U.S. Congressman Joe Kennedy, Five Others Honored by Boston-based LGBTQI-youth Advocacy Group

U.S. Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy (Mass. fourth district) is one of six advocates for LGBTQI youth being honored by the Boston-based Promise Place School on Friday, April 17, at the Marriott Copley Place in Boston. The gala is a fundraiser toward building a school for LGBTQI homeless youth in Massachusetts. The state-of-the-art facility promises to combine classroom settings with a safe home environment.

The event includes an awards ceremony, a live and silent auction, and entertainment by The Peregrine Theatre Ensemble of Provincetown. It will be headlined by Peregrine’s executive producer Adam Berry, who is also an actor, singer, and paranormal investigator as seen in TV’s Syfy series Ghost Hunters.

A recent Promise Place press release listed the honorees and their bios:

“Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III represents the 4th District of Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives. Having dedicated his career to public service, Joe brings a firm commitment to social justice and economic opportunity to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Senator Sonia Chang- Diaz is widely recognized as a strong advocate for public education, CORI reform, access and opportunities for low-income and immigrant communities, and for those affected by foreclosures, hate crimes, and youth violence. The Senator serves as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education and the Vice Chair of the Senate Redistricting Committee.

Carl Sciortino, Executive Director of AIDS Action Committee, has championed social justice issues throughout his career, including the right of same-sex couples to marry; banning discrimination against transgender people; expanding access to health care; and increasing resources for anti-poverty programs.

Joe Finn, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Housing Shelter Alliance, has dedicated the last twenty-five years to working in the area of homelessness and is committed to the challenge of ending homelessness. MHSA’s initiative under Joe’s leadership, “Home & Healthy for Good” has led to the housing of over 800 chronic homeless persons across the state.

Diego Sanchez, Director of Policy, PFLAG National, made history in 2009 as the first openly transgender person to work as a senior legislative staffer on Capitol Hill and for historically testifying in 2008 to the U.S. House on ENDA. He is also the first openly transgender person appointed to a standing Democratic Committee, the Platform Committee, by then-DNC Chair Gov. Howard Dean.

Elisabeth Jackson, Executive Director of Bridge Over Troubled Waters, an organization that serves homeless and runaway young people, has served on the board and worked for the group since 1993.

For further information, sponsorship inquiries and opportunities, visit PromisePlaceSchool.org or call 774 330-3106.