One of this year’s recipients of the Human Rights Award is an individual you might never meet in person, but her Web sites reach a lot of lives.

Visit the Web sites for such organizations as Prop Shop (www.propshopep.org) or A Better Chance Foundation (www.edenprairieabc.org) and you’ll see her work. Jody Russell’s Thunder Communications Design works mainly for nonprofits so, whether she’s volunteering her work (as is the case with PROP Shop) or being paid (such as with a number of school districts), the work is with similar clients, notes Russell.

“I see my role in life as helping them get their message out, to help people who need help.”

Russell was nominated for the award by Amy Nylander, a volunteer with the Eden Prairie High School Parent Teacher Organization. The city of Eden Prairie Human Rights and Diversity Commission recently announced this year’s recipients, which include categories for individuals, nonprofits and in Russell’s case, a business.

“Having been around the volunteering block a few times I am continually struck by how the world runs because of people who step up and say ‘I’ll do it,”’ wrote Nylander in an e-mail. “These behind-the-scenes volunteers are the folks who really get things done. Jody is a perfect example of someone who makes a huge difference without ever being in the public eye and the award seemed like a good fit in recognition of her work with nonprofits in the community.”

Work with schools

Russell started her work with Web site design back in 1994. She didn’t have a background in computers – her career trajectory was more a case of being at the right place at the right time. In her case, she was a single parent in Eden Prairie with two little kids – she needed a career where she could be accessible to them. She taught herself Web site design and ended up calling Cedar Ridge Elementary, offering to help their webmaster work on the school’s Web site.

Those at the district turned it around and asked her if she would like to do the Web site.

“So I started by volunteering in the schools.”

Much of her work today is still with school districts such as St. Louis Park and Westonka public schools.

Over time, Russell has simply found that her niche is with nonprofits and she is able to work within those tight budgets.

“I make it work,” she said.

Russell said it’s her job to understand their mission.

It’s about “can I help them achieve their mission,” she said.

 “If I can give the PROP Shop good tools , they will be more effective at reaching their clientele.”

Interests abound

Russell’s work includes a who’s who of Eden Prairie community organizations. She has designed the Web sites for Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools, Teens Alone, Citizens for Eden Prairie Schools and Eden Prairie Reads, to name a few.

In her nomination form for Russell, Nylander writes, “The community of Eden Prairie is smaller and closer because Jody’s Web sites bring us together – at galas, runs, fundraisers, lectures, games and meetings, as well as in other more intangible ways.”

Russell’s interests go beyond her business. Admitting to being a “constantly going” type of person, she’s quick to share her latest interests, whether it is sports photography or environmental causes. She’s recently been documenting her plan to mainly eat locally grown food through her blog “50-mile diet” (http://50milediet.com/). She’ll continue that plan this summer as she joins with a CSA (or community supported agriculture share).

Russell says she wakes up every day looking forward to getting on that computer.

“I do love what I do.”

Human Rights Awards

The goal of the Human Rights Award, according to the city of Eden Prairie’s Web site, “is to recognize an Eden Prairie individual, nonprofit organization, business or youth that has worked to create an inclusive community spirit through actions, activities or programs. This year's awards will recognize accomplishments from 2007.”

The nomination process starts in January. The recipients will be recognized by the Eden Prairie City Council and the community at a May Council meeting. Recipients’ names will be engraved on the Human Rights Award plaque.

According to Molly Koivumaki, staff liaison for the Eden Prairie Human Rights and Diversity Commission, the criteria involves good community works “that go really above and beyond what one would normally expect from an employee or from a volunteer.”

This year, the commission turns 40. The Eden Prairie News is profiling the recipients of this year’s Human Rights Award. Recipients in the individual category include: Basil and Mary Jane Wissner and Ali Turner. In the nonprofit category, recipients include: Pax Christi Church, Prairie Lutheran Church, Eden Prairie Methodist Church and American Muslim Community Center.

This week, we profile the recipient for the business category: Thunder Communications Design owner Jody Russell.