walter P. Reuther Humanitarian Award from Wayne State University's College of Urban, Labor and Metropolitan Affairs (CULMA).

Parks, known for her refusal in 1955 to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in segregated Alabama, will be honored at a program Friday, Aug. 16, 9:00 a.m., at Wayne State's Community Arts Gallery.

In announcing the award, CULMA Dean Alma Young remarked, "Mrs. Rosa Parks has led a life of fearless determination for the cause of civil rights. Her courageous act in 1955 not only signaled the dawning of a new era in the struggle for racial equality, but also a remarkable career of service to young people and political causes. Indeed, Rosa Parks represents the ideals of the distinguished labor leader for whom the Humanitarian Award is named."

The award is named for the late Walter P. Reuther, 13-term president of the United Auto Workers (UAW). Reuther was a pioneer in the modern civil rights and environmental movements. Under his leadership, the UAW led the union movement in the establishment of the guaranteed annual income, supplemental unemployment benefits, funded pensions and several other groundbreaking achievements.

Grace Lee Boggs, veteran community activist and co-founder of the James & Grace Lee Boggs Center to Nurture Community Leadership, will be speaking on behalf of Parks. A special pictorial exhibit on Parks will also be featured courtesy of the Walter P. Reuther Library. For additional information about the program, or to confirm your attendance, call (313) 577-5071.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 14 schools and colleges to more than 31,000 students in metropolitan Detroit.