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Governor Appoints 10 to Commonwealth Corps Board - January 27, 2008
BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick has appointed 10 citizens to the Commonwealth Service Corps Board that will oversee the his statewide volunteer effort.
The governor inducted members of the leadership team at a State House ceremony on Thursday before delivering his first State of the Commonwealth address.
"I am so proud to have this extremely talented group of individuals lead the Commonwealth Corps program," said Patrick. "The wealth of experience and leadership skills they bring will help us implement a program that attracts individuals to service and helps generate a real difference in communities across Massachusetts. We have a long history of service in the commonwealth and I pleased that the Commonwealth Corps has become the next chapter in that history."
Patrick created the program as his first initiative when he took office last year. The corps' mission is to engage residents of all ages and backgrounds in direct service to rebuild communities through mentoring underprivileged children, assisting the elderly, cleaning up parks and beaches and other activities. Members will also recruit and organize additional volunteers with the hopes of expanding membership to 1,000 volunteers.
It will consist of members from diverse backgrounds who are 18 years or older, from high school-age students to mid-career workers to retirees. Corps members will serve in a part-time or full-time capacity and will dedicate at least one year of service to a nonprofit organization, civic initiative, or public entity, providing direct service to people or communities in need.
The following were appointed to lead the program:
Ron Ancrum, president of the Associated Grant Makers, an organization dedicated to supporting the practice and expansion of effective philanthropic giving.
Most recently, Ancrum was director of client services and senior consultant at Third Sector New England, a management support organization to non-profit foundation and volunteer organizations. He has held various leadership and management positions, including interim president of Roxbury Community College and interim manager at Freedom House. In addition to bringing a wide network of nonprofit organizations and philanthropic institutions, Ancrum will provide the board with expertise in crafting and reading grants.
Robert Ansin, founder and president of MassInnovation LLC, a smart-growth real estate development and investment firm.
Ansin created the firm to pioneer a new concept in mixed-use residential and lifestyle centers that embody sustainable development principles. He sits on numerous boards and commissions, including as chairman of the Community Campaign for Notre Dame High School in Lawrence and on the Essex National Heritage Commission and the board of the Lawrence Boys' and Girls' Club.
Maureen Curley, president and CEO of Workforce Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in volunteer resource management and workforce recruitment and development.
She also works for Campus Compact, a national coalition dedicated to promoting civic engagement in higher education. Curley was executive director of the Massachusetts Service Alliance, the nonprofit state agency dedicated to creating, promoting and supporting volunteer opportunities throughout the state. Prior to her current work, she was a consultant for clients including Temple University's Center for Intergenerational Learning and AARP. Curley also helped craft the Commonwealth Corps legislation.
Lucas Guerra, founder of Argus, the only Latino full-service advertising agency in Boston.
Guerra, who also is principal and creative director of Argus, has extensive experience in multicultural marketing and advertising and is recognized for his leadership and community involvement. Before founding Argus, Guerra launched the graphic design firm Connexus, focused on serving the needs of publishers of architecture-related publications. Guerra serves on several nonprofit boards and is a founding member of Oiste, the Massachusetts Latino Political Organization.
Waleska Lugo-DeJesus, development and special events coordinator for the YMCA of Greater Springfield, which has provided critical services for more than 150 years to the Pioneer Valley community.
Lugo-Dejesus is also on the board of Partners for Healthier Communities.
Mary Jane Powell, co-founder and treasurer of Powell Corp., a specialty nonwoven manufacturing company in Haverhill.
Powell is a longtime political activist and member of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, serving as its treasurer. She is especially committed to electing women to political office and is active in her community. She has been a member of the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Massachusetts Advisory Council, and was the Massachusetts co-chairman for the White House Conference on Small Business. Powell recently received the Eleanor Roosevelt 2007 Award from the Massachusetts Democratic Party and Agenda Latina's Maria Garcia Liriano 2007 Award.
David Roach, principal of Nativity School of Worcester, a tuition-free, independent middle school designed for inner-city youth.
Roach is a longtime educator who has worked as a superintendent, leading the Millbury Public Schools for more than a decade and the Tantasqua Regional School District for five years before that. He is a strong advocate for service-learning, having initiated a nationally recognized service-learning program in both districts and having served on the Advisory Committee on Service Learning to the state Board of Education. Additionally, Roach was engaged in crafting the legislation establishing the Commonwealth Corps.
Madhue Shridar, president of the Ajshaya Patra Foundation USA, a leading nonprofit organization providing midday meals to underserved students in government schools in India.
Shridar is known for her former role as president of the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, where she led 59 local chapters to encourage informed and active participation of citizens in government and to influence public policy through education and advocacy. While with the League, Shridar prepared the historic Massachusetts Voters Bill of Rights to ensure voters clearly understand their voting rights and launched several initiatives to empower young voters and future leaders.
Tim Sullivan, legislative and communications director for the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.
Sullivan is the youngest director in the 50-year history of the merged state AFL-CIO. He has an extensive background in community organizing, having served as the union's public affairs coordinator for nearly three years and working as a regional field director and staffer for several campaigns. Sullivan also brings business experience to the board, having worked as manager for the Cigna Corp. Human Resources and Operations Leadership Development Program. Sullivan will serve as the designated seat for the AFL-CIO.
Meg Vaillancourt, executive director of the Red Sox Foundation, the World Series championship team's charity.
Vaillancourt also is senior vice president for corporate relations for the Boston Red Sox. Since 2004, she has worked together with Red Sox leadership, business partners, players and their wives, managers and coaches, staff and fans to support a variety of nonprofit organizations serving children throughout New England. The foundation provides support to more than 800 nonprofit groups and, in just four years, has become the largest team foundation in New England and in all of Major League Baseball.
A former Boston Globe and television news reporter, Vaillancourt worked for the New England Patriots and the Kraft Group before joining the Red Sox. As a vice president, she worked to support the many philanthropic activities of the Kraft family, including the Patriots Charitable Foundation.
Lisa Wong, mayor of Fitchburg.
Wong is currently serving her first term as the mayor of Fitchburg, a city of 40,000. She oversees a $95 million budget and 1,200 municipal employees. Wong was the executive director of the Women's Institute for Housing and Economic Development and worked for the Fitchburg Redevelopment Authority for five years prior to that. After graduating from Boston University, her work took her around the world, including human rights work in Australia and a semester teaching global economics at the University of Wyoming. Wong will serve as the designated seat for the Mass Municipal Association. |
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