Community members from Wakefield, Gloucester, Beverly, Lynn, and Marblehead will be honored at awards ceremony where winner will be announced on October 16th
Congressman Seth Moulton has selected five honorees for the 8th annual Peter J. Gomes Service Award. Created in 2016 by Moulton, the award recognizes the public service and community contributions of constituents across Massachusetts’ 6th District.
The late Reverend Professor Gomes was Congressman Moulton’s mentor and friend, ultimately inspiring him to sign up to serve in the Marines, and later, to run for Congress. The Reverend Professor served for nearly forty years in the Memorial Church of Harvard University. As a preacher, teacher, and leader, he influenced many with his wit and wisdom and, above all, with his commitment to service. This year’s award honorees demonstrate the integrity, compassion, and commitment to community that were characterized by Reverend Professor Gomes.
Congressman Moulton will host a public ceremony at 5:15 PM on Monday, October 16th, in Beverly to recognize these five dedicated community members and announce the 2023 Gomes Award winner.
This year’s honorees are:
Beverly Elcewicz – Wakefield, MA
Beverly has dedicated her life to helping students and serving the Wakefield Community. She works in special education, serving students with complex disabilities at the local middle school. She runs an evening GED program and the extended summer special education program. During the school year, Beverly creates a space for students to stay after school when needed, and over the winter holidays she provides meals and gifts for families in need of a helping hand.
Steve Jesi – Gloucester, MA
After losing his daughter to a drug overdose in 2015, Steve dedicated himself to helping others in the community recover from their own substance use disorders. He has raised thousands of dollars to support treatment and recovery in the district and created an annual scholarship in his daughter’s name to support those who are advancing in their healing journey. Steve works to inspire users to chase a brighter future through recovery and service and is a bright light in the darkness for many of the people he helps.
Kerry-Frances Bourne – Marblehead, MA
After recognizing the lack of legal help for the local immigrant community, Kerry-Frances began volunteering with Open Door Immigration Services (ODIS) to provide pro-bono services to immigrants in her area. She never gives up on her clients, working tirelessly on their cases and citizenship applications. So far, she has helped over 60 clients move through the green card application and the asylum system, helping them navigate the complexities of the legal process. She is committed to the cause of giving voice to the voiceless.
Carolina Trujillo – Lynn, MA
Carolina has worked in Human Services for over 20 years, serving on the boards of the Northeast Arc, Beth Israel Lahey Health, YMCA of Metro North, and the North Shore Maritime Center. She is also a committee member of Leaders Engaged and Activated to Drive System-Wide Change, Lynn Education District, Lynn Business Partnership, Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting, and Stop the Violence in Lynn. Throughout her service, she dedicates herself to empowering youth and promoting education and professional development opportunities for young people across the district.
Edward Cahill – Beverly, MA
Edward is currently the President of the Fisher & Fuel Society, a fund supporting Beverly residents facing homelessness and other economic difficulties. Ed serves on the board of Beverly Bootstraps and has been essential to helping the organization grow to better serve Beverly and the surrounding communities. Ed served as Chair of the Beverly Rotary Foundation for six years, ensuring the proper stewardship of the Club’s funds and its local and international charity efforts. Through his service and his faith-based volunteering, Ed is passionate about helping local residents access housing and food security.
Award Ceremony Details:
Date: Monday, October 16th
Time: 5:15-6:15 PM
Location: Cabot Middle School // 502 Cabot St, Beverly, MA
Members of the public with questions about the Gomes Award should reach out to Claudia.Runk@mail.house.gov.
The above press release was submitted to us by Congressman Seth Moulton’s office.
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