Karl Cassell receives lifetime achievement award for social justice leadership

CEDAR RAPIDS - Friends and colleagues nominated Karl Cassell for the 'Heritage Legacy Lifetime Achievement Award” because he is a true example of someone who has broken down barriers, fought for social justice and led community efforts for change and more opportunities for African Americans in Cedar Rapids and across the state.

Cassell, 43, president and CEO of Horizons, received the award during the I'll Make Me a World in Iowa 'Celebration Day” Jan. 28 in Des Moines. The day highlights African American culture and contributions, as well as leaders, like Cassell, throughout the state.

'He's a great example of someone who has improved the quality of life for African Americans living in Iowa,” Tim Wilson, former executive director of Willis Dady Emergency Shelter, who nominated Cassell, said. 'He loves Cedar Rapids. I remember he was one of the early voices in the flood recovery who said we would come back and be even better. He is genuine and inspiring.”

Cassell is known for taking innovative approaches to solve 'complex social problems,” Ted Townsend, president and CEO of Unity Point Health in Cedar Rapids, said in his nomination letter.

'As president/CEO of Horizons, Karl has led the agency to take a holistic approach to service delivery, focusing on the mental, physical and financial health of each and every one of the clients entering Horizons' door,” Townsend said.

Nancylee Ziese, a certified adoption investigator and retired licensed social worker, said in her nomination letter that she first met Cassell more than 20 years ago when he was the executive director of the Jane Boyd Community House and through the Downtown Rotary Club, of which he became the first black president in 2015. He strengthened Jane Boyd, which was a 'struggling agency” at the time, by starting some 'impressive and innovative” programs to help low income and minority youth, which included in school suspension for students to 'decrease opportunities for inappropriate behavior,” Ziese said.

Cassell said he is 'very humbled and appreciative” of the award and wanted to thank those who nominated him for the honor.

'I'm also a little disappointed because I'm not that old, and still have much to do, he jokingly said.

Cassell said his passion is seeing others believe they can make a difference.

'Believe it's possible, with hard work, discipline and with the love of learning,” he said.

Wilson said Cassell's work and civic roles in the community show his dedication and willingness to better the community. Cassell, who grew up in Cedar Rapids, graduated from Iowa State University and then started helping inner-city youth in Baltimore as a program manager in planning and implementing programs for children. He brought that experience back to Cedar Rapids in 2004 and became the executive director of Jane Boyd Community House. Wilson noted this position helped Cassell better understand the barriers for 'economically disadvantaged” people in this community, which included a 'disproportionate number of African Americans.”

Cassell then became the executive director of the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission in 2008. Wilson said, although Cassell's role mainly focused on the rights of protected classes, he used this position to become involved in a 'wide range of civic engagement, addressing a sweeping array of economic, social and educational issues.”

Cassell also has served on several different boards and other agencies and organizations, such as the City Planning Commission, St. Luke's Hospital Board, United Way of East Central Iowa and Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.

He is married to LaNisha Cassell, executive director of the African American Museum of Iowa in Cedar Rapids. The couple has two children.

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