New Haven Independent

A Profile in Making a Difference

by Paul Bass | October 19, 2005 9:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Speaking of Junta… the Fair Haven-based organization’s director, Kica Matos, is one of the most effective social-change activists in America. We already knew that in New Haven. Now the rest of country will know it, thanks to the Kennedy Library Foundation and Harvard’s Institute of Politics at the Kennedy School of Government. They give out an annual “New Frontier” award to honor two Americans under 40 “whose contributions in elective office, non-elective community service or advocacy demonstrate the impact and the value of public service in the spirit of John F. Kennedy.” On Thursday the groups are announcing their two picks for this year, and one of them is Matos. She and the other winner, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, will receive their awards from Caroline Kennedy at a cerermony in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston next Wednesday, Oct. 26.