By Anita Weier
Northside News

Terrence Thompson, Facility Manager of the Warner Park Community Recreation Center (WPCRC), was honored in November with the Alix Olson Award for the Promotion of a Tolerant and Just Community.

He was chosen for the prestigious award for his efforts to make the WPCRC a multigenerational, culturally diverse, safe and welcoming community of acceptance, equality, connection and solutions.

The award was named for Alix Olson, a retired detective with the Madison Police Department and founder, heart and soul of Seeking Tolerance and Justice Over Hate (STAJOH), an anti-hate crime, inter-agency coalition from Madison and Dane County that provides meetings and trainings for community groups.

The award recognizes contributions of people who make a difference by promoting tolerance and justice in their community.

Thompson said that, when he started the job in 2017, he was determined not to start making waves right away; but soon found that some people in the community — particularly young people of color — did not feel welcome at the facility. So he made a point of welcoming them, and they came. “Now the center is much noisier,” Thompson said with pride.

Past winners of the Alix Award include: Holly Storck-Post, Laura Minero, Karen Reece, Lori Karst, Diego Campoverde-Cisneros, Stephen Blue, Fade to Black and Chris Lang.