Suffolk’s Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion office held its 22nd annual Creating the Dream Awards Ceremony in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 22.
Diversity Peer Educators and Suffolk juniors Victor Cruz Castro and Kylah Huggins planned and hosted the event in Sargent Hall’s Keches room alongside CSDI Director Beatriz Patino.
On behalf of CSDI, Suffolk President Marisa Kelly handed out six awards: to two students, one to a faculty member, two to organizations on campus and one to a department that represents King’s values of representing a community and uniting marginalized voices. Kelly specified that her award speeches would be mainly excerpts from nomination letters for the recipients.
“Similarly to our awardees today, Martin Luther King was not only a leader, but an embodiment of spreading peace, justice and freedom,” said Huggins.
Soulfully Versed, founded on Suffolk’s campus in 2016 and known for their original student-made arrangements, started off the ceremony covering a piece called “If I Ever Fall in Love” by 1990s R&B vocal group Shai. Vocalist and Suffolk junior Tristan Jennings soloed the song.
Senior Stacey Jean Baptistse led a rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” with encouragement for the crowd to sing along.
Before the awards were handed out, Rev. Amy Fisher recited a handful of King’s famous words along with her own encouragement to set the tone for the ceremony.
“The strength to love is not easy, but it is imperative. If all of our earthly existence is not ultimately speaking up for each other, speaking up for democracy, speaking up for peace, speaking up for justice and most of all, speaking up for the ought in the face of the is,” said Fisher. “If we do not do this, then who are we?”
Senior big data and business analytics major Jenkyn Attafah was the undergraduate student recognized, specifically for his work rebuilding the African Student Association on campus as their president.
“During his time at Suffolk, Jenkin has been a constant presence on campus, serving as president of the African Student Association, a resident assistant, a journey leadership program participant and a student worker in the IT department,” said Kelly. “He is known not only for his impressive involvement, but for his kindness, humility, and ever-present, warm smile.”
Attafah emphasized that his goal from the start of his freshman year was to make sure all students making their way to campus had a group to feel welcomed and supported by.
“I’m a Ghanaian kid coming from a Ghanaian background, and there wasn’t enough space for myself. And that’s why I took on the initiative to reorganize ASA with a bunch of my other composed classmates,” said Attafah. “This was not done by myself, but by many other students who also felt that same exact way.”
The undergraduate organization recognized was the National Association of Black Accountants.
“Though newly formed, this organization has already made tremendous strides on campus through conferences, events and guest speakers,” said Kelly. “They have worked tirelessly to create a space where Black accountants can thrive. They have built a strong sense of community amongst our Black and brown students, while also providing the tools, resources and professional development needed to successfully navigate the finance industry.”
Founder and current President Adja Thiam accepted the award on the group’s behalf. Thiam is a junior studying accounting and business law in the Sawyer Business School.
“We’ve truly accomplished so much and made such strides to bring opportunities to Black [and] brown students and honestly the entire Suffolk community, because our organization is welcoming to anyone who wants to join, no matter your major, no matter your race,” said Thiam.
The graduate student recognized was Jewel Crouch, followed by a graduate organization she is heavily involved with; Progress to Success.
“Through her daily actions, both seen and unseen, Jewel models what it means to cultivate belonging,” said Kelly. “Her commitment is not performative or tied to titles. It is a consistent, heartfelt practice of care, advocacy and community building that has made Suffolk a more supportive and affirming place for students of color.”
Crouch studies Law, and through Progress to Success, helps cultivate community and diversity mentorship for incoming Suffolk Law students. The program’s goal is to make the transition into law school life easier bit by bit, by hosting events even before orientation to get a taste of law school and find a supportive group of peers to make a community before their year even starts.
Suffolk CARES was awarded the Creating the Dream Department Award for their foundation of compassion, equity, dignity and collective responsibility.
“The work of the Suffolk Cares team is deeply aligned with Dr. King’s dream, that communities flourish when we care for one another, and remove systemic barriers to opportunity,” said Kelly. “In honoring Suffolk cares with the MLK creating the Dream Award, Suffolk University would like to recognize a team that lives out Dr. King’s legacy through the daily acts of service and justice and love.”
The final award, designated for a faculty member, went to Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Cherina Wright.
“As I have certainly seen firsthand and as a nominator knows, Serena commands every room, with confidence, speaks with intention and leads with a deep understanding that each challenge and each person requires a unique approach,” said Kelly. “ Her impact is not abstract, it’s tangible.”
Wright has been a part of the Suffolk community since 2018, playing roles as an adjunct professor, assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion and director of student engagement and inclusion before her current position.
The ceremony concluded with keynote speaker Kim Janey, former mayor of Boston and president and chief executive officer of Economic and Mobility Pathways. Janey was Boston’s first woman and first Black mayor. Her nonprofit, EMPath, dedicates its resources to helping families experiencing poverty to dramatically improve their economic stability.
Janey congratulated and recognized not only the awardees but also everyone in attendance, the caterer Park 54 Restaurant from Hyde Park, the students and faculty working to host the event and the staff that would clean the Keches room after the event’s conclusion.
“You made an active choice to be here, to be present and to push the work forward, to create the dream. And for that, I am truly, truly grateful,” said Janey. “And so, as I reflect on MLK weekend, I am reminded of the long fight to create the King holiday.”
Janey reflected on the years it took for the U.S. to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day, even after the King Holiday Bill was signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. Sharing memories of her childhood, the advocacy and work that has been done by herself and those around her, the immense history Boston has as a representative city and lastly, the current state of the country.
“Economic justice was not an elite chapter in Dr. King’s
life, it was a through line throughout all of his work. Again and again, he reminded us that desegregation was never just about sitting at a lunch counter. It was about owning the diner. And the poor people’s campaign made that truth unmistakable,” said Janey. “Today, that unfinished work continues. At economic mobility pathways, we carry that legacy forward, standing alongside families, challenging systems and building real pathways to economic mobility, prosperity, and justice. This is how we can honor the King legacy, by moving beyond access to ownership, and by organizing, investing and working to make economic justice real right now in our lifetime.”
