Bismarck, ND — Micah Olson, an attorney with the North Dakota Protection and Advocacy Project, was recently honored with the prestigious Humanitarian Award by the Bismarck Human Relations Committee for his dedicated work in advocating for individuals with disabilities.

Olson, who has spent the past two years focused on ensuring that people with disabilities have access to essential services like housing and transportation, expressed surprise upon receiving the award. “It was a surprise, I wasn’t expecting to get an award,” he said. “I’m just one person that works here, so I feel like it’s really an award for everyone at Protection and Advocacy because everybody does a lot of things here, and I’m just one of the people who does work here.”

The Humanitarian Award recognizes individuals and organizations in the community who have made significant contributions to promoting human rights and equality. This year, Olson’s tireless efforts to protect the rights of people with disabilities were singled out for praise.

In addition to Olson’s individual recognition, the Committee also honored Sanford Health with the Humanitarian Award for an organization. Sanford Health was chosen for its ongoing efforts to support health equity and improve access to care for underserved populations in the community.

The awards ceremony highlighted the importance of advocacy and community engagement in fostering an inclusive environment for all, particularly those with disabilities.