News
Press Release

ACLU to Honor Jaren Ducker With Whitehead Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug 5, 2003

Long-time Denver civil liberties advocate Jaren Ducker will be honored at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado's Carle Whitehead Memorial Dinner September 20, 2003, at the Westin Tabor Center in downtown Denver, 1672 Lawrence Street. The dinner begins with a silent auction at 6 p.m.

Ducker is being honored for her continued fight to ensure that every person has the right to exercise the freedom of expression, of inquiry and of information, according to ACLU of Colorado Interim Executive Director Katherine Pease.

"Jaren is a person of enormous integrity, a clear-sighted and committed advocate for democracy, justice and the freedoms granted by the Bill of Rights," said her nominator to the Carle Whitehead Memorial Award.

As the Commissioner of the Denver Public Library, Ducker has been a staunch advocate of the freedoms of expression and inquiry of information. In 2000, she was elected president of the eight-person governance group that has seen the Denver Public Library system named the best in the country two years running.

She was a trustee of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, and served as its president. She joined the board of trustees of the Friends of the Denver Public Library in 1988. During her term as president, the organization tripled its membership. She chaired a formative seminar, Worlds for Women, in the late '60s, and then served on the first board of directors of the Denver Montessori School.

Jaren was born in DeKalb, Illinois, in 1938. She attended Smith College and graduated cum laude in economics in 1960.

Her work for the Colorado ACLU includes service as trustee, treasurer, and current member of the finance committee.

Return to 2003 News Releases