cityofboston.gov - Official Web Site of the City of Boston - Thomas M. Menino, Mayor

On December 10, 2010 Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Office of New Bostonians hosted another successful We Are Boston awards gala at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, attended by over 1,000 guests representing the diverse cultures of the City of Boston.

Mayor Menino started the dinner gala by welcoming all the guests. Reverend Cheng Imm Tan, the Director of Mayor's Office of New Bostonians, emceed the entire event. As guests were sampling the delicious dinner fare, Mayor Menino added onto the evening's excitement by conducting a live auction and bidding was heavy on all the items.

2010 We Are Boston Media

On Tuesday, October 6, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Office of New Bostonians hosted another successful We Are Boston awards gala at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, attended by over 1,000 guests representing the diverse cultures of the City of Boston.

With captivating ethnic performances by groups such as Kola San Jon (Cape Verde), Gund Kwok Asian Women's Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe, the Society for Chinese Instrumental Music, and the winner of the New Bostonians Talent Showcase Inkas Wasi (Peru), the event continued to be a testament in recognizing the remarkable contributions immigrants have made and the multi-faceted talents that have become integral to the fabric of our City.

Mayor Menino started the dinner gala by welcoming all the guests, followed by remarks from the event co-chairs: Josefina Bonilla-Ruiz, Michael Dunn, and George Russell Jr. Reverend Cheng Imm Tan, the Director of Mayor's Office of New Bostonians, emceed the entire event. A special tribute was paid to Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the recipient of the We Are Boston 2006 New Bostonian Leadership Award.

"$1,400 -sold!" As guests were sampling the delicious dinner fare, Mayor Menino added onto the evening's excitement by conducting a live auction and bidding was heavy on all the items. In addition, a new element- the silent auction, with close to 80 items to bid on, also made its debut at the gala this year. Guests truly enjoyed the "friendly" competition and all for a very good cause. Yet, the celebration didn't end here, Yo-Yo Ma surprised our guests and held everyone's breath with a stunning solo performance and concluded the evening with palpable excitement for We Are Boston 2010!

In addition to Yo-Yo Ma, Mayor Menino also recognized Tufts Medical Center, Colette Phillips, Andre Donegan, Allain Cherenfant, and Maria Pires Centeio for their contributions in assisting New Bostonians to participate in the economic, civic, cultural, and social life of the City. "Once again, this was a great event that recognized the tremendous impact Yo-Yo Ma and others have had on the immigrant community in Boston." Mayor Thomas M. Menino.

2009 We Are Boston Gala Slideshow

Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Office of New Bostonians hosted the third annual We Are Boston Gala on Tuesday, December 2, honoring Celtics Great Bill Russell for his achievements on and off the court. The celebration, held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, attracted over 800 guests from the diverse sectors across the City. The evening was further highlighted by performances from the Berklee College of Music, the Chinese Folk Art Workshop, Gian Aurelio Faraone Quartet, Yulia Musayelyan (Flute), and Natalie Kourenko (Harp).

2008 We Are Boston Gala Slideshow

Boston Red Sox sensation and outstanding New Bostonian leader David Ortiz was honored at the Gala hosted by Mayor Thomas M. Menino and the Office of New Bostonians on Monday, November 19 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. Over 1,000 guests attended the event and with diverse performers such as Promissa of the Dominican Republic, Firelach Russian Dancers, Wampanoag Drummers of Massachusetts, Gund Kwok Asian Women’s Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe, and the Hips on Fire Latin Dance Company, it was truly a celebration of Boston’s immigrant contributions, heritage, and diversity.

Immigrant and human rights champion, the late United States Senator Edward M. Kennedy was presented with the New Bostonian Leadership Award by Mayor Thomas M. Menino at the Gala on Tuesday, October 10. Close to 900 distinguished guests shared their immigrant stories, celebrated the City’s diversity and immigrant contributions, and enjoyed featured entertainments that included the Boston Art School for Chinese Music ,  Lamine Toure African Drums, Manguito Latin Music Quartet, Woods School of Irish Dance, and Gund Kwok Asian Women’s Lion and Dragon Dance Troupe.