IPA-NY honored by Municipal Art Society of New York

June 29, 2005

IPA-NY director Juana Ponce de Leon (left) shows a Certificate of Merit with MAS board members Gordon J. Davis and Elizabeth H. Berger

For its vision to create a solid voice for ethnic and community newspapers in the New York region, the Independent Press Association-New York (IPA-NY) was honored on June 29 by the Municipal Art Society of New York.

Calling IPA-NY as an organization that “instills a commitment to social justice and a free press,” Gordon J. Davis, former commissioner of parks and recreations in New York, presented a Certificate of Merit to Juana Ponce de Leon, director of IPA-NY, in a ceremony held at the Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Time Warner Center.

“Ethnic and community newspapers are vigorous advocates of news and viewpoints that reach out to a large group of emerging minority populations. We salute IPA-NY for promoting and supporting these myriad publications,” said the Certificate of Merit signed by Philip K. Howard, chairman, and Kent L. Barwick, president of Municipal Art Society of New York.

A private, non-profit membership organization whose mission is to promote a more livable city, the Municipal Art Society has a long tradition of recognizing people, places, organizations and momentous events that have made an exceptional contribution to the life of New York City. This year, the Society feels “that the IPA-NY for supporting and contributing to the success of ethnic and independent publications in New York deserves to be applauded.”

In her remarks, Ponce de Leon thanked the organizers of the annual awards and the Society for recognizing the significant efforts of IPA-NY in shaping New York City through public information.

“The Independent Press Association-New York strives to give access to those important media sectors whose participation is invaluable in the political, economic and cultural discourse,” Ponce de Leon said.

The other recipients of the Municipal Art Society of New York’s 2005 annual awards include the International Express: A Guide to Communities along the #7 Train for its inspiration to create a guide that provides information about restaurants; the Storycorps – at Grand Central for its unique oral history project that encourages people to share their life experiences in Grand Central Terminal; Tom Otterness for his bronze cast sculptures that have transformed the bustling plazas of New York City; the “Law & Order” television series for presenting realistic accounts of people in New York and how the criminal justice operates; and Vernetta Diggs, a long-time contributor to Brooklyn recreation and public programs.