YOUNGSTOWN Callen to be honored

Callen is one of four people nationwide who will become Petra fellows this weekend.
YOUNGSTOWN -- A local attorney and activist will be honored Saturday in Washington, D.C., for his efforts fighting organized crime in the Mahoning Valley.
James Callen, co-founder of the Citizens League of Greater Youngstown, is one of four people to be recognized by the Petra Foundation as unsung American heroes. He will receive $7,500 and join a network of activists committed to social justice, according to information from the foundation.
"There's no denying this is very nice," Callen said. "I'm very honored to have even been considered."
He is a candidate for Mahoning County Common Pleas Court judge in the November election, running against incumbent Judge R. Scott Krichbaum.
The Petra Foundation was established in 1988 to honor the memory of Petra Shattuck, a teacher and lawyer who devoted her life to advancing human rights and building community awareness.
Nomination
Callen said he was nominated by James Grady, an author whose books include "Six Days of the Condor." Grady became interested in Callen's efforts in 1984, after reading news accounts of Callen's testimony before Congress about organized crime in the Mahoning Valley, Callen said.
He said Grady called him about a month ago to tell him of the nomination and pending selection for the award.
"Needless to say, I was surprised, thrilled and honored," Callen said.
Besides Callen, other Petra Foundation award recipients this year are an advocate of banking rights and financial literacy for low-wage workers and welfare recipients in California; a maternal health outreach worker for poor, isolated families in Chatham County, North Carolina; and an organizer of day laborers in Los Angeles.
Past fellows have been recognized for organizing family farmers, counseling death row prisoners, exposing conditions in rural jails, advancing American Indian rights, expanding opportunities for children and confronting handgun manufacturers and corporate polluters.