De Novo Celebrates its Volunteers and Community Partners at Annual Appreciation Event
Tina Alu, Executive Director of the Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee (CEOC), pictured with De Novo Deputy Director John Froio, accepts the Dr. Joseph H. Brenner Award for her continuing work with De Novo to create a positive change in the community. Her passion, collaborative spirit, and deep community connection serve as an example to us all. De Novo is grateful for our partnership with Tina and CEOC.
On October 11, De Novo celebrated the work of over 120 volunteers and many community partners at its annual Volunteer Appreciation Event and Dr. Joseph H. Brenner Award Ceremony at the Multicultural Arts Center in Cambridge, Mass. This year’s celebration also included the presentation of the inaugural Herb Epstein Volunteer Excellence Award, named in honor of the long-time volunteer immigration attorney who passed away in 2020 and his legacy of selfless service.
De Novo volunteers serve in a wide range of capacities, from legal representation and mental health counseling, to interpretation and translation, to administrative support for vulnerable community members. They also provide outreach to underserved populations, and advocate for improved access to civil legal assistance and mental health services.
“I’m always amazed by the appreciation for my small contribution. On more than one occasion I’ve been singled out by Mojdeh [De Novo's executive director] with appreciation for my work. I didn’t even know I was known! As a volunteer it's really nice to feel appreciated," said Bob Landy, a volunteer interpreter/translator who works with Spanish-speaking clients.
Andrew Cornell, a long-time volunteer family law attorney, accepts the inaugural Herb Epstein Volunteer Excellence Award from De Novo Legal Director Ellen Wilbur. Andrew's unwavering dedication to assisting domestic violence survivors is empowering and inspiring. De Novo is grateful for Andrew’s tireless commitment.
Laurie Van Loon, a volunteer clinical social worker, spoke about her experience conducting forensic psychological evaluations for clients' humanitarian relief applications. “Being an evaluation volunteer is a gift. Bearing witness to our clients' stories is a privilege. What they reveal about the human capacity for basic survival, for deliberate action, for renewal, are lessons in courage, and I’m grateful to be allowed in this small way to accompany them,” she said.
Among the evening’s highlights, Natalia, a former immigration client, spoke about her experience working with a De Novo volunteer and staff attorneys. “It was hard to trust and even harder to open up. It was not the first time I was talking about what I was going through, but it was the first time I felt like I was being heard... I was given time and space to heal knowing that I wasn’t facing any of it alone anymore.”