Campus Connection

Alumna Tracy Littlejohn receives 2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award

A 2007 UWL graduate and current co-adviser of the university’s Native American Student Association received the community’s 2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award. Tracy Littlejohn, home-school coordinator for the Ho-Chunk Nation La Crosse Youth and Learning Center, received the award at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Holiday Celebration Monday, Jan. 20, at Viterbo University. Littlejohn is known for bringing passion and conviction in educating others about the hurtful impact of mascots, the trauma of racism and oppression of indigenous people. At the Youth and Learning Center she works to ensure that Native American children have support and the best opportunities to be successful. Littlejohn also co-advises the UWL Native American Student Association. For more than two decades, Littlejohn’s steadfast activism and strong advocacy has assisted the community to grapple with issues around social justice. She is a trained mediator, Native Healing Circle Facilitator, and one of the co-founders and coordinators for Widening the Circle Indigenous Education Conference. She has conducted many workshops related to hate/bias, privilege, domestic violence, and the history of racism and its impact on marginalized people. Littlejohn’s community service includes the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Management Board, Artspire Planning Committee, Disparities in Juvenile Justice-Best Practices Committee, City of La Crosse Mayor’s Taskforce on Racism, Wisconsin Indian Education Association Alternate Board Member, Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice Facilitator. She has assisted in planning four White Privilege Conferences. The Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award honors those who have worked to create positive change in the Greater La Crosse area with efforts focused on social justice, equality and diversity/inclusion. Their efforts must include anti-racism work and devoting personal energies beyond their “paid position.”