Learning Center For Deaf’s Gonzalez-Velez Receives Award at 30th Annual Garrahan Leadership in Diversity Event

Editor’s Note: SOURCE plans to publish profiles on all 8 recipients in 2022.

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FRAMINGHAM – Eight students were honored at the 30th Annual John P. Garrahan MetroWest Leadership in Diversity Awards ceremony on April 28 at the Framingham Elks.

The event is organized by the Alliance For MetroWest Unity.

The goal of the group is to bring together all groups within the MetroWest region to celebrate
diversity and to increase understanding of the community in which we all live

One of the recipients of the award this year was Julissa Gonzalez-Velez is a 16-year-old junior from
Franklin, who attends Marie Philip School at The Learning Center for the Deaf (“TLC”).

Gonzalez-Velez is a native of New York and has attended The Framingham-based Learning Center for the Deaf since the fifth grade.

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Throughout high school, Gonzalez-Velez has participated in a variety of extracurricular activities
including soccer, basketball, cheerleading, Junior National Association of the Deaf, Prom Committee, and Student Body Government.

Last year, she represented her school at the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education’s State Student Advisory Council. Currently, she is working to implement a Latinx Student Union at The Learning Center for the Deaf to empower Deaf Latinx students across all grades to develop a strong, positive identity and sense of belonging.

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Gonzalez-Velez hopes to become a veterinarian, an actress, or a filmmaker.

Thank you for working to break down barriers and empower others, Julissa,” said the Committee.

Members of the Committee include Katherine Garrahan, Robert Anspach, Peter Chisholm, Andrew Miller, Howard L. Newell, Heather Connolly, Najee Nunnally, Judge David W. Cunis, Daniel B. Daley, Framingham Deputy Police Chief Sean D. Riley, Betsy Soule, Shayna Eddy, Framingham Assistant Superintendent Tiffany Lillie, Rev. Dr. J. Anthony Lloyd, Loretta Tenenholtz, Susan Masionis, and Annmarie Garrahan Wazer.