Boston Scenes

Gov. Deval Patrick announced last week the awarding of a $1 million challenge grant to Freedom House, the 61-year-old civil rights agency started by Otto and Muriel Snowden. Their daughter, Gail Snowden, said the grant will be used toward the $3 million the agency needs for its new building. (Tony Irving photo)

Rev. Hurmon Hamilton Jr. (r), senior pastor of Roxbury Presbyterian  Church, was the honoree at the Whittier Street Health Center’s Saving The Health Of The Community International Benefit Gospel Concert on Saturday. Hamilton is seen here with Frederica M. Williams, president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center, and Dr. Bobby Jones. (Chris Aduama photo)

ALPFA held its Boston Chapter’s Annual Executive Leadership Summit last Friday, Nov. 12 at the Sheraton Hotel in Boston. This year’s summit was special as they celebrated their 10th anniversary and introduced new Chapter President Enrique Shadah (l) with Ian Barrett of UMass Medical School and former ALPFA Boston Chapter President Paul Francisco (r). (Tony Irving photo)

Gov. Deval Patrick asks the crowd to have a seat after being greeted with a strong standing ovation at Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA)’s Thanksgiving event both for his support of in-state tuition for children of immigrants and his recent election victory. Treasurer-elect Steve Grossman and state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz are among the attendees standing in the background. (Ernesto Arroyo photo)

Pictured (from l to r) at Reflect and Strengthen’s annual My Sister’s Keeper event are: Cindy Printemps of Reflect and Strengthen, newly elected state Rep. Carlos Henriquez, Sheena Collier of the Young Black Women’s Society, Irvienne Goldson of Action for Boston Community Development and Rachel Fazzino of Reflect and Strengthen. Collier and Goldson were honored with the “My Sister’s Keeper” Award as women who have displayed remarkable leadership and vision in advancing opportunities for women in Boston, as well as supporting young women in creating positive social change. (Ernesto Arroyo photo)

EdVestors, a Boston nonprofit that seeks to drive change in urban schools through strategic private investment, recently announced that the Joseph Lee Elementary School in Dorchester is the recipient of the 5th annual $100,000 Thomas W. Payzant School on the Move Prize. The prize recognizes a school that has made marked and sustained improvement toward closing the achievement gaps for all students. At the recent award ceremony at the Bank of Boston offices are winning principal Kimberly Curtis (fourth from left) with (l to r) Prize Selection Panel Chair Wendell Knox, EdVestors Executive Director Laura Perille, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Mitchell Chester, Boston Public Schools Superintendent Carol R. Johnson and Mayor Thomas M. Menino. (Don West photo, www.donwestfoto.com)

Former NFL star Fred Williamson, “The Hammer,” hugs Rae Dawn Chong, daughter of Tommy Chong, at the Supermegafest event held at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel last weekend. (George Weinstein photo)