Five Hub residents earn annual African American Achievement Awards

The city held its 14th Annual African American Achievement Awards last Thursday evening, honoring a handful of hardworking, dedicated black Bostonians who have evinced exceptional commitment to their community.

“The African American Achievement Awards is an important annual event that not only celebrates African American culture, but also honors those dedicated community members who are making positive contributions to our community,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino.

At the awards ceremony, hosted by New England Cable News’ Latoyia Edwards and held at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Roxbury, Community Service Awards were given to Dr. J. Keith Motley, chancellor of the University of Massachusetts-Boston; Cynthia Loesch, director of community organizing for Codman Square-based FAMILY Inc.; Danny Hardaway, owner of the Mattapan boutique Final Touch With Class; and Jeichael Henderson, assistant principal at the John P. Holland Elementary School in Dorchester and one of the co-founders of the Diamond Educators mentoring program.

A special lifetime achievement award was presented to Alfreda Harris in recognition of her numerous community contributions and accomplishments. Now chair of the John A. Shelbourne Community Council Inc. and a member of the Boston School Committee, Harris previously served as deputy commissioner of the Boston Parks and Recreation Department and head women’s basketball coach at UMass-Boston, Emerson College and Roxbury Community College.

The event also featured performances from local musical and performing arts groups the Kingdom Builders, the Goonies and the AAA Kids, and a special presentation of an African American U.S. Postal Service stamp by Boston Postmaster Marsha Cannon.

State commission established to improve veterans’ mental health care

The Patrick-Murray administration recently signed legislation creating the Commission to Study the Hidden Wounds of War on Returning Massachusetts Service Members, a group charged with investigating the mental health effects of war on Bay State citizens returning from active duty.

A study released last week by the RAND Corporation estimates that 300,000 U.S. troops suffer from depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We cannot allow the brave men and women who serve our country to struggle with treatable mental health problems,” said Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, who chairs the Governor’s Advisory Council on Veteran Services. “This administration is committed to ensuring that our veterans are cared for completely.”

The commission will also establish a mental health treatment program for Massachusetts National Guard members, a state military family leave policy for caregivers and a statewide education training program to assist first responders in recognizing the early warning signs of PTSD.

“At a time when our Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans are returning not only with physical injuries, but with many unseen, hard-to-diagnose [PTSDs] and traumatic brain injuries, we will stand with our veterans and their families to ensure the veterans are treated with the dignity and respect they have earned,” said Thomas G. Kelley, secretary of the state Department of Veterans’ Services.

State Rep. Anthony Verga, D-Gloucester, and state Sen. Thomas McGee, D-Lynn, were among the legislative leaders instrumental in establishing the 15-member commission. Gov. Deval Patrick will appoint five members, with state representatives and senators, the Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard and emissaries from other state agencies rounding out the panel.

“Through this commission, Massachusetts could become one of a handful of states to permanently legislate a comprehensive post-deployment care program for both our wounded warriors and their families,” said Verga.

“We know that many soldiers coming back struggle with emotional and psychological wounds, in addition to physical ones,” added McGee. “The commission … will ensure that policy-makers are well informed of the extent to which our veterans are struggling with [PTSD], and make certain that those afflicted by PTSD receive the treatment and support they deserve.”

Flaherty, national nonprofit team to offer financial literacy course to city youth

City Councilor-at-Large Michael F. Flaherty last week convened a public hearing on partnership possibilities between the City of Boston and local organizations that could expand access to financial literacy courses. The councilor has secured one such course for youth employed by the city’s summer jobs program, with training to be provided at no cost to the city by Operation HOPE Inc., a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing economic tools and services to underserved communities.

“Operation HOPE’s financial literacy program will educate our youth this summer about how to responsibly cash, deposit and save their wages,” said Flaherty in a statement. “The city’s role in teaching kids where to cash a paycheck is just as vital as the city’s role in helping them earn one.”

During the hearing, Flaherty also called on the city to conduct a study that determines how many Bostonians do not have a bank account. In a Jan. 2008 policy brief, the Brookings Institution reported that a full-time worker has the potential to save up to $40,000 over their lifetime simply by maintaining a checking account and avoiding the service fees associated with non-bank check cashing services.

Hub’s Irish and blacks to unite, celebrate progress in race relations

That relations between Boston’s black and Irish communities have historically been rocky, or worse, is well documented. But on Sunday, members of the traditionally separate communities will gather in Dorchester at the annual “Black and Green” event to celebrate their often-overlooked common bonds.

For the past 15 years, the Montserratian and Irish communities and Boston have come together to build a bridge at the Black and Green. They share more than they realize: Both groups hail from small islands on opposite sides of the Atlantic with lush rolling hills and a history of immigration, and Montserrat, a tiny Caribbean nation, is one of only a handful of countries that celebrates St. Patrick’s Day as a national holiday.

At the Black and Green, organizers seek to use those commonalities — as well as performances by cultural music and theater groups, a buffet featuring Caribbean fare and a host of activities for all ages — to mend divisions between the historically divided communities.

“It really is a wonderful day out with the kids,” said Gobnait Conneely, organizing the event on behalf of the nonprofit Irish Immigration Center. “It is the perfect opportunity to celebrate what makes us strong as an Irish community, and to learn from fellow immigrants.”

The theme for this year’s Black and Green is “O.D.E. to America: Opportunity, Dignity, and Empowerment.” Nancy Murray, director of education for the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, and Jean McGuire, executive director of the Metropolitan Council for Education Opportunity Inc, or METCO, will deliver speeches at the event, sharing their personal reflections on how the theme’s three values serve as American’s building blocks.

Black and Green begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, at the Montserrat Aspirers Hall, 358 Washington Street, Dorchester. Tickets are $10. All proceeds will be donated to the Montserrat Aspirers.

Bob’s Discount Furniture head honored by American Red Cross

Bob’s Discount Furniture recently announced that president and founder Bob Kaufman was presented with the 2008 Biomedical Achievement Award from the American Red Cross. Given to a blood services volunteer who has fostered innovative practices to achieve strategic priorities, the national award was presented to Kaufman during the 82nd Red Cross National Convention in Baltimore.

In Dec. 2007, Kaufman congratulated the 20,000th donor to join “Bob’s Squad.” Since 1996, Kaufman has supported the Red Cross in New England by hosting blood drive at his furniture stores. This year, he arranged to have the New England Patriots join him in hosting a blood drive at Gillette Stadium that included participation from past and present players, cheerleaders and community leaders. Roughly 2,000 units of blood were collected by the American Red Cross at Bob’s Discount Furniture locations in 2007.

“It’s been 11 years since establishing ‘Bob’s Squad.’ I am very proud of every Bob’s Squad member who has joined us in donating blood in support of the American Red Cross’ efforts,” said Kaufman, head of the fastest growing furniture chain in the Northeast, with stores throughout New England, New York and New Jersey. “The 2008 Biomedical Achievement Award is really a reflection of the endless commitment by all the members of Bob’s Squad.”