30th Annual MetroWest Community Prayer Breakfast & John P. Garrahan Leadership in Diversity Awards April 28

The following is a media release submitted to SOURCE media.

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FRAMINGHAM – The Alliance for MetroWest Unity is delighted to announce 11 local John P. Garrahan Leadership in Diversity Awards on April 28, 2023 at The Verve in Natick from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

The Alliance presents the Leadership in Diversity Awards annually to students from public and private high schools located in MetroWest whose work in leading others in awareness and appreciation of diversity distinguishes them at their schools. These themes in action can be found in the work of the 2023 recipients of the annual Leadership in Diversity

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Awards, who include:
Algonquin Regional High School – Zoe Oelkers of Northborough
Ashland High School- Allishba Syeda
Assabet Valley Regional Technical School- Landyn Hobbs of Shrewsbury
Dover-Sherborn Regional High School- Margaret Bowles of Dover
Framingham High School- Kathryn Bishop
Holliston High School- Phoebe Wernborg
Hopkinton High School- Evanya Mathur
Keefe Regional Technical School- Lara Cristina Paulino of Framingham
Learning Center for the Deaf- Rita Child of Amherst
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School – Pristine Cyril of Sudbury
Natick High School- Talia Bradley

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The program will include an invocation by Rev. Dr. J. Anthony Lloyd of the Greater Framingham Community Church, music by Lonnie Powell of Natick, introductions and remarks by Robert Anspach and Katherine Garrahan of the Alliance for MetroWest Unity, personal statements on diversity, equity, and inclusion by student honorees, and presentations of awards by the Hon. David W. Cunis, First Justice of the Framingham District Court, members of the Framingham and Natick Police Departments and Jeffrey K. Coleman, Ph.D., Vice President & Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Framingham State University.

The event also includes the annual Nancy King Award, named for the late Executive Director and founder of MetroWest Legal Services.

The 2023 Nancy King Award will go to the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, and will be presented by Betsy Soule, Executive Director of MetroWest Legal Services.

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The annual breakfast and award program was first held in April of 1993, as a collaborative effort of local leaders, interfaith clergy, MetroWest Legal Services, MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, Framingham State University, MetroWest Medical Center, MetroWest Bar Association, and others.

In 2004, the award was renamed in honor of one of the group’s founders and longtime steering committee member, late Framingham attorney and community leader John P. Garrahan.

This year’s event will mark a return to the large breakfast format to which the public is invited.

A remote event was held in for 2020 and 2021 awardees, and a small evening event was held in 2022 for awardees and families.

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The Steering Committee for the 2023 event includes Board President Robert Anspach, Daniel Daley of MetroWest Legal Services, Peter Chisholm of Framingham State University, Katherine Garrahan of Bowditch & Dewey, Tiffany Lillie, Deputy Assistant Superintendent of Equity, Diversity and Community Engagement for the Framingham Public Schools, Rev. J. Anthony Lloyd of Greater Framingham Community Church, Andrew Miller of Avidia Bank, Attorney Howard Newell, Daisal Obomanu, Diversity Projects Coordinator, Framingham Public Schools, and Betsy Soule of MetroWest Legal Services.

Tickets for this event are available by sending a check for $30 for individuals, and $300 per table, and include a buffet breakfast to the Alliance for MetroWest Unity, c/o MetroWest Legal Services, 63 Fountain St # 304, Framingham. Donations and sponsorships are also welcome. The event will be from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. on Friday, April 28, 2023, at The Verve in Natick. A limited number of seats will be available at the door at The Verve on the morning of the event.

The Alliance for MetroWest Unity, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation whose mission is to recognize, foster and celebrate unity and inclusion within the MetroWest community. For any questions, e-mail metrowestunity@gmail.com.

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