With a packed house in the Great Hall at Codman Square, the annual Hidden Heroes & Sheroes Gala feted a range of neighborhood leaders who typically avoid the spotlight but who, on the night of Nov. 22, found themselves front and center.

A long-standing partnership for more than 25 years between the Codman Square Neighborhood Council (CSNC) and the Four Corners Action Coalition, the gala seeks to recognize neighbors who work quietly to help others in the community. The event also raises money to fund three $6,000 scholarships for young people from the neighborhood that are bestowed in the name of the late Rev. Dr. Bill Loesch, who started the gala series more in 1987.

“Typically, these awardees don’t want to be recognized; they love helping their community but don’t seek the spotlight,” said Cynthia Loesch-Johnson, Rev. Loesch’s daughter, who serves as president of the CSNC.

Added Stafford Lewis, of Four Corners: “We know you don’t want to be outed, but you are now known, and with that, more will be expected of you.”

Those on the selection committee included Loesch-Johnson, Dynell Andrews-Blake, Britton Levy, Vicma Desir, Amy Winter, Antoine Brewster, Erica Davis, Mayra Duran, Marvin Martin, and Richard Scott.

The evening began with a reception hour followed by a formal dinner catered by a collaboration of Four Corners and Codman Square restaurants and ended with the awards ceremony.

Elected officials in attendance included state Reps. Russell Holmes, Brandy Fluker-Oakley, and Chris Worrell. City Councillors in attendance included Brian Worrell, Julia Mejia, Henry Santana, and John FitzGerald.

The Millennium Award went to long-time community leader and former voting rights activist Ron Bell, who also works a radio host based in Codman Square.

Loesch-Johnson called him a “living legend” for his work starting “Dunk the Vote” in 1992 and his work with former Gov. Deval Patrick.
“The first ever state-wide Governor’s Youth Council was birthed right here in the Great Hall in Codman Square, thanks to Ron Bell,” she said.

Bell said that after several significant acts of violence in the area, he persuaded the governor to come to the Great Hall to listen to the concerns of the BOLD Teens group. They had suggested a youth council so that state leaders could learn directly from teens.

“I think the kids scared the governor that day,” he said with a laugh. “They meet quarterly with the governor and are responsible for the legislation on bullying in the state. That youth council is still going on today. It is interesting how history repeats itself and things go full circle.”

Millennium Award winner Ron Bell, third from right, with a large contingent of prominent guests, including, from left, Councillor John FitzGerald, Dr. Guy Fish of Codman Square Neighborhood Health Center, Karilyn Crockett, Lysah Bell, Bishop William Dickerson II, and Dawn Duncan.

Other awardees included:

• Flora Bannis, who received the Neighborhood Leadership Award for her work with families and children in starting Flora’s Child Care on Brent Street 18 years ago. After a career in the medical field, she wasn’t happy with the childcare being given to a relative and so she started her own business.

• Elizabeth Mitchell of Four Corners also received the Neighborhood Leadership Award for her role in co-leading the United Neighborhood Association with Theresa Latson. Mitchell said she and her family moved to the area about 10 years ago and were welcomed with open arms. She said after attending her first UNA meeting and learning what the group had accomplished, she saw it as a “powerful example of community.” Since that time, she has been fully immersed in helping others and bettering the Four Corners area.

• Catherine Charles received the Civic Leadership Award for her role in managing the Codman Square Farmer’s Market, as well as an early childhood education unit??? in Boston Public Schools. Having grown up in the neighborhood, and now living and working here as an adult, she said she has learned from others.

“I’m learning from these people,” she said. “I’m following in their footsteps.”

•The other Civic Leadership Award went to Louise ‘Weezy” Waldstein of the Four Corners Action Coalition. Waldstein was an industrial welder in the Quincy Shipyard for many years and met folks from the Four Corners area. After going back to college, she initiated many job programs that are flourishing in the Four Corners area.

•This year’s Youth Leadership Awards and Scholarships went to teens Amara Gerome, a senior at Neighborhood House Charter School; and Jakhary Cox-Miles and Daviana Velasquez, both seniors at Codman Academy Charter School.

The Dorchester Reporter is a sponsor of the annual Hidden Heroes & Sheroes Gala.