Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Mayor’s Office of New Bostonians will host the fourth annual «We Are Boston» awards gala on October 6 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. The annual event celebrates Boston’s diversity, immigrant heritage, and the outstanding contributions of individuals and organizations to Boston’s immigrant community. This year, world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma will receive the We Are Boston Leadership Award. Nominees in the categories of Youth Leadership, Community Leadership, and Corporate Leadership will also be awarded.
«This is a great event that highlights the diversity of our city,» said Mayor Menino. «Immigrants from all over the world move to Boston and help to make it a world-class city.»
«We are thrilled to honor Yo-Yo Ma with this year’s We Are Boston Leadership Award,» said Cheng Imm Tan, Director, Mayor’s Office of New Bostonians. «He is an inspiring example of someone who has fully embraced diversity in his life and in his music. His leadership and commitment to embracing the humanness that connects all of us is unparalleled.»
Proceeds from the event will support the English for New Bostonians initiative, a city-private-community partnership enabling more than one thousand new Bostonians access to English classes, and other crucial programs that enable new Boston residents to better acclimate themselves in Boston. For information on how to reserve seats, or to inquire about table and corporate sponsorships, please contact Mayra Canetti at (617) 635-2980 or visit www.WeAreBoston.wordpress.com.
Mayor Menino created the Office of New Bostonians (ONB) in 1998 to ensure that new immigrants have access to the civic, economic, social and cultural life of Boston. ONB has been nationally recognized as a model in assisting newcomers to overcome barriers and challenges. Every year the office helps over 1,000 new residents attend an English class, open a new business, receive free immigration advice from volunteer lawyers, find a job, buy a home, or assist in other ways. In return, new Bostonians have contributed to the vitality and prosperity of the City. For more information, visit www.cityofboston.gov/newbostonians.
