The Iowa City Human Rights Commission has awarded alumna Stephanie Van Housen (M.A. '00, M.S.W. '10) the Rick Graf Award for long-term commitment to her work in human rights. 

Van Housen serves as the family and child advocate at Grant Wood Elementary School and also the homeless children's coordinator for the Iowa City Community School District (ICCSD). She also organizes soccer teams for children at Grant Wood, which in addition to providing after-school extracurricular activities, have become a way for children and families of diverse backgrounds to connect. As part of her work with Kickers, she's arranged scholarships, equipment, and transportation in order for more students to participate.

Van Housen is engaged in other outreach as well. She holds knitting classes for students and parents as a way to connect and relax while learning a new skill. She has also organized ESL classes for parents and was instrumental in implementing the backpack program at Grant Wood, which sends children home with enough food to supplement meals for the weekend. 

Before her work in the ICCSD, Van Housen worked as a case manager at Shelter House.

The Rick Graf Award is named after an Iowa City community and national activist who co-founded the University of Iowa Gay Liberation Front  and the Iowa Center for AIDS Resources Education, and served on the City of Iowa City Human Rights Commission before he died from AIDS in July 1995.