BOSTON – The faces that filled Boston’s Seaport Hotel Monday night shared something special: a crowd that cares about the community. They support the meaningful mission of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Dorchester as it has been home for 50 years.
“If you know the Bah family, we all went to the club… I started as a volunteer and then became a staff. Every time I finish school, you’re excited to go to the club,” said BGCD alumna Hadiatou Bah.
It is a cause close to our Lisa Hughes’ heart; This marks her nineteenth year as host of the New England Women’s Leadership Awards – a celebration of strong and successful women, and an inspiration to girls in the club.
“What I found in return were opportunities for me to become a better person, to strengthen my communication skills, to have a network of friends, a network of adults who cheer me on,” says NEWLA- chairman Carline Durocher, about what she discovered when she was in high school.
“I saw a TV show once and I thought I could do that. Then I met Nora Baston, she’s amazing. And I thought, if she can do it, and she believes in me, I should try.” , 15- -year-old Noa Taylor said about her goal of working in law enforcement.
The club is a source of security and stability and provides young neighbors with the strong foundation they need to grow and pursue goals.
“So children can see that dream”
“Sometimes it’s hard to see the vision when you’re in a traumatic or stressful environment. The club helps create fun spaces to untangle that vision so kids can see that dream. That’s what the Boys and Girls club of Dorchester does,” Durocher added.
This year’s NEWLA honorees are Empower Founder and CEO Cara Belvin, Celtics’ VP of Team Operations and Growth Allison Feaster, and BGCD Family Engagement Specialist Huong Vu.
July McDonald
