President Crow today notified us that Patty Ferguson Bohnee has been selected to receive the 2009 President’s Medal for Social Embeddedness for the Arizona Native Vote — Election Protection Project. This honor recognizes the Indian Legal Clinic, Arizona Indian Gaming Association and the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona project’s superior accomplishment in identifying a community need or issue and developing mutually-supportive partnerships between ASU and Arizona communities to advance successful solutions.

The Arizona Native Vote — Election Protection Project helped strengthen the ties between the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and ASU with tribal communities. The Indian Legal Clinic was able to bring ASU, the College of Law, and the Indian Legal Program students, faculty, staff and alumni to tribes across Arizona by setting up volunteers on numerous reservations, a direct response to a need identified by the tribes. Throughout the election season, the Native communities of Arizona knew that the ASU Indian Legal Clinic was the principal resource for voting questions and assistance.