The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation has selected Cliff Poetz to receive their Self-Empowerment Award for his pioneering efforts to promote self-advocacy among people with mental retardation.

The Self-Empowerment Award is presented to an individual with mental retardation who has demonstrated the ability to successfully advocate for him or herself and others at local, state, federal, and other policy and administrative bodies.

Cliff Poetz has been active in the disability community for over twenty five years.  His leadership has been demonstrated by his legislative and political astuteness.  Currently, Mr. Poetz is on the State Council on Disabilities, People First Minnesota, Arc Hennepin, and the Arc National Board. He has been a board member of ACT and Arc Minnesota.  For the past five years, he has served on the Headwaters Fund grants committee.

The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation International Awards were established in 1962 to recognize outstanding achievements in the field of mental retardation. President John F. Kennedy presented the very first awards, which have been conferred every five years to recognize outstanding leadership and achievements that improve the lives of people with mental retardation.

He will attend the award ceremony to be held on the evening of Wednesday, August 2, 2000 in Seattle, Washington in conjunction with the 11th World Congress of the Intellectual Association of the Scientific Study of Intellectual Disabilities. At this ceremony, Cliff will be presented with a cash award and an original commemorative crystal.