for those who don’t have isn’t just meaningful;
NYA’LIA LINDSEY Alumni Leadership Council • Stoughton
GOOD MORNING!
It is with greatest joy that we welcome you to our 16th Annual Launch Day! A day of unity, service, and inspiration to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King and celebrate the Ambassador Class of 2026.
From across the Commonwealth and all facets of diversity, Ambassadors gather to begin a 12-month term of service, leadership, and enrichment. United as 35ONE, you will strengthen the values of kindness, empathy and inclusion; lead awe-inspiring change; and work to achieve the Kings’ vision of the Beloved Community.
We meet at the dawn of our nation’s 250th anniversary in a place steeped in history. For generations, this Hall has been a hub of civic activism and spirited debate in pursuit of liberty, equality, and freedom. In years spanning 1764 through 1775, just a few flights above us, Patriots protested British authority and mobilized a revolution. Dubbed the “Cradle of Liberty,” Faneuil Hall was the forum for a new vision of governance—American democracy—and a courageous standard of transformative leadership.
Our Launch Day theme is a tribute to that legacy and a call-to-action to a new generation of changemakers. The Revolution of Love honors America’s 250th and invites a renewal of civic engagement and love-centered leadership. A communal devotion to the ideals, values, and priorities that breathe life—and Ambassador vision and values—into the words enshrined in our Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights. The pages that follow feature Ambassador reflections as architects of a “re-founding” of America. Poignant and profound, their aspirations power our mission forward.
That mission is enabled by the faith and devotion of our families, educators, Service Heroes, nonprofit partners, civic leaders, Alumni, and volunteers. We’re indebted to them and to our champions at John Hancock and WBZ-TV, to our partners at MLK Boston Beloved Community Weekend, and to the wonderful teams at Faneuil Hall and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library for their faith in the promise of the Class of 2026. Very special thanks to our community of investors, including the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, Martin Richard Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield, The Quin Impact Fund, Hood Park, Lincoln Properties, Foundation to Be Named Later and members of The Commonwealth Circle.
Today, we begin a Revolution of Love, led by the Class of 2026. We invite you to join us—to lead with love, serve with compassion, and build bridges with audacious hope!
Wiith hope,
Carolyn
Carolyn Casey Founder & Executive Director
Project
351
16th Annual Launch Day
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther Jr. & Coretta Scott King
In celebration of the Ambassador Class of 2026
8:30 AM
COMMUNITY BUILDING in Service Hero Teams with Charlie Rose, Chair, Project 351 Advisory Board & Senior Vice President, City Year
9:30 AM–10:45 AM
MORNING PROGRAM & CELEBRATION with Charlie Rose and Lisa Hughes, WBZ-TV at Faneuil Hall
Program will include:
A Revolution of Love!
The Good Trouble Award
Ambassador Navy Tee Ceremony
Service Hero Roll Call with Alumni Mentoring Corps and 2026 Service Heroes
Call-to-Serve
11:45 AM–3:30 PM
A REVOLUTION OF LOVE: SERVICE IN ACTION
Service is joy! We deploy for an afternoon of compassionate service with Alumni, community leaders, and stakeholders. United as 35ONE, we’ll help ensure 15,000 children and families have the resources they need to thrive.
3:45 PM–5:00 PM
COMMUNITY MEETING & SERVICE CELEBRATION at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Libary and Museum
A celebration of Launch Day service impact and kick-off to a year of service, leadership, and friendship!
We gather in the first month of our country's 250th anniversary year—a celebration of our democracy and an opportunity to reflect on the values and ideals that define our country.
We believe that a Revolution of Love is required for our nation's highest aspirations to be realized. A "re-founding" of America led by a new generation of bridge builders, change makers, and civic leaders. Our Ambassadors offer reflections on their vision for a masterpiece called America.
AIDEN, NATICK “I want an America where unity, empathy, and fairness guide our actions. We can be our best by listening to one another, respecting differences, and ensuring equal opportunities and safety for all. When compassion shapes our policies and communities work together to uplift everyone, America can truly reflect its highest values and create a future where every person can thrive.”
ALI, PETERSHAM “Peace. America can be best by asserting the principles of the Founding Fathers especially freedom, equity, and respect for diversity.”
REYNAH, WESTON “Happy Birthday America! Over the 250 years of its founding, our great country has been a beacon of hope, freedom and prosperity for people around the world. My wish is for our country to lead the world in technological innovation, discovery and advancement of breakthrough treatments for serious diseases, promoting freedom, and equality around the world, fighting racism and antisemitism, and in protecting our planet for future generations.”
BEN, NANTUCKET “America can be the best it can be if everyone takes a break from media and electronics, and experiences nature. Put the phone down and focus on school or work. Take a mental health day and do something other than electronics. The average screen time in America is 7-8 hours and every minute is time away from the joy that is the earth.”
KATHERINE, NEW BEDFORD “One wish I have is for people to take responsibility for themselves and look out for one another. Our country could be the best it could be if everyone showed kindness, fairness, and compassion towards each other.”
ANGEL, WORCESTER “My wish is for the end of racism because it holds us back from our great potential. Recently I’ve been reading Langston Hughes’ poems about America, which has opened my eyes to the effects of racism in our country. If we all loved one another, we would be united and able to make greater progress.”
AVA, DENNIS “Stop judging, stop hating, start talking, accept difference. Use the great power and resources of our country to foster tolerance and social justice globally. And speak out against those who foster violence against other countries and people.”
CAROLINE, GRANBY “We must support veterans and have a greater love of country.”
ABBY, REVERE “I wish more people could afford to own a home in America. Or at least have a bed to sleep on because everyone deserves a place to rest.”
RYERSEN, QUINCY “America should be one and united.”
MALLORY, CARVER “My wish for America in 2026 is for a renewed sense of teamwork and common ground. I wish we could truly listen to each other—even when we disagree—and work together on big challenges like improving education, protecting the environment, and making sure everyone has a fair chance to succeed. By focusing on shared goals and treating every person with respect, America can honor its founding ideals and become a stronger, more united country for the next 250 years.”
PARKER, BLANFORD “America can be the best it can be by turning itself back into a community.”
JESSE, PLAINVILLE “I wish we could return to a time when the American dream was alive. A promise that if you worked hard and were a good person, you could live comfortably with purpose and a sense of belonging within your community.”
VIVIAN, MELROSE “I believe that the voice of women will help make America the best it can be. I’m certain women will change our country for the better—less war, less hatred, and most importantly, more kindness.”
GIO, NORTH ANDOVER “America can be the best it can be by ensuring equality for everyone. I cannot believe that 250 years later we still cannot agree that we are all equal.”
Our History
Project 351 was founded in 2011 as a one-day celebration for Governor Deval Patrick’s second inaugural ceremony. The vision of Project 351 was developed by Carolyn Casey as a reflection of her belief in the unlimited potential of young people to achieve the Beloved Community. Governor Patrick’s embrace of Project 351 enabled the first convening of Ambassadors. On a snowy Dr. King Weekend, the Class of 2011 united to celebrate, learn, and demonstrate the transformative impact of eighth graders in service.
By day’s end, a movement of hope-in-action had been founded. The optimism, energy, and potential of those eighth graders couldn’t be contained within a single day—and Project 351 was born. Each year forward, Project 351 Ambassadors would unite the entire state as one team, one community in service to cause greater than self.
One year later, Governor Patrick convened the second Class of Ambassadors to celebrate Dr. King and kick-off a 12-month leadership journey. The mission of Project 351, as an independent, nonprofit youth leadership organization, had begun! With the engaged leadership of Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, Project 351 develops change makers, bridge builders, and civic leaders with the courage and capabilities to achieve bold change.
Project 351’s leadership journey begins in the eighth grade and continues to and through high school. United across all facets of diversity, Ambassadors and Alumni mobilize their communities and our Commonwealth in unifying social change. As they lead, they cultivate the values of kindness, empathy, and inclusion; address the causes and consequences of poverty; progress social and racial justice; and strengthen a statewide ethic of youth leadership and advocacy. Governor Patrick convenes the first Class of Ambassadors
1st statewide service: 9.11 Tribute Service Spring Service is launched!
Our Founding Class graduates high school 1,000 Ambassadors!
Alumni Leadership Council (ALC) founded
Governor Baker & Lauren Baker welcome our 5th Class
Leadership Reunion founded at Holy Cross College 2,000 Ambassadors!
Fall Service Campaign to End Hunger is launched
3,000 Ambassadors!
Since 2011,
5,586
8th Grade Ambassadors have
1,557,618 neighbors
Developed the skills, confidence, and courage to lead and succeed as agents of positive change
500,000 neighbors served!
The Playbook Initiative, with the Boston Celtics, begins! Served
Mobilized
354,211 students and friends in service
Fostered a culture of kindness and compassion in hundreds of schools and communities
Service Leadership Academy founded
Celebrating a decade of service with our 10th Class!
Committed to a lifetime of civic responsibility and service
Governor Healey & Lt. Gov. Driscoll kick-off 15 years of youth-led change!
Hope & Gratitude Walk founded
5,000 Ambassadors!
1.5 million neighbors served!
Honored with the Boston Celtics Social Impact Award
Welcome 16th Class of Amabasadors!
the inaugural good trouble award
“Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic.
Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS
CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS’ heroism and mentorship inspired the founding of Project 351. Throughout his extraordinary life, Congressman Lewis was the north star for millions who endeavored to build a better world. He was the highest example of audacious faith in the promise of America. A great grandson of an enslaved man who wrote the blueprint for the Beloved Community.
The America he sought and fought for was one of poets and dreamers... as beacon of highest aspirations and steadfast values. A democracy grounded in humanity and common decency, one that demands our engagement and vigilance. And, requires respect for the dignity of all.
THE GOOD TROUBLE AWARD annually honors a transformative civic leader who embraces the Congressman’s call to lead with love, serve with compassion, and build bridges—and the Beloved Community—with audacious hope.
With greatest joy, we celebrate
GLADYS VEGA
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF LA COLABORATIVA
with the inaugural Good Trouble Award
Fierce in love and brilliant in vision, Gladys is relentless in her pursuit of greater equity, opportunity, and compassion for Latinx immigrants and their families. Based in Gladys’ beloved Chelsea, La Colaborativa is a hub of economic and educational empowerment, cultural celebration, and transformative social change.
Service Hero Teams
Annually, our young leaders are inspired by a community of Service Heroes—leaders of purpose and passion who model devotion to cause greater than self. Our Heroes span the globe, Commonwealth, and a range of social change missions.
We honor their courage and compassion with a named team of geographically diverse Ambassadors. Led by an Alumni mentor, Service Hero teams are a learning lab for Project 351’s values, enrichment, and leadership development. They serve as the foundation of our 35ONE community—fostering friendships, expanding perspective, and discovering common ground.
It is a privilege to celebrate our 2026 Service Heroes and to learn from their example of transformative leadership. Turn the page to meet the remarkable changemakers to whom we dedicate this year of service.
Meet our Service Heroes and Class of 2026 Ambassadors on the next pages!
Lizzy Agbedun Advocacy Manager, Project Bread
Chef José Andrés Founder, World Central Kitchen
Samantha Asprelli Founder, Give n’ Glow • Class of 2018, Project 351
Crispus Attucks Whaler • Sailor • Patriot
Tome Barros Senior Manager, Community Programs, Boston Celtics
Xiye Bastida Climate Justice Activist
The Bavis Family Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation
Thando Bezana Co-Founder, Kliptown Youth Program
Jim Brett President & CEO, The New England Council College Hype New England’s Trusted Partner for Custom Apparel
Welles Remy Crowther 9.11 Hero • Firefighter
Saskia & Paul Epstein Co-Founders of Brookline Teen Center • Senior Vice President of Client and Community Relations for PNC Bank • Social Worker, Brookline High School
Anne Frank Author • Peace Advocate
Pete Frates Co-Founder, ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Tim Garvin President & CEO, United Way of Central Mass
Jane Goodall Anthropologist • Humanitarian
Ivar Henningson School Adjustment Counselor, Ephraim
Curtis Middle School
Andrés Holder Executive Director, Boston Children’s Chorus
Noah Kahan Artist • Mental Health Advocate
Representative Sally Kerans State Representative, 13th Essex District
Congressman John Lewis Civil Rights Hero • Architect of the Beloved Community
Kristine Lilly World Cup Champion • Olympic Gold Medalist
• US Soccer Hall of Fame • Co- Founder, Team First Soccer Academy • Athlete Advisory Board, Boston Legacy
Yo-Yo Ma Cellist • United Nations Messenger of Peace
Nelson Mandela First democratically elected President of South Africa • Global Humanitarian
Thaddeus Miles Founder, Hoodfit and Black Joy • Senior Director of Diversity Initiatives, MassHousing
Lin-Manuel Miranda Songwriter • Creator • Composer
Governor Deval Patrick 71st Governor, Massachusetts • Founding Honorary Chair, Project 351
Collette Phillips Founder, Get Konnected
Ben Nguyen Class of 2021, Project 351 • University of Michigan
Martin Richard 3rd Grader • Peacemaker
Eneida Roman President & CEO of We Are ALX
Connor Schoen Co-Founder, Breaktime • Class of 2013, Project 351
Dr. Theresa Shanahan Project 351 Leadership Team
Amanda Shea Poet Laureate
Sareya Taylor Youth Poet Laureate • International
Indigenous Youth Council • UNITY Earth Ambassador
Gladys Vega Founder, La Colaborativa
Melati Wijsen Founder, Youthtopia
Reverend Jay Williams Lead Pastor, Union Combined Parish
Malala Yousafzai Nobel Laureate • Education Activist
Zeitouna • Refusing to be Enemies
Lizzy Agbedun
Advocacy Manager, Project Bread
When Lizzy Agbedun was born, she was heralded with the Nigerian tradition of an Oríkì, a greeting of the heart and a declaration of purpose. Her grandmother and mother’s praise poetry for Lizzy is “The Tree of Happiness,” for one rooted in strength, who offers shade, nourishment, and joy to others. A destiny that comes to life as Advocacy Manager at Project Bread, the state’s largest anti-hunger movement. With soulful incandescence, Lizzy invites community stakeholders to embrace their responsibility to “Make Hunger History.” Her drive is deeply personal, “I know what it’s like to need help and feel invisible at the same time. My worst fear is this: that the stories and truths of the people most impacted by hunger will be unheard.” Not on Lizzy’s watch as she amplifies thousands of voices to ensure dignified access to food and the resources required to thrive. Each fall, Lizzy trains and mobilizes Project 351 in advocacy and coalition building, engaging Ambassadors in policy change. Our partnership includes the successful passage of the Universal Meals legislation, which ensures school meals at no cost for 584,000 children in Massachusetts. Lizzy’s belief in the power of collective voices recalls a Yoruba truism from Southwest Nigeria: Tí òjò bá dá tán, ti abẹ igi kì í dá bọ rọ—When the rain subsides, the tree’s raindrops continue. A reminder, Lizzy says, that our advocacy nourishes long after the echo of our voice has dimmed. And an invitation to stand up and speak out with courage and conviction that change will come.
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Amanda Yanez
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Holbrook
Melissa Alcantara, Marlborough
Nathaniel Bartley, Boxborough
Gabriella Collier, Andover
Lillian Erickson, Easton
Claire Julian, Brookfield
Harrison Lindberg, Berkley
Amanda Schuemann, Nahant
Phoebe Todd, Worthington
John Ventosi, Holbrook
“Be loud with your advocacy, be loud with your vision for change. Ambassadors prove that together, anything is possible.”
LIZZY AGBEDUN
Chef José Andrés
Founder, World Central Kitchen
José Andrés, globally renowned chef and humanitarian, believes in the power of food to build, sustain, and renew communities. After the 2010 earthquakes in Haiti, Andres founded World Central Kitchen, which empowers communities to fight hunger and poverty through food. With a volunteer network of chefs, suppliers, nonprofits, government agencies, and delivery services, World Central Kitchen has provide 600 million meals to those affected by natural disasters and manmade conflicts—each one offering nourishment, dignity, and the assurance that help has arrived. For his humanitarian leadership, Chef was tributed with a 2025 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. In the face of disaster, Chef reflects, “Chefs like me feed the few, but our destiny is to feed the many. To be an army of goodness where a plate of food becomes a plate of hope…a light in dark times. Together, we can change the world through the power of food.”
“ Food is a universal human right. Feeding each other, cooking and eating together, is what makes us human .”
CHEF JOSÉ ANDRÉS
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Madelyn Creveling
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Norwood
John Ashe, Tewksbury
Geneva Chew, Raynham
Graci Gibbs, Agawam
Lucas Isby, Pittsfield
Jariella Male, Warren
Lyla O’Connor, Lincoln
Stella Panos, Norwood
Justin Somaiy, Salisbury
Samantha Asprelli
Founder, Give n’ Glow • Class of 2018, Project 351
Samantha Asprelli, Ambassador Class of 2018, glows. Her radiance arrives in the room before she does, a prelude to the force of light, love, and goodness that Samantha inspires. A senior at Northeastern’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business, Samantha earned the University’s Women Who Empower Innovator Award as Founder of Give n’ Glow. The nonprofit has a mission that reflects the values that guide Samantha’s purpose—equity, opportunity, and dignity for women and teenagers experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or financial insecurity. You might say that Samantha sees the world through pink-colored glasses! She honors the beauty of every woman she meets with skincare, cosmetics, and haircare products that reflect their unique needs, and through an experience rooted in compassion and human connection. In 2025, 33,133 women and teenagers were empowered with greater confidence by their “glow up.” A step of affirmation toward the joy and fulfillment they deserve and that Samantha works tirelessly to help them achieve.
“I believe it is everyone’s duty to give back in ways that make others feel dignified and loved by their community.”
SAMANTHA ASPRELLI
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Matigan Roach
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Wrentham
Kristiana Chutkowski, Ludlow
KayLee Cody, Bedford
Brandon Eth, Lynn
Ellie Jimenez, Newbury
Caitlyn Johnson, Wrentham
Ethan Joseph, North Reading
Ava Latimer, Barnstable
Liam Lawson, Millbury
Grayson Teahan, Hingham
Crispus Attucks
Whaler • Sailor • Patriot
Annually, we honor a Fallen Hero as Service Hero, in reverence to their courageous service and sacrifice. As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, we tribute Crispus Attucks, who most consider the first casualty of the American Revolution. Attucks is believed to have been born around 1723 in Framingham to Prince Yonger, an enslaved person from Africa, and Nancy Attucks, a Natick Native American. Accounts describe Attucks’ escape from slavery and skill as whaler and sailor in preRevolutionary Boston, as the cause for liberty and freedom took root. A growing presence of British military stoked tensions and erupted in violent conflict on March 5, 1770. The Boston Massacre left five colonists dead, with Crispus Attucks the first to fall. Attucks courage inspired a legacy of progress for the Black community and every American, from the Revolution to the Abolitionist and Civil Rights Movements. In his book, Why We Can’t Wait, Dr. King counters Crispus Attucks’ erasure from history and tributes his historic influence, “A social movement that only moves people is merely a revolt. A movement that changes both people and institutions is a revolution.”
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Achraf Boukirou
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Melrose
Vivian Airoldi, Melrose
Katherine Chau, New Bedford
Taryn Devlin, Princeton
Collin Flynn, Peabody
Alexander Jordan, Framingham
Layla Lempke, Wales
John Robertson, Athol
Zoey-Mae Shearet, Heath
“When he spoke, men listened. Where he commanded , men acted.”
ATTRIBUTION USED TO DESCRIBE CRISPUS ATTUCKS
tome Barros
Senior Manager, Community Programs, Boston Celtics
Tome Barros’ Cape Verdean heritage honors the spirit of Djunta Mo’—the communal act of joining hands in support of one another. That spirit has guided Tome’s life journey. One rooted in Dorchester’s Upham’s Corner, with stops in Senegal, Rio de Janeiro, and, of course, Cape Verde. Guided by his faith and the love of his family, Tome traveled more than 10,000 miles as a global ambassador of basketball—restoring courts, organizing clinics, and teaching children about leadership and the importance of education. Each mile strengthened Tome’s belief in the power of sport as a force for social justice and lever for more just and inclusive communities. A philosophy he puts into powerful practice managing the Boston Celtics’ nationally acclaimed Community Engagement initiatives. One of the greatest gifts at Project 351 is the opportunity to Djunta Mo’—join hands—with Tome in support of our Playbook partnership. Jay Patel, Playbook Senior Legacy Fellow, reflects our admiration, “Playbook has made me feel more connected to humanity and Tome is who I have to thank. Perhaps his greatest lesson is that leadership requires a fusion of courage and power with humility and compassion. Tome is a man of virtue and love, and has been one of the greatest inspirations in my life.”
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Jasna Singh
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Lexington
Kaelynn Dudek, Gill
Ella Felo, Berlin
Virginia Jones, Wenham
Jovienne LaFleur, Medford
Olivia Majkut, Attleboro
Brennan Taylor, Easthampton
Neilsie Thapa, Lexington
Avante Tillman, Chatham
“I live by the motto I learned at Boston College High School: ‘be a man for others’.” TOME BARROS
Xiye Bastida
Climate Justice Activist
“Earth is our home. It gives you air, water and shelter. Everything we need. All it asks is that we protect it.” These are the reflections of 22-yearold Xiye Bastida, whose passion for the planet was borne from her heritage as a member of indigenous Otomi-Toltec peoples. As a young girl in San Pedro Tultepec, Mexico, Xiye was taught, “If you take care of the Earth, it will take care of you.” In 2015, her family relocated to New York City because of catastrophic flooding—stark evidence that the symbiotic ideal between human and nature has been severely disrupted. Xiye joined her new high school’s environmental club and organized NYC’s first major climate strike in 2019, efforts that would grow to mobilize 300,000 activists! A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and TIME 100 Next honoree, Xiye is the Executive Director of Re-Earth Initiative, a global youth-led climate movement that increases access, intersectionality, and equity.
“We are on Earth to take care of life. We are on Earth to take care of each other.”
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Akshara Dhake
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Burlington
Abby Birungi, Revere
Rose Gagne, Westhampton
Cameron Gaudet, Franklin
Natalie Getchell, Littleton
Greyson Greemore, Brewster
Grace Murphy, Burlington
Fiona Sheehy, Woburn
Alaina Toothaket, Shelburne
The Bavis family
Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation
They were known as “The Bavi” Mark and Mike Bavis, twin brothers and, like their six siblings— Ricky, Kathleen, Maryellen, John, Patrick, and Kelly the pride of Mary and Richard Bavis of Roslindale. The nickname bestowed by Jack Parker, Boston University’s Hall of Fame hockey coach, reflected their profound bond and a lifetime of competitive companionship. Sideby-side they skated from Mites and Squirts to National Champions at Boston University and teammates in the AHL. Both followed their passion as college coaches and then, for Mark, a dream job as scout for the Los Angeles Kings. On September 11, 2001, Mark and his mentor and Bruins legend Garnet Ace Bailey boarded United Flight 175, bound for the Kings’ training camp, when it was hijacked by terrorists and flown into the World Trade Center. Twenty-five years later, the loss remains incalculable for the Bavis family and Mark’s legion of friends. Their enduring love expressed through The Mark Bavis Leadership Foundation, which awards college scholarships for students who share Mark’s dedication as leader, difference-maker, and good and loyal friend. And, through their successful efforts to ensure the tragic events of September 11th are taught in Massachusetts’ public schools—an educational mission to build the knowledge to ensure “never again” as a tribute to the 206 loved ones lost from Massachusetts whom we will never forget.
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
McKinley Houghton
“Mark was the type of person who wanted to do for others, so he would have been proud of the foundation.”
MIKE BAVIS
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Abington
Brielle Blessing, Pittsfield
Mason Cavanaugh, Sheffield
Zoe Durgavich, Reading
Emma Laden, Upton
Celine Louali, Winthrop
Braeden Magoun, Kingston
Daniel Mule, Deerfield
Norah Murphy, Plympton
Lilah Nash, Abington
Thando Bezana
Co-Founder, Kliptown Youth Program
In the Xhosa language, Thanduxolo is derived from the words “thanda,” meaning “to love,” and “uxolo,” meaning “peace.” Thanduxolo “Thando” Bezana joyfully embodied that heritage as a global ambassador of love and peace. As CoFounder of South Africa’s Kliptown Youth Program (KYP), Thando sought to transform his township into a community vibrant with education, the arts, healthcare, and jobs. He understood that Kliptown’s superpower is its children and their limitless potential. For 18 years, Thando was their Pied Piper—modeling excellence with exuberance, achievement through dedication, and ambition with humanity. As Performing Arts Director and renowned gumboot dancer, Thando was the rhythmic heartbeat of KYP—a soundtrack of hope to demonstrate that every child has value and the power to define their destiny. This past fall, KYP’s global family mourned his too-soon passing. In Thando’s blessed memory, we honor his jubilant spirit and commit to his daily practice of love-and-peace-in-action.
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Tana Bernard Alumni Mentoring Corps, Stoughton
Catherine Cruikshank, Marblehead
Amanda De Almeida, Stoughton
Gus Foote, Shelburne
Fenno Greene, Sandwich
Lilly O’Loughlin, Billerica
Claire Pickard, Williamsburg
Arri Schulman, Hudson
Samantha Wilkenfeld, Waltham
“I can’t wait to hear the stories you are going to tell. Go out there with big dreams and big stories.”
THANDO BEZANA
Jim Brett
President & CEO, The New England Council
Throughout his extraordinary life of service, Jim Brett has earned many titles State Representative, President, Chief Executive Officer, Humanitarian of the Year, and countless honorifics and recognitions. But, the titles he holds most dear are that of Jack’s brother and Mary Ann’s son. He reflects, “My mother was my hero and my brother Jack was my teacher.’’ For the Brett family, all roads lead home, where Mary Ann raised six children to honor their faith, Irish heritage, and the dignity of all. When Jack was born with severe intellectual challenges, Mary Ann defied the accepted practice to institutionalize her eldest son. Instead, the Brett home became Jack’s refuge for love, learning, and companionship—and the classroom where Jim learned from his brother’s courage and special gifts. Jim calls his life’s work as an advocate for people with disabilities, “God’s plan.”. A divine calling that includes leadership as Chair of the Presidential Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities and President and Chief Executive Officer of The New England Council, the region’s largest forum for business and government in support of economic growth. Each a bully pulpit for greater rights, deeper compassion, and more expansive opportunities for the disability community—all for the love of Jack.
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Logan McNight
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Newburyport
Arianna Bettanti, Boston
Ashlynn Fennell, West Springfield
Cecilia Fournier, West Boylston
Joseph Gagne, Williamsburg
Brayden Gaudette, Blackstone
Adriana Gomez, Avon
Calista Lawless, Dudley
Simone Mitchell, Newburyport
Theodore Watson, Norton
“God had this wonderful plan of the gift of my brother, which motivated my life’s work as advocate and champion for people with disabilities.”
JIM BRETT
New England’s Trusted Partner for Custom Apparel
College hype
This morning, we welcome our 5,900th Ambassador! In addition to their kindness, compassion, humility, and gratitude, Ambassadors share one thing in common—they all wear tees created by College Hype. We hold special reverence for the navy tee, which reflects a community’s faith in their eighth-grade changemaker and the Ambassador’s leadership as 35ONE. And that’s why, for the first time in our history, we honor a company as Service Hero! Because College Hype is more than a company, they’re a family and they’ve become our family. Founded in 1987 by Jack Doherty in his Westfield State College dorm, College Hype annually creates more than 900,000 pieces of apparel and gear for businesses, teams, and nonprofits throughout New England. Bill Richard, Co-Founder, Martin Richard Foundation, reflects, “You can always count on Jack and the selfless team at College Hype, where printing t-shirts is just a side hustle to their true calling of giving back.” We know firsthand! College Hype crafts the swag that unites our community, defines our leadership continuum, and inspires loyalty and love. Their gear has enabled service to more than 1.5 million neighbors and accompanied the leadership journey for a new generation of changemakers. We’re forever grateful to our College Hype family and honored to partner in their mission: “Making a Difference...One T-shirt at a Time!”
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Grace Jacques
Alumni Mentoring Corp, Ashland
“Making a Difference... One T-shirt at a Time.”
Sayoni Agarwal, Westford
Connor Chiachiaretta, Topsfield
Madelyn Elwell, Ashland
Abigail Karlinsky, Chilmark
Kalya Lopes, Brockton
Paloma McClure, Arlington
Sebastian Palomera-Espinoza, Hardwick
Yarielis Sanchez, Salem
Tristan Vieira, Fall River
Welles Remy Crowther
Volunteer Firefighter • 9.11 Hero
Welles Remy Crowther was a 24-year-old equities trader working in New York’s World Trade Center on the morning of the attacks. A graduate of Boston College and volunteer firefighter, Crowther immediately jumped into action. With selfless heroism, Welles led a rescue effort for colleagues trapped on the 78th floor—carrying victims to safety, urging them to continue down, and returning up the stairs to help again and again. In the days that followed the attacks, testimonials of Welles’ valor from those he saved brought comfort to his devastated family and friends. At Boston College, Welles continues to inspire as the embodiment of the school’s mission of “men and women for others.” Each fall, the football team dedicates the Red Bandana Game to Welles’ memory, distributing red bandanas as a reminder of one man’s extraordinary courage.
“Follow me. Help the ones that you can and follow me.”
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Arjun Mukherjee
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Northborough
Henry Brisson, Somerset
Ella DeWan, Westwood
Caroline Koziol, Granby
Leigha Newell, Pembroke
Samantha Ogwalo, Northborough
Eliot Platt, Northampton
Emma Vieira, Falmouth
Aniyah Williams, Taunton
Saskia & Paul Epstein
Co-Founders, Brookline Teen Center • Senior Vice President of Client and Community Relations for PNC Bank • Social Worker, Brookline High School
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote, “Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.” Those blessed to know Saskia and Paul Epstein understand that their remarkable partnership is rooted in deep love and a shared vision of a world that prioritizes young people above all else. Their efforts both singular and combined— are an awe-inspiring testament to that resolve. Paul, an educator and social worker at Brookline High, and Saskia, Senior Vice President, Community Relations, PNC Bank are Co-Founders of Foundation to Be Named Later, civic leaders, and advocates on behalf of educational and economic opportunity, underestimated communities, and young people. Those passions inspired a labor of love in their hometown—the Brookline Teen Center. Founded by the Epsteins in 2013, BTC is a hub for enrichment, recreation, volunteerism, and the arts. Paul reflects, “It’s a Youth Center with a heart, with a mission to help every kid.” Just like its Founders.
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Evan Finamore
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Newton
Stella Chang, Newton
Connor Foote, Wakefield
Ella Goebel, Dracut
Allison Hanscom, Auburn
Mollie Hartung, Orleans
Hazel Lesle, Cambridge
Bentley Ryan, Colrain
Madeleine Sampson, Franklin
Daemien Tuero, Gardner
“It’s a Youth Center with a heart, with a mission to help every kid.”
PAUL EPSTEIN
ANNE FRANK
Author • Peace Advocate
It was 1942 and the rise of Hitler and his atrocities against millions of people of Jewish faith created peril for young Anne and her family in the Netherlands. They took safe refuge in a secret annex, where Anne documented two years of her family’s experience, and her observations, aspirations, and emotions. Tragically, the Frank family was discovered by the Nazi’s on their 761st day of hiding. The family was sent to concentration camps, where Anne, her mother, and sister became three of the six million victims of the Holocaust. Today, The Diary of Anne Frank has been translated into 70 languages—an enduring testament to the power of hope and the urgent need for greater humanity. “In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart…How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Anne’s courageous example continues to inspire millions to stand boldly and unequivocally against fear, prejudice, and hatred.
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Maddy Moreau
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Monson
Julia Jacob, Holliston
Cadee Killian, South Hadley
Bhargav Kurri, Clinton
Andrew Manus, Braintree
Kiva Mruk, Eastham
Laurel Nierenberg, Winchester
Qu’ryn Peoples, Orange
Jackson Pignone, Monson
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
ANNE FRANK
PETE FRATES
Co-Founder, ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
In 2012, Pete Frates was a 27-year-old beloved son, brother, friend, accomplished athlete, and Boston College Eagle with a “sky’s the limit” potential when he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. In response—heroic defiance, noble grit, and the launch of a global movement to galvanize resources and research. In the span of just five weeks, Pete’s leadership of the Ice Bucket Challenge raised $220 million for the ALS Association and recruited a new army of fearless advocates and activists. Their mission: Pete’s goal to cure ALS. Today, powered by their love of Pete, the Frates family and “Team Frate Train” honor his loving memory through education, awareness, and fundraising. A mandate pursued with Pete’s signature joy through The Peter Frates Family Foundation and countless acts of grace and generosity.
“Be passionate, be genuine, be hardworking, and don’t ever be afraid to be great.”
PETE FRATES
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Olivia Feldman
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Canton
Angel Amankwah, Worcester
Declan Boule, Lee
Ella DeGregorio, Montgomery
Hamim Hasan, Lowell
Bodhi Isperduli, Paxton
Zara Lala, Canton
Marissa Maynard, Clarksburg
Arianna Neal, Beverly
Meredith Resendes, Dighton
Tim Garvin
President & CEO, United Way of Central Massachusetts
Growing up in Lebanon and Australia, Tim Garvin developed foundational beliefs that would guide his life’s path—a passion for different cultures and a diversity of ideas, idealism as a force for good as inspired by President John F. Kennedy, and a definition of patriotism that requires activism and engagement. In 1991, Tim and his wife Theresa manifested those values as Peace Corps volunteers in Bogue, Jamaica. Together, they educated and mentored children, built a library and basketball courts, created nutrition programs, and founded a medical clinic for abused children. Thirty-five years later, Tim is ever more idealistic, patriotic, and civically engaged as the CEO of the United Way of Central Massachusetts. Last year, its 106th, the United Way invested $7.4 million in partnership with 428 community organizations to uplift more than 118,000 lives. Initiatives include after-school enrichment programs, emergency shelters, job training, and farm resiliency funds. As indefatigable as he is idealistic, Tim’s life of service inspires our humility and motivates our awe.
“Always in Worcester, in Central Massachusetts, in the Commonwealth, in our country, our greatest muscle is our compa ssion. It’s our heart.”
TIM GARVIN
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Nicolas Roht
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Scituate
Malak Almusawi, Billerica
Autumn Belanger, Shelburne
Katherine Hayes, Millis
Daxton Laudermith, Longmeadow
Bryson LeBlanc, Yarmouth
Ean Sandoval, Methuen
Eisley Sweetser, Worcester
Kamilah Valdez, Lynn
Marishka Weiner, Scituate
Anthropologist • Humanitarian
Jane Goodall
Dr. Jane Goodall had a simple compact—to leave the world better than she found it. For 65 years, that daily mission guided her advocacy, research, and love of the natural world and all who inhabited it. Dr. Goodall was a brilliant and fearless trailblazer for women in conservation. At age 26, she led a groundbreaking study of chimpanzees in Tanzania that revealed their complex social lives and emotional depth. Those observations would profoundly change science and compel more humane and compassionate caretaking of animals. A mission stewarded through the Jane Goodall Institute, which “empowers people to be compassionate citizens in order to inspire conservation of the natural world we all share.” In 2025, Dr. Goodall received the Presidential Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in recognition of her “tireless work to inspire hope and transform it into action on behalf of our planet.” With her passing last October, the Institute invites us to continue Dr. Goodall’s legacy through action—engaging in nature’s beauty and protecting every resource; practicing compassion for all people, animals, and the planet; and investing in her “greatest reason for hope” young people.
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Aurelia Mello
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Medway
Elizabeth Balunis, Sturbridge
Selena Blevines, Dartmouth
Benjamin Fisher, Hardwick
Amanda Magri, Cohasset
Miles Patterson, Medway
Leo Sandler, Boxford
Fariza Siddiquee, Bolton
Grace Sisum, Hawley
“Caring for others, whether people or animals, is what makes us fully human.”
JANE GOODALL
Ivar Henningson
School Adjustment Counselor, Ephraim Curtis Middle School
At Project 351, educators are the compass who guide our way forward. Every program, initiative, or big idea gains currency with their expertise and stewardship. For 11 years, Ivar Henningson has been our go-to for wise counsel and engaged leadership, and a model of devotion to the unlimited potential of every Ambassador. As Guidance Counselor at Sudbury’s Curtis Middle School, his dedication to his students—and Project 351 is legendary. Ivar has a special knack for amplifying the good. He founded Curtis Angels, a student-led community service club that supports local families, seniors, and veterans, and adds capacity and reach to every Project 351 campaign. Ivar’s leadership of The Playbook Initiative, our anti-racism, antibias, and anti-discrimination partnership with the Boston Celtics, has created a model for courageous conversations and student advocacy. But it’s the power of his example that inspires us most. If there were a kindness hall of fame and an all-star ranking for integrity, Ivar would be first ballot for both!
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Elliot Murray
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Ayer
Tristan Bronner, Sudbury
Francesca Goddess, Gloucester
Isabella Griffith, Erving
Bella Heckman, Rockland
Jaren Mcneal, North Adams
Rosalie Montalvo, Ayer
Maeve Murray, Sandisfield
Dylan Pineau, Seekonk
Medini Pisupati, Reading
“Mr. Henningson’s commitment to service has shaped my passion for communitybuilding. He has a gift for making sure every middle schooler feels seen, brave, and connected. ”
ISABELLA REITH, PLAYBOOK TRAINER
Andrés Holder
Executive Director, Boston Children’s Chorus
As a child growing up in Panama, Andrés Holder’s love for his sister inspired a love for the arts. Angie excelled in the school band, and intent to be by her side, Andrés took up the oboe. That instrument and his talent in Panamanian folk dancing became a passport to international performances and diverse cultures.“I got to see the world and build cultural awareness and respect for others.” It’s no surprise that Andrés’ performing arts leadership has spanned the globe and every art form ballet at the Kennedy Center, Panamá’s Teatro Nacional, directing the Central American premiere of “RENT,” and collaborating with artists including Malcom-Jamal Warner and Ben Platt. In each pursuit, Andrés prioritizes artistic excellence, cultural equity, social justice, and something essential – joy! So it was Boston’s great fortune to stamp Andrés’ passport as the Executive Director of Boston’s Children’s Chorus (BCC). Beloved as the Ambassadors of Harmony, BCC harnesses the power of music to connect diverse communities, cultivate empathy, and inspire social inquiry. As Andrés says, “We utilize music to help young people discover how to use their voices to create the change they seek in the world.”
“I am a firm believer that the arts have the power to change lives, hearts, and minds. ” ANDRÉS HOLDER
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Prisha Nair
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Shrewsbury
Loretta Blagg, Ipswich
Clara Bulger, Dunstable
Vince Erricolo, Longmeadow
Giuliana Hendley, Phillipston
Atticus Hickey, Malden
Tamsin Macmillan, Buckland
Raphelia Matheney, Nantucket
Giana Patel, Shrewsbury
Joselyn Perry, Taunton
Noah Kahan
Musician • Mental Health Advocate
Raised in rural Vermont and New Hampshire, Noah Kahan has exploded onto the folk-pop music scene over the last two years. He’s been recognized as one of Forbes “30 Under 30,” received a 2024 Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, and sold out his North American and European tour including his beloved Fenway Park, twice! But his greatest pride is the movement he’s building through The Busyhead Project, a nonprofit organization that breaks down the stigma of mental health through awareness, advocacy, and a community of compassion. Noah is open about his own struggles. “I was privileged to be in a family where mental health was talked about a lot—and being upset or sad or having dark feelings was not something to be ashamed of—but I still felt ashamed, and I still felt alone.” Today, 50 million Americans experience mental health challenges, with 27 million unable to receive care due to lack of insurance and access. Noah’s powerful advocacy and vulnerability has inspired more than $5.5 million in support of community-based organizations that meet that need, including our partner, KyleCares!
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Kira Taylor
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Townsend
Rylee Arcudi, Hopedale
Felix Barber, Concord
Mallory Doyle, Carver
Abigail Neseim, Hopkinton
Galileo Nkosi, Amherst
Zoë Palmer, Townsend
Grant Scott, Stoneham
Leticia Silva, Tisbury
“If I can help anyone get through their struggles, it will be the proudest achievement of my career.”
NOAH KAHAN
State Representative, 13th Essex District
In 1923, Massachusetts history was made when Susan Fitzgerald (D-Jamaica Plain) and Sylvia Donaldson (R-Brockton) were the first women elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 294 years after its original charter. In the century since, 241 women have followed Reps. Fitzgerald and Donaldson’s pioneering path to the State House, contrasted with more than 20,000 elected men. We tribute each of these trailblazers and honor, with special pride, number 89—Representative Sally Kerans of the 13th Essex District. Widely admired for her integrity and humanity, Rep. Kerans carries a legacy of service that began with her great-grandfather, whose seat she now holds, and continued with her parents, husband, and children, who inspire her civic engagement and democratic values. Her dad’s counsel has become a daily commitment to her constituents, “Remember it’s ‘we’, not ‘I’.” For 11 years, Rep. Kerans has been an advocate and changemaker on issues of racial equity, women’s rights and economic security, education, clean energy, and to our great honor, Project 351. An exemplary standard of commitment that carries forth the example of Sylvia Donaldson, who reflected a century ago, “Service above self will remain lifelong.”
“I will be a voice for the vulnerable and work toward an inclusive, equitable vision for our state that lifts us all.”
REPRESENTATIVE KERANS
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Annabelle Purcell
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Harvard
Lyla Barresi, Peabody
Winter Boyea, Barre
Peyton Crane, Cheshire
Erika Douglas, Harvard
Lucas Hyytinen, Ashfield
Jack Moisan, Sterling
Dasha Mpoomye, Framingham
Isabela Ndreca, Quincy
Congressman John Lewis
Civil Rights Hero • Architect of the Beloved Community
A son of sharecroppers, John Lewis devoted his life to civil rights, equality, and opportunity for all Americans. This icon of the Civil Rights Movement began his march toward justice as leader of youth activism and deputy to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. At age 23, Lewis led student engagement in the Civil Rights Movement and served as the youngest speaker at the historic March on Washington. Two years later in Selma, Alabama, Lewis, Hosea Williams, and hundreds of civil rights activists set off over the Edmund Pettus Bridge in pursuit of the right to vote. Met by violence, but undeterred in their resolve, “Bloody Sunday” mobilized a movement and galvanized a nation. The march of “the boy from Troy” led to the United States House of Representatives, where he served for 34 years. And, to the White House, where President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. This giant among heroes passed in 2020, but John Lewis’ spirit lives on in the generations of bridge builders, upstanders, and Good Troublemakers he inspired.
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Zoë Motta
“Get in trouble— good trouble, necessary trouble, and redeem the soul of America.”
CONGRESSMAN LEWIS
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Mattapoisett
Latifah Ahmed, Pittsfield
Caleb Beausoleil, Essex
Alina Dziok, Attleboro
Ellie Jacobsen, Mattapoisett
Kwamboka Kabaya, Fitchburg
Gabriel Peterson, New Salem
Martin Roung, Quincy
Lola Scavone, Rutland
Lilah Silveira, Marion
Kristine Lilly
World Cup Champion • Olympic Gold Medalist • US Soccer Hall of Fame • Co- Founder, Team First Soccer Academy • Athlete Advisory Board, Boston Legacy
Kristine Lilly is a true legend. Considered one of the most successful female athletes in U.S. history, Kristine’s soccer statistics are dazzling and enshrined in the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame. She led the Women’s National Team for an incredible 24 years, earning two World Cup championships and three Olympic medals, and is renowned as the “Queen of Caps” for representing her team in more international matches than any soccer player in history–male or female! A trailblazer in amateur sports, she continues to lead boldly to build greater equity in professional sports as a founding Advisory Board member for the Boston Legacy and Co-Founder of TeamFirst Soccer Academy for girls. Alongside former teammates Mia Hamm and Tisha Venturini-Hoch, Kristine emphasizes humility and selflessness, teamwork and sportsmanship. By acclaim, her teammates tribute her as their role model, the heart and soul of the team, and the one most deserving of the title–world’s greatest soccer player. Legendary for her humility, Kristine’s greatest legacy may yet be unwritten as she helps redefine the future of women’s and girls’ sports.
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Madhavi Ramadas
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Belmont
Ali Ahmed, Petersham
Olivia Bailey-Gates, Duxbury
Renee Chung, Belmont
Connor McDermott, Medfield
Benjamin McDonough, Hanson
Daniela McDonough, Andover
Raegan Miller, Freetown
Giavanna Sonsini, Lee
“A team is stronger when you stick together on and off the field. Winning is easier together, and fighting for what is right is, as well.”
KRISTINE LILLY
Yo-Yo Ma
Cellist • United Nations Messenger of Peace • Founder, Silk Road
From Sesame Street to the White House, YoYo Ma uses art and culture to build bridges of understanding and foster hope. Ma is celebrated as one of the greatest cellists of the twentieth century and is admired for the vitality and inspired adaptations of his music. Of equal influence and inspiration is Ma’s leadership as humanitarian and bridge builder. He founded Silk Road to “create music that engages difference, and sparks radical cultural collaboration and passion-driven learning for a more hopeful and inclusive world.” Ma’s newest endeavor is Our Common Nature, which connects the beauty of music with the grandeur of nature to build relationships, foster environmental stewardship, and inspire awe. Ma reflects, “Music, like all of culture, helps us to understand our environment, each other, and ourselves. Culture helps us to imagine a better future. Culture helps turn ‘them’ into ‘us.’ And these things have never been more important.”
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Elizabeth Cordero, Alumni Mentoring Corps, Quincy
Ryersen Bowes, Quincy
Caroline Burke, Lynn
Logen Goddard, Conway
Julia Hart, Westford
Parker McLaughlin, Blandford
Bianca Nunes, Edgartown
Jayden Place, Hatfield
Khael Sar Frederic, Methuen
“ I think that peace is, in many ways, a precondition of joy.”
YO-YO MA
Nelson Mandela
First democratically elected President of South Africa • Global Humanitarian
The life of Nelson Mandela was defined by dignity, a devotion to justice, and extraordinary courage. Considered a giant of history, he helped lead South Africa out of racist apartheid rule with a message of reconciliation that inspired the world. Jailed for almost thirty years because of his fight for freedom, Mandela became the first democratically elected President of a free South Africa and won the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize. His legacy lives on through the Nelson Mandela Foundation, which forges global change, advocates for peace, and champions human rights. And, on every July 18th—his birthday and, as declared by the United Nations, the Nelson Mandela International Day—millions gather to honor his courageous humanity through peaceful action and unifying service.
“It is in your hands to create a better world for all who live in it.”
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Ganeve Kaur
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Lexington
Ariana Blair, Sutton
Charlotte Bologna, Aquinnah
Clara Dunn, Dover
Brayson Lougee, Hamilton
Hagen Middleton, Westminster
Gabriella Rekrut, Charlton
Noah Wilke McGrail, Southampton
Rebecca Zhang, Lexington
NELSON MANDELA
Thaddeus Miles
Founder, Hoodfit and Black Joy • Senior Director of Diversity Initiatives, MassHousing
We celebrate Thaddeus Miles—civic leader, community builder, veteran, father, grandfather, and beloved friend. Thaddeus is an artist of community, who sees beauty through his camera’s lens and in the rich mosaic of our diverse neighborhoods. As Senior Director of Diversity Initiatives for MassHousing, Thaddeus is the architect of an expansive range of programs that build safe, vibrant, and engaged communities across Massachusetts. Thaddeus defines “mentor.” His great passion for young people has motivated innovative mentoring and enrichment programs that promote peace, creative self-expression, and accountable leadership. He is the Founder of HoodFit, a movement which amplifies the positive attributes of community to promote wellness of both body and mind, resilience, and thoughtful problem solving. And, the Black Joy Project, to highlight and inspire joy in the Black community, an effort that reflects Thaddeus’ belief that, “Joy is resilience.”
“When we have joy, we can dig deep.”
THADDEUS MILES
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Taliah Westbrook
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Norfolk
Cali Boissonneault, Lowell
Joseph Cioni, Maynard
Cheyenne Costa, Acushnet
Olivia Dempsey, Norfolk
Josephine Egbert, Acton
Wyatt Erbentraut, Granville
Mariah Hernandez, Boston
Victoria Ly, Hadley
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Songwriter • Creator • Composer
“To engender empathy and create a world using only words is the closest thing we have to magic” says Lin-Manuel Miranda. A MacArthur Foundation “genius,” Miranda has changed the way Americans understand our history and ourselves. This year marks the eleventh anniversary of his groundbreaking musical Hamilton. A re-telling of the life of Alexander Hamilton and the birth of America through hip-hop, with diverse actors portraying the nation’s founding fathers and mothers. The globally celebrated Hamilton changed the traditions and expectations of theatre and earned more than $1 billion—a phenom that demonstrates art’s unique power to enrich, uplift, and forge community. Miranda’s passion, artistry, and humanity are a force. His words, a call to be our best selves: “Now fill the world with music, love, and pride.”
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Youmna Baldissi Alumni Mentoring Corps, Weston
Joseph Anderson, Waltham
Sharbel Bou Sanayeh, Methuen
Reynah Chowrira, Weston
Maeve Muldoon, Harwich
Jessica Opoku-Afriyie, Leominster
Olivia Parker, Franklin
Farrah Piermarini, West Brookfield
Sam Souriolle, Plymouth
“Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life.”
LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA
Ben Nguyen
Class of 2021, Project 351 • University of Michigan
Ben Nguyen is beloved—by his family; educators; Playbook teammates, mentees, and students; and by the never-ending expanse of his 35ONE family. A member of the Class of 2021 and freshman at the University of Michigan, Ben has led our mission as Ambassador, Alumni Leadership Council member, and most proudly Playbook Trainer. Playbook is an outward expression of Ben’s resolve to turn the sting of cruelty into highest purpose: to eradicate bias and discrimination in any form. And to build a community of bridge builders and changemakers at Norwell Middle School. Ben’s ambitions were embraced by his educators and Administration and realized through a bold model for scale: student-designed and led. Gentle in nature, Ben’s model for transformational change is rooted in relationships. A human compact forged through shared vision and values, loyalty and love. Palak Yadav, classmate and friend, reflects, “Ben invests time and energy into who and what matters most. And then change happens—inspired by his joyful spirit and strength of conviction.”
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Hayes Byrne Alumni Mentoring Corps, Norwell
Aliyah Acquah, Lowell
Eve Allard, Ashburnham
Casey Blier, Holland
Lisa Goodwin-Reynolds, Williamstown
Audrey Kreizinger, Rehoboth
Nadon Metaj, Newton
Owen Potter, Groveland
Vinicius Simoncelo, Worcester
Elisa Trebicka, Norwell
“I serve to inspire others to become bridge builders and changemakers.”
BEN NGUYEN
Governor Deval Patrick
71st Governor of Massachusetts
Founding Honorary Chair, Project 351
Anytime we reflect on the doers and dreamers who have inspired our purpose and enabled our mission, our gratitude list begins with the same name—Governor Deval Patrick. It was Governor Patrick’s belief in an idea and stewardship of a vision that sparked our start. Governor Patrick, the Commonwealth’s 71st Governor, was the state’s first Black chief executive and only the second Black governor in the nation. His childhood in the South Side of Chicago inspired his passion for education and opportunity, and commitment to generational responsibility and social justice. As our Founding Chair, Governor Patrick helped build the foundation for more than 5,900 Ambassadors to “unite, act, lead” through transformational service in the Commonwealth’s 351 cities and towns. Governor Patrick is a passionate advocate of public service, grassroots mobilization, and civil public discourse. He often reminds us that change is realized when we “turn towards each other, rather than against one another.” A beloved champion and advisor to Project 351, Governor Patrick begins his 16th year with unwavering faith in the Class of 2026!
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
“I think that hope , that ability to envision, to imagine a better way, and then to apply yourself to it... is the way to build a better community and a better country.”
GOVERNOR PATRICK
Bruno Andrews Mundo Alumni Mentoring Corps, Hull
Charlee Derby, Hancock
Marissa Erickson, Stow
Allison Materazzo, Medford
Jack Ranger, Hull
Marina Salib, West Bridgewater
Olivia VanOudenhove, Oakham
Mey Villa, Milford
Benjamin Wollacott, Milton
Collette PhillipS
Founder, Get Konnected
Colette Phillips is the Commonwealth’s great connector—passion to purpose, resource to needs, solutions to road blocks, and most powerfully, diverse sectors and communities to one another. A master of convening and maestro of communication, Colette is the President and CEO of Colette Phillips Communications and Founder of Get Konnected! As warm and sunny as her native Antigua, Colette has pioneered multi-cultural marketing and strategies to grow businesses and diversify the C-suite and board room. Everything is relational with Colette, especially her pride and joy—Get Konnected, the region’s most influential and inclusive networking hub. Dismayed by the scarcity of people of color at business and leadership events, Colette founded Get Konnected to accelerate social and economic success for women and professionals of color in every sector. Her leadership as bridge builder is more vital than ever and she advises, “The divisions we face are real. But by embracing civility, demonstrating respect, and extending grace, we can begin to heal the rifts.”
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Arshiya Awwal
“Allyship is more than just good intentions — it’s commitment.”
COLLETTE PHILLIPS
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Foxborough
Asher Barney, Pepperell
Nara Cox, Foxborough
Ayvalynne Garfield, Brimfield
Nikyla Gumbs, Watertown
Haylee Hussey, Hinsdale
Michael Richardson, Swansea
Louis Sayani, West Newbury
Jay Torres, Montague
Kayli Vella, Monterey
Martin Richard
3rd Grader • Peacemaker
With a huge smile and twinkling eyes, this beautiful 8-year-old boy created joy, spread acts of kindness, and was a friend to all in his neighborhood of Dorchester. Tragically, Martin lost his life as a result of the bombings at the 2013 Boston Marathon. In the 13 years since, Martin’s message of peace has inspired the world to love more, do good, and build unity. Bill and Denise wrote of their son’s compassionate view of the world: “Martin ‘got it’—he knew what it took to be a good person. He knew that we had to care for one another and care more deeply for those who couldn’t care for themselves.” Today, the mission of the Foundation that carries Martin’s name, envisions “a world where people recognize the humanity in others and model the decency needed for a united, compassionate and inclusive community. We believe that when young people are taught the values of peace, justice and kindness, they will lead the way as thinkers, upstanders and peacemakers in their communities.”
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Mia Koopersmith
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Wayland
Leah Boyer, Huntington
Nathan Earley, Fitchburg
Addison Hill, Hanover
Gabriel Laferriere, Middleborough
Colette LePain, Worcester
Max Lurie, North Attleborough
Claire Michael-Hannaford, Wellesley
Vrinda Patel, Northbridge
“No more hurting people. PEACE.”
MARTIN RICHARD
Eneida Roman
President & CEO, We Are ALX
In the words of Eneida Roman, President and CEO of We are ALX, “Latino prosperity is Massachusetts prosperity is American prosperity.” A catalyst, connector, and convener, Eneida is driving a cultural and economic movement that empowers Latinos to shift from “consumers to creators, spenders to investors, and underrepresented to undeniable.” ALX began with a vision shared by Eneida and her friend Betty Francisco, both successful private sector leaders. They longed for a peer community where Latinos would champion, mentor, and elevate one another. What started as a series of Cafecitos—intimate gathering evolved into one of the state’s most influential leadership networks for Latinas. Today, ALX stands as a national model accelerating Latino advancement through an expansive portfolio of programs that build generational wealth, strengthen civic participation, and optimize Latino talent, innovation, and leadership across every sector of the economy. Guided by the belief that we “lift as we climb,” Eneida remains at the heart of ALX, opening doors and opportunities for the next generation of leaders, and fueling a future in which Latino leaders are visible, valued, and shaping the economic destiny of Massachusetts and beyond.
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Nirelis Aponte-Garcia Alumni Mentoring Corps, Holden
Marina Bistany, Merrimac
Esther Dame, Holden
Carmel Hollander, Newton
Pele Johnson, Hubbardston
Brogan Kew, Wellfleet
Levi Robichaud, East Longmeadow
Lorena Santos Lemuz, Worcester
Alexa Thibeault, Marshfield
Alex Wong, Braintree
“Tell me who you’re with and I’ll tell you who you are .. .surround yourself with people who inspire!”
ENEIDA ROMAN
Connor Schoen
Co-Founder, Breaktime • Class of 2013, Project 351
We knew, without question, that Connor Schoen, the 2013 Ambassador from Westborough, would change the world. Not hyperbole...truly. And, in the dozen years since—through his continued leadership of Project 351, LGBTQ+ activism, and as Co-Founder of Breaktime, we’ve witnessed Connor’s brilliant pursuit of a world defined by greater humanity and equity of opportunity. Breaktime, a non-profit social enterprise that launches the careers of young adults experiencing homelessness through employment and empowerment, is both the reflection of and vehicle for Connor’s vision. They recruit and hire young people, provide them with paid job experiences, personalized mentorship, and life skills training in a community of affirmation and love. Connor has swept every young professional award and praise from CEOs to Governors for his innovative model. We humbly add to that, Service Hero. Connor has kindly said that he is who he is because of Project 351, and to that we respond: Ubuntu.
“Project 351 isn’t just something you do; it becomes part of who you are.”
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Anray Sheng
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Needham
Tabarak Abdullah, Lowell
Brooke Bangma, Douglas
Larimar Batista Perez, New Bedford
Jaya Butler, Needham
Tyler Laferriere, Rowley
Julia Melvin, Lunenburg
James Moore, Plymouth
Anish Pochiraju, Westborough
Arden Wall, Williamstown
CONNOR SCHOEN
Dr. Theresa Shanahan
Project 351 Leadership Team
Our Ambassadors’ families make our mission possible. They’re their children’s first and best role models, and enable their Project 351 leadership. And so, it is a high privilege when family members embrace our mission as their own. For sixteen years, Theresa Shanahan has defined 35ONE family devotion and set the standard for “over and above” stewardship. We have her son Mark, founding Ambassador from the Class of 2011, to thank for the gift of Theresa, her husband Dr. Chuck Czeisler, and daughters Emily and Megan. It’s impossible to write our history without the Czeislers, with an entire volume dedicated to Theresa! A pediatrician by day and by night, a service visionary, program innovator, and systems architect. Most notably, Theresa co-leads Launch and Reunion Service, which combined to impact 54,690 neighbors in 2025. A true Renaissance woman, she draws from her experience as healer, photographer, artist, mentor, mom, wife, and yes, chicken farmer, to create community-driven social change. And, with gentle grace, compels our efforts to build a world that honors each person’s dignity and worth.
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier .”
MOTHER TERESA
Elif Koparan
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Sherborn
James Bardsley, Billerica
Kayla Barton, Westfield
Nour Elshaarawy, Grafton
Jameelah Figueroa, Revere
Paige Hathaway, Bourne
Alaa Mallini, Danvers
Samuel Monette, Chesterfield
Maggie Oleyer, Sherborn
Poet Laureate
amanda shea
Something magical happens when Amanda Shea enters your view…onstage, on the television screen, at her teaching lectern, over a cup of coffee. New worlds open, diverse perspectives are welcomed, courage is gained, and beauty is formed. Amanda Shea is an artist, creative entrepreneur, educator, and pioneer of spoken word poetry. Her globally recognized gifts forge pathways into communities and conversations of discovery. “It’s an invitation to the spirit…to transform all of our pain, trauma and joy, and alchemize that into spaces where audiences can not only relate but also understand.” With soundtracks of hip-hop to opera, rap to R&B, Amanda honors African and Puerto Rican oral traditions to uplift BIPOC and LGBTQ+ voices. Artistry that inspires a tribute from our own poet laureate, Charlie Rose: Eternal snaps echo like heartbeats
Turning moments into movements
Profoundly urging justice and progress
Rising from spaces made sacred by the beauty within
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Nya’Lia Lindsey
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Stoughton
Ty Del Cid-Batory, Pittsfield
Mackenzie Jordan, Quincy
Cole Milgate, Spencer
Sanya Patel, Middleton
Sasha Romig, Sudbury
Teresa Sanchez, Halifax
Aleesa Tuliano, Ashby
Sadie Wilcox, Plainfield
“Art is going to heal the world , Vulnerability touches everybody. It’s transcendent.”
AMANDA SHEA
Sareya taylor
Youth Poet Laureate • International Indigenous Youth Council • UNITY Earth Ambassador
A member of the White Mountain Apache and Navajo tribes, Sareya Taylor is a distinguished poet and activist, “Poetry helped me find my voice. I started to speak up. I learned that my voice matters and means something.” The inaugural Youth Poet Laureate of Phoenix, Arizona, Sareya is a Bachelor of Fine Arts student at the Institute of American Indian Arts. In her writings and performances, she shares stories of Native resilience, culture, and pride. Sareya seeks out forums to advocate for and amplify indigenous voices, including as a member of the International Indigenous Youth Council and a UNITY “25 Under 25” youth leader. “This is a good time for change and healing. I think that all of us, regardless of ethnicity or the community you belong to, can start getting to know and understand each other better so we can lift one another up.”
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Elsie Serrano Alumni Mentoring Corps, Sharon
Abigail Burque, Oxford
Kate Dwyer, Chelmsford
Emely Encarnacion, Sharon
Sloan Flemming, Lakeville
Max O’Brien, Oak Bluffs
Lily Ryan, New Braintree
Ashley Spirito, Wilmington
Nathan Zannoni, Lancaster
“Our history and how colonialism has affected our peoples is a major factor in why I do my work. I want this world to hold my siblings and future youth kindly. ”
SAREYA TAYLOR
gladys vega
Founder,
La Colaborativa
Gladys Vega’s mission is singular, “I wake up, Chelsea and go to sleep, Chelsea. It’s Chelsea, Chelsea, Chelsea! I love my community, it is what drives me.” Gladys projects the vibrancy, passion, and determination of this tight knit community in the shadow of the Tobin Bridge. At La Colaborativa, the nonprofit led by Vega, everyone is welcome as family. And, every challenge including evictions, hunger, job training, and immigrant rights is met with innovative solutions and unconditional support. Born in Puerto Rico, Gladys moved to Chelsea at age 9. Her journey from La Colaborativa’s receptionist to President and CEO is a tribute to her brilliance and unwavering commitment to representation, cultural pride, and local decision making. Today, La Colaborativa is a national model deeply rooted in Chelsea, East Boston, Everett, Lynn, Malden, and Revere and guided by Gladys’ belief, “Representation matters. We must be seen and heard. La Colaborativa protects, uplifts, and empowers every individual to foster leadership from within communities of color and immigrant communities. This is the only way that real change can happen.”
“God doesn’t give you anything that you are not able to handle and it’s the people in the community that give me hope.”
GLADYS VEGA
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Neris Alfaro
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Chelsea
Kellyssa Andrade, Brockton
Zoé Coshow, Manchester-by-the-Sea
Cam Ethier, Franklin
Nhaobe Galarza, Shirley
Mary Moorehead, Southborough
Benjamin Potter, Nantucket
Paula Rojas, Chelsea
Michelle Setow, Quincy
Taylin Whiting, Webster
Melati Wijsen
Founder, Youthtopia
Melati Wijsen wrote the book on changing the world—literally! Change Starts Now details her journey from a determined 12-year-old in Bali, Indonesia, who sought to end her country’s plastic pollution crisis, to a global movement maker. As the founder of Youthtopia, Melati provides her generation with a roadmap to step into their power. This collective of youth from 72 countries “inspires and supports each other’s journeys as changemakers, activists, leaders, and movement builders.” Melaiti has been honored as a CNN Hero and one of Forbes’ “30 under 30” social change leaders. With infectious passion, she asserts, “[my generation] may be 25% of the world’s population, but we are 100% the future!” A belief echoed by renowned climate activist Christiana Figueres, “The most powerful force for change today isn’t coming from conference rooms or corridors of power. It’s coming from young leaders like Melati who combine vision with unstoppable determination!”
“ Us kids may be 25% of the world’s population but we are 100% of the future. ”
MELATI WIJSEN
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Ella Herbert
Alumni Mentoring Corps, East Bridgewater
Daya Aouane, Ayer
Ava Christie, Russell
Joseph Dixon, Lynnfield
Sloane Grabell, Pelham
Evan Lucey, Mendon
Giovanny Nieves, North Andover
Reese Taylor, East Bridgewater
Gabriella Thompson, Brockton
Reverend Jay Williams
Lead Pastor, Union Combined Parish
Today marks a new coalition in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King —MLK Boston: Beloved Community Weekend. Project 351 is honored to join Embrace Boston, Boston Children’s Chorus, MLK Memorial Breakfast, and other community organizations in a unified celebration of reflection, collective action, service, and song. Our work together has revealed gifts we treasure, including Rev. Dr. Jay Williams, Lead Pastor at the Union Combined Parish and Co-Chair of the MLK Memorial Breakfast. A Buffalonian by birth and Bostonian by calling, Rev. Jay’s congregation pursues the Beloved Community from a foundation of compassionate service, intersectional justice, racial equity, and unconditional love. Love is a dominant theme of Rev. Jay as in his beautiful reflections on The Embrace, Boston’s historic sculpture that memorializes The Kings’ love story. Embrace “calls us to our shared humanity and common purpose. The embrace of Coretta and Martin…reminds us of the power of love. Embrace. It’s a simple world that invites us into the profound possibility of the beloved community. In witnessing the monument…we bear witness to the pursuit of justice, equity, and liberation.”
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Nathan Ramani
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Andover
Joshua Barter, Boylston
Yusuf Husain, Andover
Luz Celeste Jimenez, Cambridge CJ Mulchahey, Tyngsborough
Victoria Mulrain, East Brookfield
Gavin Pezzullo, Uxbridge
Khazey Rogalski, Wendell Penelope White, Orleans
“Faith teaches us that our futures are intertwined. There is no way for me to flourish fully without you flourishing fully.”
REVEREND JAY WILLIAMS
Malala Yousafzai
Nobel Laureate • Global Education Activist
From humble roots in Swat, Pakistan, a young global heroine of courage and vision was born. Malala’s commitment to global education and the empowerment of girls could not be silenced by the Taliban’s bullet. Malala reflected, “It was then I knew I had a choice: I could live a quiet life or I could make the most of this new life I had been given. I was determined to continue my fight until every girl can go to school.” Hers became a life of relentless passion and transformative purpose. The youngest Nobel Laureate in history, Malala’s global advocacy, activism, and investment uplifts and empowers girls. As Co-Founder of The Malala Fund, she leads a global movement to help girls unlock their potential and access education against extraordinary odds. Her foremost goal is to secure 12 years of free, safe, and quality education for 122 million girls worldwide. Malala also serves as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, giving her a platform to build bridges across cultures, countries, and communities by illuminating our shared humanity.
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Sejal Shirole
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Natick
Ariana Almeida, Revere
Hili Barkaee, Natick
Isabella Buttaro, Walpole
Gianna Daguet, Southwick
Olivia Drewnowski, Palmer
Steven Flis, Templeton
Isabelle Nelligan, Tisbury
Andrew Wilson, Groton
“If we want to achieve our vision for change, let us empower ourselves with the weapon of knowledge and let us shield ourselves with unity & togetherness.”
Zeitouna
Refusing to be Enemies
Diane Blumson, a woman of Jewish faith and member of Zeitouna, summarizes the transformative power of their mission: “My relationships with the women of Zeitouna affirm my belief that when we are willing to build and grow relationships, even under the most trying circumstances, we have the opportunity to break down the barriers that allow us to demonize those we consider ‘the other.’” For the last two decades, six Jewish women and six Palestinian women in Michigan have met twice monthly to listen, learn, and confront challenging issues with grace. Zeitouna, the Arabic word for olive tree, “strives for peace through connection, empathy, and action.” They are guided in their work by a philosophy of dialogue that prioritizes every voice, creates shared understanding, and requires accountable and engaged leadership. We honor the tapestry of humanity that Zeitouna weaves through their extraordinary 20 year dialogue, and draw motivation from their vision for unity across all facets of divide.
SERVICE HERO TEAM MEMBERS
Addie Kavanah
Alumni Mentoring Corps, Plainville
Aria Andrade, Fairhaven
Valentina Brown, Malden
Alice Clark, Mashpee
Jesse Ferreira, Plainville
Thaily Ordaz, Whately
Aiden Peña, Natick
Valentina Phillips, Watertown
Sunny Severance, Deerfield
“ Through compassionate listening, we transcend cultural andother barriers to celebrate each other’s humanity.”
IRENE BUTTER
Community of Heroes
These heroes—local, national, and global—inspired our service, motivated our compassion, and deepened our commitment to Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community as Service Heroes. Our Ambassadors will carry their spirit of service and honor their devotion to humanity as they unite, act, lead.
CLASS OF 2025
Ché Anderson
Raei Bridges
Michaela Campbell
Governor Paul Cellucci
Jerren Chang
Anne Corron
Mark Czeisler
Gina Galarza
Haben Girma
Retired Brigadier General Jack Hammond
Lauren & Jrue Holiday
CLASS OF 2024
Kristen Atwood
Xiye Bastida
Kash Cannon
First Lady Rosalynn & President Jimmy Carter
Mari Copeny
Dee-1
Yasmine Ferrine Cruz
Paul Francisco
Dr. Geralde Gabeau
CLASS OF 2023
Annie’s Girls
First Lady Lauren & Governor Charlie Baker
General Gary Brito
Megan Burke
Sam Carson
Jeff Duffany
Emiliana Guereca
Diana Hwang
State Representative Kevin Honan
Ali Kane
Robert Lewis, Jr.
Yo-Yo Ma
Nelson Mandela
Sara & Yusra Mardini
Massachusetts Association of Superintendents
Thaddeus Miles
The Moms • Nancy
Frates,Cherylann Gengel, Angella
Henry, Denise Richards
Eric Martinez & the Carpenters Union
Daphne Principe-Griffin
Mohammad Razvi
Dr. Robyn Riseberg & Dr. Shahrzad
Slater
Rodney Smith
Anika Teckchandani
Togethxr
Dr. Patrick Tutwiler
Katy DeMoura & Molly Walsh
Ronnie Goldstein
Amanda Gorman
Reverends Gloria & Ray Hammond
Representative Vanna Howard
Dolores Huerta
In The Car
The Johnson Family
The Kelly Family
Erin McAleer
Shane McColgan
Sergeant Alberto D. Montrond
Grace Moreno
Shaheer Mustafa
Taylor Swift
Hannah Tirrell
John Walsh
Danielle West
Derrick Young Jr. & Jonathan Allen
Heidi Johnson
Dr. Katherine & Hubie Jones
Josh Kraft
State Representative
Michael Kushmerek
Juana Matias
Marcus McNeill
Imari Paris Jeffries
Dolly Parton
Jeff Perrotti
Captain Ross Reynolds
Marcia Robinson
coco rosenberg
Gladys Vega
Brigadier General Enoch “Woody”
Woodhouse
CLASS OF 2022
Paul Andrews
Sergeant James Ayube II
Molly Baldwin
Claudette Colvin
Senator Julian Cyr
Charlie Davies
Ashley De Pina Nunes
Heidi Dugal
CLASS OF 2021
Ché Anderson
Xiye Bastida
Todd Bucey
Tacko Fall
Jim Gallagher
Chief Warrant Officer 2
Marwan S. Ghabour
Bob Giannino
CLASS OF 2020
Kara Bobroff
Bill Brett
Geoffrey Canada
Bithiah Carter
Josh Chalmers
Jon Goose
Dave Hoffman
CLASS OF 2019
Lance Corporal Noah Avila, USMC
Paul Berkeley
President George H.W. Bush
Chuck Campion
Christie Coombs
Mary Cringan
Maria Dominguez Gray
Betty Francisco
Corey Griffin
Mum Bett Freeman
Dr. Atul Gawande
Secretary Deb Haaland
Alexandra Huynh
Opal Lee
Juana Matias
Makeeba McCreary
Ellice Patterson
Jay Kim
Beverly Leon
Ashton Mota
Pauline Murnin
Dr. Jim O’Connell
Katie Pakenham
Mamatha Thumati
Lisa Hughes
Heidi Johnson
Michael Lawler
Devin & Jason McCourty
Eva Millona
Cara Murtagh
Allyce Najimy
Police Comissioner William Gross
Patrice Keegan
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Waleska Lugo-DeJesús
Ted Marquis
Joanne Chang & Chris Myers
Jared Monti
Mary Lou O’Connell
Representative Smitty Pignatelli
Deb Re
Alex Richman
Jasmine Sanders
Jordan Simpson
Matthew Slater
Gladys Vega
Chairman Brian Weeden
Mayor Michelle Wu
Cameron Van Fossen
Representative Andy Vargas
Cleo Wade
Dr. Rochelle Walensky
Jazmine Wildcat
Representative Tram Nguyen
Natanja Craig Oquendo
Hilda Ramirez
Senior Airman Deanna Richards
Mark Shriver
Surya Adeleye & Deborah Silva
Meredith & Billy Starr
Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley
Rescue
Navyn Salem
Coretta Scott King
Lynne & Gary Smith
Lisa & Stephen Spaloss
CLASS OF 2018
Noor Al-Saad
First Lady Lauren Baker
Nurys Camargo
Leila & Mike Chambers
Emily Cherniack
Yolanda Coentro
Captain Sara Cullen, U.S. Army
CLASS OF 2017
Ron Adams
Susan B. Anthony
Lauren Astley
Ron Burton, Sr.
Gregg Croteau
Abbey D’Agnostino
Juan Duran
CLASS OF 2016
Vanessa Calderón-Rosado
Firefighter Gregory Cinelli
Cherylann & Len Gengel
Captain Jennifer Harris, U.S. Marine Corps
CLASS OF 2015
Kay & Peter Berron
Senator Robert F. Kennedy
CLASS OF 2014
Carlos Arredondo
Representative Hannah Kane
Myra Kraft
Executive Protection Unit, Massachusetts State Police
Diane Nealon
Sharon Parliment
Sue & Bernie Pucker
Bill Russell
Billy Shore
David Simas
James Simmons
Marquis Taylor
Annika Morgan & Josh Trautwein
Danroy “DJ” Henry
Pat Johnson
Dr. Paula Johnson
Estrellita Karsh
President John F. Kennedy
Rachael Klehm
Michael Brown & Alan Khazei
Anthony Shriver
Captain Christopher Sullivan, U.S. Army
Darlene White-Dottin
Dawnn Jaffier
Moira Landry
Cindy McGinty
Marisol O’Brien
Charlie Rose
Tom Scott
Donna Spigarolo
Councilor Michelle Wu
Cindy McGinty
Mayor Tom Menino
Beverly Morgan Welch
Brittany & Robbie Bergquist
Frederick Douglass
ALUMNI LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
The Alumni Leadership Council (ALC) is a team of mentors, change-makers, advocates, and community builders that leads our youth-led movement for change.
High school Alumni are selected for one of four social impact strategies, with customized leadership pathways. ALC members amplify the voices and values of their 35ONE peers; positively affect issues that inspire their passion; and develop the skills and confidence for success in college, career, and a lifetime of change making.
The ALC is a tribute to the contributions of the 5,588 Ambassadors who have served since 2011. As we celebrate Launch, the ALC is proudly represented by the Alumni Mentoring Corps, Regional Leaders, and our high school seniors in their fifth year of service.
ALC SENIOR CLASS
Chisom Agbanari North Attleborough, Playbook Trainer
Isabelle Alphonse Easton, Regional Leader
Nakshatra Arun Plainville, Senior Legacy Fellow
Maddie Balzano Agawam, Senior Legacy Fellow
Marco Barbosa Needham, Senior Legacy Fellow
Chelsea Barnor Fitchburg, Senior Legacy Fellow
Sadie Brennan Beverly, Regional Leader
Keegan Butler Westhampton, Senior Legacy Fellow & Regional Leader
Benson Chang Norton, Senior Legacy Fellow
William Cruikshank Marblehead, Senior Legacy Fellow
Bronwyn Daly Paxton, Regional Leader
Ella DeStefano Franklin, Senior Legacy Fellow
Nicole Flanagan Andover, Regional Leader
Andrew Fleischmann Mansfield, Regional Leader
Alisha Gastonguay Ashburnham, Senior Legacy Fellow
Haaris Khan Littleton, Playbook Trainer
Ava Khouri Hanover, Senior Legacy Fellow
Montserrat Llacuna Watertown, Regional Leader
Robert Moyes Avon, Senior Legacy Fellow
Claire Mullen Medway, Regional Leader
Jay Patel Holliston, Senior Legacy Fellow
Tilly Peet Falmouth, Regional Leader
Lily Price Middleborough, Regional Leader
Faith Ramos Granby, Senior Legacy Fellow
Isabella Reith Sudbury, Playbook Trainer
Cameron Scerbo Westminster, Regional Leader
Aryan Shah Hopkinton, Senior Legacy Fellow
Aiden Shaughnessy Wrentham, Senior Legacy Fellow
Shreya Shukla Sandwich, Playbook Trainer
Kyle Wetjen Sherborn, Senior Legacy Fellow
Clara Wildeman Braintree, Senior Legacy Fellow
Molly Wronski Rochester, Senior Legacy Fellow
Senior Legacy Fellows: Lead capacity-building projects in support of greater organizational, program, and service excellence.
Regional Leaders: Build Project 351’s capacity, visibility, and unity in their region by stewarding a community of Alumni, Ambassadors, and educators to engage in our mission.
Playbook Trainers: Engage middle school students in courageous conversations to build the knowledge, skills, and confidence required of upstanders and bridge builders.
We Celebrate & Appreciate Our BELOVED Community
We are deeply appreciative of the statewide community of educators, volunteers, and partners, whose belief in the potential of every young person inspires our greatest efforts.
BUS CAPTAINS & CHAPERONES
Sherry Balzano, Josh Belvis, Judy Bennett, Heather Bergin, Todd Bucey, Aimee CasaleMcCarthy, Kari Cioffi, Brian Cipoletta, Sarah Collier, Anne Corron, Kathy Couch, Mary Cringan, Michelle Cunniff, Carolyn Curtis, Jeff Duffany, Marcy Dugas, John Every, Kelly Gastonguay, Cherylann Gengel, Deborah Gigante, Ronnie Goldstein, Kristen Handschuh, Ivar Henningson, Heidi Hernandez, Cheri Hoyle, Laura Keith, Riley Londraville ‘19, Pamela Mapes-Pellegrino, Rashaun Martin, Maria McGuinness, Peter Mili, Chitra Mills, Michael Neagle, Andrea Nevins ‘12, Sharon Nist, Arlene Parella, Riana Pizzi, Jennifer Renehan, Julie Salisbury, Julie Shiebler, Jessica Stanley, Sharon Striglio, Hannah Sullivan, William Tranter, Katelynn van Roon ‘14, Deborah Vieira ‘15, Patricia Waters
LAUNCH DAY LEADERSHIP TEAM
Ben Abbott ‘20, Warda Ahmed ‘18, Faleehah Dam ‘20, Gina Galarza, Autumn Kelly ‘13, Tim Kelly, Abigail McLucas ‘15, Marcus McNeill ‘18, Sydney Mercadante ‘19, Whitney Meritus ‘16, Hōkūlani Panerio-Langer ‘19, Becca Pavao ‘18, Katie Pakenham, Skyla Rimple ‘18, Marcia Robinson,
Charlie Rose, Theresa Shanahan, Lile Simmons ‘19, Allie Smith ‘19, Margot Sonia ‘18, Jordan Stanley ‘18, Emma Szalewicz ‘14, Danielle West, Bill White, Jennifer White, Matt Wilder, Palak Yadav ‘21, Wunnyuriti Ziblim ‘20
VOLUNTEERS: ALUMNI LEADERSHIP
Samantha Asprelli ‘18, Megan Burke ‘13, Jill Calistra ‘20, Sophia Chiodo ‘19, Isabelle Cole ‘15, Isabel Coviello ‘21, Lauren Fetten ‘14, Francesca Forcellati ‘19, Abigail Hunt ‘17, Sava Kassev ‘21, Molly Kent ‘16, Yasmine Laabadla ‘20, Erin Logan ‘16, Addario Miranda ‘21, Abigail Rainsford ‘21, Tessa Senders ‘12, Anika Teckchandani ‘20, Madison Walsh ‘15, Paul Zgurzynski ‘18
VOLUNTEERS: FRIENDS & FAMILY
Jamar Bailey III, Rhonda Chicko, Frank Chicko, Kathleen Chiong, Charles Czeisler, Abigail Elsbree, Elizabeth Elsbree, Lee Ann Gilligan, Patrick Gilligan, Hannah Goldstein, Cheri Hoyle, Jennifer Kellogg, Stacey Kerkhoff, Cate Lehan, Carolyn Mulhern, Valerie Ottaviani, Frances Siciliano, Susan Walsh, Betsy Wood, Aashi Yadav
AMBASSADOR SELECTION OUTREACH TEAM
Heather Bergin, Mary Cringan, Kelly Gastonguay, Cherylann Gengel, Susan Gooch, Heidi Hernandez, Laura Keith, Jessica Stanley, Monika Teckchandani, Betsy Wood, and our M.A.S.S. Family
VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO our extraordinary Service Heroes and their loving families. Jim Gallagher, Tom Samouluk, Maggie Lytle, Tom Crohan of John Hancock; Denise, Bill, Henry, and Jane Richard and the Martin Richard Foundation; Joe Casey; Tom O’Brien; Nancy Routh; Lisa Hughes and Sean Barnacoat of WBZ; Tom Scott, Erica Hedrick, Dr. Mary Bourque, John Doherty, and Dr. Christine McGrath of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents; Chris Kaneb of Hood Park; David Vittori, Drew Hale, and PJ Garrett of Lincoln Property Company; Susan Elsbree, Colleen Frank, and Kate LeBlanc of Benchmark Strategies; Sam Carson; Honor Petrie ‘15 and James Donohue ‘15; Jon Goose and the team at Color Copy Center Boston; Mike Casey, Casey Photography, Jennifer Cogswell, Cogswell Images, Benson Chang ‘22 Photography; Jack Doherty, Joe Foley and Margaret Dooley of College Hype; Eric Martinez and the North Atlantic States Carpenters Training Fund; the professional bus drivers of Premier Coach, Peter Pan Bus Lines, and Vocell Bus Company; Susan Guay, Dan Kidwell and the team at Terry Hanley Audio Services; Dan Stevens and Dave Ells of In the Car Media; and with extra 35ONELove to Matt Wilder of Wilder Communications.
WE ARE GRATEFUL TO the artists and photographers who contributed to this program book, including Benson Chang, Class of 2022; Mike Casey, Casey Photography; Jennifer Cogswell, Cogswell Images; and Danielle West. The program book was written by Carolyn Casey and produced by Danielle West.
PROJECT 351 is powered by the idealism of this extraordinary Beloved Community in partnership with a very grateful 351 team: Kenna Barber, Carolyn Casey, Mary Cringan, Cyara Lambert, Cindy Laba, Whitney Meritus (Class of 2016), Kamaru Oseni, and interns-extraordinaire Faleehah Dam (Class of 2020 and Princeton University), Margot Sonia (Class of 2018 and Boston College) and Jordan Stanley (Class of 2018 and University of New Hampshire).
SPECIAL APPRECIATION to our 35ONE families and our own for their steadfast faith and love, which makes all things possible.
A FINAL NOTE OF GREAT LOVE to these beloved champions whose faith and leadership powers our mission forward—Mary Cringan, Marcia Robinson, Charlie Rose, and Theresa Shanahan.
With LOVE gratitude to our Launch Day Service partners
Proud to serve with these Alumni-founded organizations
THE COMMONWEALTH CIRCLE
Project 351 is honored by the leadership investment of The Commonwealth Circle, an annual major gift program that provides vital resources to support our transformative model of enrichment, leadership development, and social impact. We offer special thanks to the Bakers and the Patricks for their engaged leadership and generous investment.
We deeply appreciate the leadership and generosity of our Honorary Co-Chairs and Commonwealth Circle members.
Honorary Co-Chairs
Governor Charlie Baker and Lauren Baker
Governor Deval Patrick and Diane Patrick
Gold Level - $50,000 and above
Governor Deval Patrick and Diane Patrick
Silver Level - $25,000 and above
Kristen and Jim Atwood
Marni Grossman
Bronze Level - $10,000 and above Anonymous
Governor Charlie Baker and Lauren Baker
Charlotte Mao and Michael Brown
Joe Casey
Mary Cringan
Patty and Paul Gannon
Tracy Campion and Buddy Greene
Geri and Mark Herlihy
Jennifer Bardsley and Christopher Keefe
Michelle Vichot and Josh Kraft
Crimson Lion/Lavine Family Foundation
Sue and Bernie Pucker
Bhuvana Palaniappan and Govind Rangasamy
Charlie Rose
Anne Lovett and Steve Woodsum
For more information on joining The Commonwealth Circle, please contact Carolyn Casey at carolyn@project351.org.
NOTEs
Project 351 is honored to partner with leaders we deeply admire for the Inaugural MLK Boston: Beloved Community Weekend—a unified celebration of reflection, collective action, service, and song.
We proudly join Embrace Boston, Boston Children’s Chorus, MLK Memorial Breakfast, and Everyone250 in a shared mission of the King’s vision of a more just, compassionate, and united community, Commonwealth, and country.
WITH GRATITUDE FOR THEIR GENEROUS INVESTMENT & BELIEF
© Mike Casey Photography
Leaders don’t wait for change
In fact, the next generation is already here, making positive change within their communities. We’re proud to support Project 351 in empowering this new class of leaders.