Press Release  DYS Celebrates Staff & Community Partners at 2021 Commissioner’s Awards

Boston — October 4, 2021

The Department of Youth Services Celebrates Staff and Community Partners at the 2021 Commissioner’s Awards
BOSTON- On Friday October 1, 2021, the Department of Youth Services hosted the Agency’s 2021 Commissioner’s Awards ceremony. The event was held at the DYS Northeast Regional Youth Service Center in Middleton with limited capacity to ensure health and safety of our staff, youth, and their families. The awards ceremony took place outdoors where guests enjoyed a youth performance, youth art, and comedienne Amy Tee of Haverhill. The annual Commissioner’s Awards formally recognizes staff members, as well as Community Partners for their volunteerism and dedication to the Department’s youth and employees.

“Each recipient of a 2021 Commissioner’s Award was selected for their exemplary work ethic and commitment to the Department’s mission and the services provided for our youth,” said DYS Commissioner Peter Forbes. “I thank each staff member for their continued dedication to provide essential services to our youth and being nominated and recognized by their colleagues and youth they support and serve.”

The 2021 award winners were recognized as consistently going above and beyond their expected job duties. The staff members, who despite health concerns during the pandemic, consistently reported to work with the flexibility, creativity and positive mind set to get the job done. There are five different award categories. The “State Award” and “Provider Partner Award” are given to state and provider staff who were nominated by their colleagues. The “Youth Voice Award” is given to state and provider staff nominated by DYS youth. Each year the agency acknowledges community volunteers and business partners with the “Community Partner Award”. These Community Partners have given their time and resources for the betterment of staff and youth of the agency. Lastly, the “Leadership Award” is given to a Juvenile Justice professional who has dedicated their career to the advancement of the lives of DYS employees as well as advocating and providing support to youth and families involved in the juvenile justice system.

“For many, DYS is often the last chance to impact a negative life trajectory for the youths we serve,” said Michele Phillips, DYS’ Director of Special Projects and primary point person for the annual
Commissioner’s Awards event. “We are so proud of our staff and community partners who continually work to help youth develop pro-social behaviors, coping mechanisms and linkages to family and community services that enable them to become capable and productive young adults. Congratulations to all of the awardees, you are true leaders in our workforce.”

State Award
Alan Simons of Beverly, MA
Henry Ramos of Worcester, MA
Jonathan McManus of Sterling, MA
Jamal Ford of Brockton, MA
Apollos Wade of Taunton, MA
Thomas Scibelli of Somers, CT
Nicholas Bound of Londonderry, NH
Youth Voice Award
Rose Rivera of Southbridge, MA
Philip Crump, Old Colony YMCA of Lowell, MA
Renee Jones of Brockton, MA
Keith “KT” Thomson of Hyde Park, MA
Alicia Linton of Stoughton, MA
Helder Silveira of Springfield, MA
Provider Partner Award
Rachel Asam of Dorchester, MA
Darrell Byas, Robert F. Kennedy Action Corps of Lawrence, MA
The Statewide Regional Health Service Providers
Helen Batista, Justice Resource Institute of Taunton, MA
Carlos Marrero, The Commonwealth Corporation of Springfield, MA
Community Partner Award
Susan Cammett of Amesbury, MA
Lauren Enos of Quincy, MA

Agency Partner
Josh Dohan, Director of Youth Advocacy Division of Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) of Brookline, MA

For more information on the Department of Youth Services’ please go to www.mass.gov/DYS.

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