Recognizing the value of an individual is key to addressing schisms in a community, said Village at Ithaca Executive Director Cal Walker Friday.

"Who are the 'we?'" he said to guests at the Franziska Racker Centers 2009 Fall Celebration. "Is it all of us or some of us? And if it's the latter, that begs the question, who's in and who's out? And that begs the question, what are the implications of that?"

Walker was the keynote speaker at the Fall Celebration and awards banquet, where educators and administrators for the Racker Centers and other agencies in the area were honored for their work with children.

Awards for leadership, enthusiasm and service were given to seven Racker Centers employees and two educators from regional BOCES.

Recipients were praised by colleagues as dedicated and inspirational.

"I've just been using the gifts and skills I have to help kids, and that's my job," said Barb Marmora, special education teacher and recipient of the Inspiration Award.

Cristine Donovan, director of community services for the Racker Centers, was awarded this year's Franziska Racker Award, which is designated for a staff member who exemplifies a high standard of caring and dedication to the agency's mission.

Donovan said students with disabilities need support from throughout the community.

"How do we engage everyone in the community to support people with disabilities?" Donovan said.

Walker said the mission of his organization, Village at Ithaca, is to make sure all children achieve their potential, and reach local and state standards for academic achievement.

"Our society can become obsessed with differences," he said. "But in the final analysis, it is an individual's sheer personhood that matters the most."

The goal is to develop a "sense of shared values," Walker said.

Racker Centers Executive Director Roger Sibley praised a Declaration of Shared Values produced by members of the Tompkins Chamber of Commerce.

"This is something we are looking to encourage more and more people to sign on to," Sibley said. "It's not just a matter of signing, but a matter of talking and doing... It's something that encourages us to think about what kind of community do we want to have, how do we want people to be with each other, how do we want to be good neighbors?"