Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award

posted 

For Immediate Release
November 2, 2026

The City of Madison is looking for nominations for this year's Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award. Do you know someone in the Madison area who has shown leadership skills while making this a better place to live? We would like to hear from you and consider your nomination. 

This award honors Jeff Erlanger, who was an individual of integrity, passion, intelligence and civility. Jeff understood that thoughtful and caring people could have very different views on how to best address our community's many complex issues and problems. He was not only a great example for others, but also a leader in the community. Jeff was a lifelong quadriplegic due to complications from a spinal tumor discovered in infancy. He died on June 10, 2007, but spent a significant part of his young life committed to public service, focusing on constructive advocacy, civil debate, fairness, openness and effective representation. He embraced the similarities that unite us. Nationwide, and certainly here in Madison, we have seen too many examples of individuals who have not treated others with respect.  

Past winners include community leaders like Eve Galanter, Madeline Leopold and Rabbi Bonnie Margulis. Poet Laureate Fabu Carter was also an Erlanger Award winner as was Black Woman's Wellness Foundation Director Lisa Peyton and Bayview Foundation Director Alexis London. 

It's been a pleasure to recognize and celebrate the variety of individuals who have received this award in the past several years. All of them were nominated by area residents who have observed their leadership or worked with them. We have many area residents who have shown leadership through quiet determination, much like Jeff Erlanger. Our honorees over the years have come from many walks of life and I look forward to recognizing another worthy nominee.

—

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway

Jeff served on the City of Madison's Economic Development Commission; he was chair of the Commission on People with Disabilities; chair of the Board of Directors of the Community Living Alliance; and ran for the Madison Common Council in 2002. He also held several other significant positions in the community. One of his greatest accomplishments was his successful push for the accessible taxicab service in Madison. He was honored in 2024 when an accessible playground was named in his memory at Rennebohm Park on Madison's Westside. And just recently a Madison Elementary School was renamed in his honor.  

Criteria 

The Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award was expanded in 2024 to recognize residents of the Madison metropolitan area. The applicants will share Jeff Erlanger's dedication to and passion for public policy, civility and individual and human rights. The recipient will be an individual who conducts their daily life with these values and who has made a significant impact on the Madison community. 

Charitable Award 

The recipient of the Erlanger Award, and the person who nominated them, will each be able to designate a non-profit charity to receive $250. 

Eligibility 

  • Nominees must be an adult. 
  • Nominees must be residents of the Madison metropolitan area whose work, program, project, policy decisions or actions have made a positive contribution to the community and its residents. 
  • Nominees must have demonstrated leadership in public advocacy, focusing on constructive civil debate, fairness and openness resulting in effective outcomes in the City of Madison. 
  • Nominees must have demonstrated a dedication and commitment to treating people with civility, respect and dignity. 
  • Nominees may have been compensated for their work, as long as they exemplify the values represented by the award. 
  • Current members of the Common Council, the award committee, City staff and contractors with the City are not eligible to be nominated for this award. 

Nominations 

Nominations should contain detailed information regarding the nominee sufficient to allow the award committee to determine that the candidate meets the award criteria. The award committee will not conduct additional research. 

Nominations must be submitted on the nomination application and returned to:
Mayor's Office   
Attn: Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Award Nomination Committee   
210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Room 403   
Madison, WI 53703   

Nomination forms may be submitted by e-mail at madisonmayor@cityofmadison.com. Please include "Erlanger Award" in the subject line of email communications. Nominations must be received no later than November 30, 2026.

Departments:

Was this page helpful to you? * required