The Board of Alders Black and Hispanic Caucus might have used the mystery of the mask to set the stage for its fifth gala, but the party’s purpose was no mystery.
People had gathered to raise money for programs that help the Elm City’s senior citizens and its young people, fête community heroes and have a good time.
The annual event, which was held at Anthony’s Ocean View Thursday, was sold out and drew a well-dressed crowd of about 400 of the city’s politicos and other community movers and shakers.
“Look at you,” Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison exclaimed to a room filled with feathered masks, suits and sequins. “This is beautiful!”
Before the party started Morrison took care of a little housekeeping by reminding attendees that when the majority of the current crop of alders came into office, they set a legislative agenda.
“We’ve done some really great things,” she said, while pointing out that alders are again looking to the community to help set a new course. Morrison got the staff at Anthony’s to turn up the house lights so that the captive audience could fill out legislative agenda forms on the spot.
Board President Tyisha Walker said the gala is a time to celebrate all the things that alders and community members have accomplished together.
“Together we can do endless things,” she said.
Many in attendance came to celebrate the men and women of the hour.
Police Lt. Sam Brown, the former district manger for the Dixwell neighborhood and current patrol supervisor for the police department, was recognized for his commitment to community policing, while LEAP was recognized for its work with the city’s youth to not only provide them a place to go after school and in the summer but also mentorship and jobs.
Longtime community organizer and educator Abie Benitez was recognized for her work with children and her commitment to literacy. Judge Jack Keyes was honored for the difference he has made in the lives of hundreds of families.
I enjoyed the photos and like a lot of these people but in the meantime NH people are still sleeping in the streets, parks, doorways, and hidden alcoves OUTSIDE in the cold. Today Friday I am trying to work with TRAILBLAZER, a local mom and pop, to buy 200 winter weather sleeping bags with pads for the patrons at Sunrise Cafe (Liberty CS). I need help and support of other wealthy...and where are they???...not to mention why do I have to do the city's job. Housing is a human right. The old DSS building on Bassett St which could house 200, the city says they cant afford. The shelters are inadequate. The warming centers consist of the library on Elm, the train station, and AME Bethel church on Goffe but their hours are restricted. According to this media, 30 die from exposure here yearly (estimate 2015).