By MARCY PURSELL
J Alumni News staff
Sriyani Tidball, a member of the J school advertising faculty, received an award for her involvement in community initiatives and accomplishments relating to promoting the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
She was one of four people to receive an award during ceremonies celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Lincoln on Jan. 15.
“From a very young age, I’ve always wanted to champion the disadvantaged,” Tidball said.
Tidball first came to the United States in 1968 as a foreign student from Sri Lanka. She attended Lincoln East High and then the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She was greatly influenced by Martin Luther King Jr. and became interested in civil and human rights. Tidball was in Lincoln in 1968 when she heard about King’s assassination.
Charities in Sri Lanka and the U.S. help children
Tidball and her husband, Tom, have founded two charities helping the underprivileged: Community Concern Society Sri Lanka and Street Kids Worldwide USA. The couple was able to help many people after the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004.
Community Concern Society Sri Lanka empowers disadvantaged children and adults to improve their lives through education, rehabilitation and communication.
“There are some things you can do that don’t cost much just to build self-esteem and have dreams and make sure you can get there,” Tidball said. “It doesn’t all cost money.”
Street Kids Worldwide USA is a Lincoln-based charity mainly used as a funding organization to help people overseas, providing food for the hungry, helping with restoration and mobilization.
The Tidballs lived in Sri Lanka eight months out of the year until two years ago when she was hired to teach at the university. She’s now able to go to Sri Lanka only during summer and winter breaks.
Obstacles don’t discourage her
When Tidball builds a home in Sri Lanka through Community Concern Society and runs into obstacles like money, she doesn’t let anything discourage her. She fights through the tough times and is able to see the 600 homes she helped build, a goal she never thought she would have reached.
“One of the things I’ve learned is to focus on the goal,” she said. “If you stay focused and keep your eyes on the goal, you will some day see your dream come true.”
Tidball’s inspiration and work ethic are what got her Martin Luther King award.
Tidball was nominated by Judi gaiashkibos, executive director for the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs and a member of the panel that chooses the award winners. Tidball was the panel’s unanimous choice.
“She embraces all cultures and exemplifies the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. in her personal and professional life,” gaiashkibos said.
Concha Kroeger, another member of the selection panel, agreed.
“She has just done so much for so many people, people struggling; that’s what Martin Luther King Jr.’s all about.”
Tidball said she was humbled to receive the award with King’s name on it.
She said she hopes others will take a stand about some issue that is depriving people of their human rights. She wants to see people be more free, wants children to have a better education and wants people not to have to worry about where they sleep and where they’re having their next meal.
Tidball said she has seen improvements in Lincoln since she first came here as a high school student when she was the only person of color at Lincoln East. She sees Lincoln as a cross-cultural community now. She thinks people are much more accepting of different races because they’re more interested in culture and ethnicities.
“I’m just an ordinary person who God created to care for others,” Tidball said.
There’s always a way to do more
She said she remains challenged by her belief that there is always something more she and others can do to help those in need.
And that philosophy is one of the many reasons Tidball deserves the award, which is long overdue, gaiashkibos said.
“She’s probably one of the best kept secrets in Lincoln.”
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