As letters of nomination for the BBA’s prestigious Beacon Award for diversity have begun pouring in, the Award Committee issued additional guidance – dispelling any preconceptions about who the finalists and ultimate recipient may be.
“We are concentrating our search on identifying the true change agents in our community,” said Julia Cosentino, Co-Chair of the Beacon Award Committee. “We aren’t focused on whether it is an organization or individual — we want to look at both individual and collective efforts that epitomize this essential concept. A lot of names are coming in and we welcome more. Every nomination is being reviewed carefully.”
In its inaugural year, 2010, the candidate that really stood out amid a crowded field, and ultimately captured the Beacon Award, was MassMutual. That being said, the Beacon Award Committee wants to make it clear that the winner need not be drawn from a particular category.
“We are well aware that change agents can also be individuals sacrificing their time on the front lines to promote diversity in Boston,” said Wendell Taylor, Co-Chair of the Beacon Award Committee.
The Beacon Award ceremony will be November 1, 2011 at 6:00 pm.
To nominate a candidate for the Beacon Award, please contact any of the Committee members or Heather Leary hleary@bostonbar.org by May 23.
Beacon Award Committee:
Julia Cosentino (Co-Chair) – Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP
Wendell Taylor (Co-Chair) – Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
Maura Healey – Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
William (‘Mo’) Cowan – Office of the Governor
Kristen Campbell – Staples, Inc.
John Chu – Chu, Ring & Hazel LLP
Renée Landers – Suffolk University Law School
Roberto Braceras – Goodwin Procter LLP
E. Macey Russell – Choate Hall & Stewart LLP