SPRINGFIELD — The African Hall committee of the Springfield Museums is seeking nominations for the prestigious Ubora Award and Ahadi Youth Award, which recognize African-American people from Greater Springfield who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to community service, education, science, humanities, or the arts.

Nomination forms are available at springfieldmuseums.org/ubora, and the deadline is March 31. Nominations may be submitted online, or forms can be downloaded and mailed to African Hall Committee, Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards St., Springfield, MA 01103.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to honor the pioneers of our community who go above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of others,” said Terry Powe, chair of the African Hall committee.

The African Hall committee is a volunteer group comprising educators, businesspeople, and community leaders from the African-American community.

Named for the Swahili word meaning ‘excellence,’ the Ubora Award has been awarded annually since 1992; in 2025, the recipient was Vanessa Ford, associate director and voice faculty member at the Community Music School of Springfield and the founding director of the Trust Transfer Project.

The Ahadi Youth Award has been given since 2009 to an African American student (age 19 or younger) who embodies the Swahili word for ‘promise’ and excels in both academics and service to the Greater Springfield community. The student must be currently enrolled in grade 10, 11, or 12. Last year, for the first time in the award’s history, two honorees were selected: Saryah Brantley, a recent graduate of Hampden Charter School of Science, who is now a freshman at Spelman College; and Elijah Ballard Deon, one of the top students in Rise Early College High School’s class of 2025, who is now pursuing a business degree at Western New England University.

Click here for a complete list of awardees.

The Ubora and Ahadi Awards will be presented on Saturday, Sept. 19 at the Springfield Museums. For more information or to become an event sponsor, email [email protected].

SPRINGFIELD — The African Hall Committee of Springfield Museums announced the recipients of the prestigious Ubora Award and Ahadi Youth Award, which will be presented at a ceremony at the Museums on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m. The ceremony is open the public, with tickets now on sale at springfieldmuseums.org/ubora.

Vanessa Ford

Vanessa Ford, vocalist, composer, and arts leader, is this year’s Ubora Award recipient, and — for the first time in the history of the awards — two Springfield students were selected to receive the Ahadi Youth Award: Saryah Brantley and Elijah Ballard Deon.

“This event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate leadership, excellence, and the power of community,” said Terry Powe, chair of the African Hall Committee. “Each year, it brings together inspiring individuals for an evening of fellowship, recognition, and meaningful celebration.”

Named for the Swahili word meaning ‘excellence,’ the Ubora Award has been awarded annually since 1992 to an African-American adult who has demonstrated a commitment to Greater Springfield and exhibited excellence in the fields of community service, education, science, humanities, or the arts.

Ford is a dynamic performer whose career spans music, public service, and community health. Born and raised in Springfield, she proudly represents her Colombian, Panamanian, and Costa Rican heritage, which has shaped her commitment to cultural inclusivity and service.

From an early age, Vanessa’s musical gifts opened doors to perform at national and local events, including military promotions, political ceremonies, and community celebrations. She has sung for Gov. Deval Patrick, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and the city of Springfield at Mayor Domenic Sarno’s inaugurations, remembrance ceremonies, and major civic events. Her original music, including “Great Jehovah” and “Stronger Together,” reflects her faith and dedication to uplifting others. She also serves as founding director of the Springfield CommUnity Chorale, uniting singers and musicians from all backgrounds to celebrate diversity through music.

Ford’s leadership extends beyond performance. She is a faculty member at the Community Music School of Springfield and the director of the Trust Transfer Project, a nationally recognized initiative that mobilizes artists to address public health through creative expression. Recognized by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the American Alliance of Museums, and the Assoc. of Science and Technology Centers, the project has become a model for building vaccine confidence and community wellness through arts and culture. In 2023, she presented at the CDC Museum in Atlanta and delivered the keynote at the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts Woven Conference.

Deeply rooted in civic engagement, Ford serves as board president of Blues to Green Inc. She is a board member of Common Wealth Murals and member of the Brianna Fund for Children with Physical Disabilities gospel planning team. She is a member of the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts Youth Mental Health Advisory Coalition and the New England Teaching Artist Collaborative steering group. From 2012 to 2020, she served as director of Operations for state Sen. James Welch, managing the district office, constituent services, and community outreach.

Brantley and Ballard Deon were selected as the Ahadi Youth Award recipients, given since 2009 to an African-American student (age 19 or younger) who embodies the Swahili word for ‘promise’ and excels both in academics and service to the Greater Springfield community.

Saryah Brantley

Brantley, a recent graduate of Hampden Charter School of Science, is an exceptional student and leader who has persevered through personal challenges with resilience and determination. She has excelled academically, taking four AP courses, maintaining a 4.38 GPA, and earning certificates of scholastic achievement.

Last summer, she was selected for Spelman College’s Early College Program, where she completed a college-level biology course. She was accepted to numerous colleges and universities, including prestigious HBCUs such as Spelman, Howard University, and Hampton University, as well as local institutions like Smith College and UMass Boston. She is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology at Spelman.

Brantley is a natural leader, serving as senior council president, National Honor Society president, and captain and founder of her high school’s dance team. She also leads morning announcements, mentors younger students, and has been a youth speaker at her church. In addition, she was a member of her school’s tennis team for four years.

Elijah Ballard Deon

Ballard Deon distinguished himself as an exceptional scholar and leader throughout his years at Rise Early College High School. Consistently earning first honors, he graduated as valedictorian of his class this past spring and challenged himself by enrolling in Rise’s early college program in partnership with Springfield Technical Community College. There, he excelled, earning a grade of B or higher in every course. Beyond his own success, he demonstrated a natural ability to uplift his peers, leading by example in the classroom and creating a study group to support students in their psychology course.

His leadership extended well beyond academics. As an active member of student council, he helped establish the annual Rise Talent Show. He was also a powerful advocate for student voice, organizing initiatives to address concerns and leading student-driven projects such as cafeteria cleanups and the “Keep Rise Clean” campaign. Known for his leadership and magnetic personality, he leaves a lasting impression wherever he goes.

The Springfield Museums and African Hall Committee are accepting donations to the Ahadi Scholarship Fund, which directly empowers young leaders like Brantley and Ballard Deon, offering a meaningful way to invest in both the future of individual students and the strength of the Greater Springfield community. The Museums were grateful to receive a donation to the Ahadi Fund from the Jack and Jill of America Inc. Western Massachusetts Chapter this past spring.

The African Hall Committee is a volunteer group comprising educators, businesspeople, and leaders from the Black community. In 2024, the recipient of the Ubora Award was Rosemary Tracy Woods, executive director of the Art for the Soul Gallery, and Jackson Counsel-Watkins was the recipient of the Ahadi Youth Award.

The 2025 Ubora and Ahadi Awards ceremony is sponsored by Baystate Health.

SPRINGFIELD — The African Hall Committee of the Springfield Museums is seeking nominations for the prestigious Ubora Award and Ahadi Youth Award, which recognize African-American people from Greater Springfield who have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to community service, education, science, humanities and/or the arts.

Nomination forms are available at springfieldmuseums.org/ubora. The deadline is Monday, March 31. Nominations may be submitted online, or forms can be downloaded and mailed to African Hall Committee, Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards St., Springfield, MA 01103.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to honor the pioneers of our community who go above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of others,” said Terry Powe, chair of the African Hall Committee, which is a volunteer group comprising educators, businesspeople, and community leaders from the African-American community.

Named for the Swahili word meaning ‘excellence,’ the Ubora Award has been awarded annually since 1992; in 2024, the recipient was Rosemary Tracy Woods, executive director of Art for the Soul Gallery.

The Ahadi Youth Award has been given since 2009 to an African-American student (age 19 or younger) who embodies the Swahili word for ‘promise’ and excels both in academics and service to the Greater Springfield community. The student must be currently enrolled in grade 10, 11, or 12. Last year’s recipient was Jackson Counsel-Watkins, a graduate of Central High School who is now a freshman at UMass Amherst.

Click here for a complete list of awardees.

The Ubora and Ahadi Awards will be presented on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Springfield Museums. For more information or to become an event sponsor, email [email protected]. MassMutual is the season supporter of the Springfield Museums.

SPRINGFIELD — The African Hall Committee of the Springfield Museums announced the recipients of the prestigious Ubora Award and Ahadi Youth Award, which will be presented at a ceremony at the Museums on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m.

Rosemary Tracy Woods, executive director of Art for the Soul Gallery, is this year’s Ubora Award recipient, and Jackson Counsel-Watkins, a 2024 graduate of Central High School who is now a freshman at UMass Amherst, was chosen for the Ahadi Youth Award.

“This is an exciting opportunity to celebrate a phenomenal community leader and an outstanding scholar,” said Terry Powe, chair of the African Hall Committee. “Celebrate culture and excellence with us. This is an exceptional evening you do not want to miss.”

Named for the Swahili word meaning ‘excellence,’ the Ubora Award has been awarded annually since 1992 to an African-American adult who has demonstrated a commitment to Greater Springfield and exhibited excellence in the fields of community service, education, science, humanities, or the arts.

Rosemary Tracy Woods

Woods is known throughout New England as a passionate advocate for social justice. In her role at Art for the Soul, she has championed the transformative power of artistic expression, particularly for African-American and Latinx communities, Native American artists, and those with disabilities like the visually and hearing impaired.

Beyond exhibitions, Woods collaborates extensively with local and state cultural councils, cementing her role as a catalyst for arts advocacy. Her accolades, including being appointed by then-Gov. Deval Patrick as Advocate for the Arts in Western Massachusetts and prestigious awards like the 2021 Newell Flather Award and the 2024 Pan African Historical Museum Legacy Award, underscore her impact. She was appointed the Western Mass. coordinator for the creative economy with the assistance of the Springfield City Council, and also aided Anita Walker, former executive director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, in establishing the first cultural district in Western Mass.

Jackson Counsel-Watkins

Counsel-Watkins was selected to receive the Ahadi Youth Award, given since 2009 to an African-American student (age 19 or younger) who embodies the Swahili word for ‘promise’ and excels both in academics and service to the Greater Springfield community.

An outstanding student with a GPA of 4.0, Counsel-Watkins pursued a rigorous course load in high school, including multiple AP classes. She was also a member of the track and field team and the cheerleading squad. She also co-founded Central High School’s Black Student Union and served as its first president. In this role, she fostered an environment of inclusivity and empowerment for her peers. She was a two-year member of the Hampden County district attorney’s Youth Advisory Board, teen president of the Western Mass. chapter of Jack and Jill of America, and a member of the National Honor Society.

At UMass Amherst, Jackson plans to major in speech, language, and hearing sciences with the goal of becoming a speech-language pathologist. She credits her mother with inspiring her to work hard, be kind, and help others.

Sponsored by Baystate Health, the 2024 Ubora and Ahadi Awards ceremony is open to the public. To purchase tickets or donate to the Ahadi Scholarship Fund, visit springfieldmuseums.org/ubora.

SPRINGFIELD — The African Hall Committee of the Springfield Museums announced the recipients of the 2023 Ubora Award and Ahadi Youth Award, which will be presented at a ceremony at the museums on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 6 p.m.

Lisa Green, a distinguished professor at UMass Massachusetts Amherst, is this year’s Ubora Award recipient, and Catherine Thompson, a 2023 graduate of Springfield Central High School who is headed to Johns Hopkins University, was chosen for the Ahadi Youth Award.

Named for the Swahili word meaning ‘excellence,’ the Ubora Award has been awarded annually since 1992 to an African-American adult who has demonstrated a commitment to Greater Springfield and has exhibited excellence in the fields of community service, education, science, humanities, or the arts.

Green is an expert in syntax and African-American English (AAE). She founded the Center for the Study of African American Language at UMass in 2006 and has directed it ever since. She is also the author of two books and is working on a third, all published by Cambridge University Press.

She as passionate about community service as she is about her academic specialty, according to Joe Pater, chair of the UMass Linguistics department, who nominated her for the award. She is an active volunteer and mentor with the Greater Springfield Chapter of Links Inc., the Western Massachusetts Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, and the Xi Xi Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. And since 1996, she has been running a children’s summer reading program that she started at a church in her hometown of Lake Arthur, La.

“I could not believe that I had been selected” for the Ubora Award, Green said, “especially because I was very familiar with a number of previous recipients and simply could not see myself even approaching being in such amazing company. It is an incredible honor.”

Thompson had a similar reaction to her selection as the Ahadi Youth Award recipient, given since 2009 to an African-American student (age 19 or younger) who embodies the Swahili word for ‘promise’ and excels both in academics and service to the Greater Springfield community.

“When I heard the news, I was amazed, joyful, and honored to have been chosen as the recipient among Springfield youth,” she said. “I am proud to say I was born and raised in Springfield. I am still beyond grateful to be recognized at this level.”

An outstanding student who graduated sixth in her class, Thompson is also passionate about community service, especially with regard to social justice. For instance, at the Pioneer Valley Project, she worked on getting teens to pre-register to vote; as a teen-advocacy board member for Girls Inc. of the Valley, she attempted to increase awareness of racial justice, mental health, equal rights, and sexual- and domestic-violence issues. She was also actively involved in myriad clubs and organizations throughout high school, including the Key Club, the National Honor Society, student government, and the varsity tennis and soccer teams, to name a few.

“Catherine’s drive to learn and master things is strong and powerful and comes from within,” said guidance counselor John Szymczyk, who nominated her. “She has repeatedly demonstrated the depth of her maturity, which in turn has strengthened her own moral commitment as it relates to social justice. Her eyes are wide open; she’s aware and sharp, bright and interested in the world.”

The African Hall Committee of the Springfield Museums is a volunteer group comprising educators, businesspeople, and leaders from the Black community. In 2022, the recipients of the Ubora Award were Dr. Gerald Cutting and Carol Moore Cutting, and Kayla Staley was the recipient of the Ahadi Youth Award.

Sponsored by Baystate Health and the Urban League of Springfield, the 2023 Ubora and Ahadi Awards ceremony is open to the public. Click here for tickets ($20 per person, $15 for children under 12), or to make a donation to the Ahadi Scholarship Fund.

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums announced a call for nominations for the 31th annual Ubora Award and the 12th annual Ahadi Youth Award. These prestigious awards, conferred by the African Hall Subcommittee, honor African-American people from Greater Springfield who have — above and beyond — demonstrated commitment to the fields of community service, education, science, humanities, and/or the arts.

The African Hall Subcommittee is a volunteer group comprised of educators, business people, and community leaders from the African-American community. The nomination deadline for both awards is Thursday, March 31.

True to the Swahili word that comprises its name, the Ubora Award recognizes an adult of African heritage who exemplifies excellence in their commitment to creating a better community through service. In 2021, the Ubora Award was given to Robert “Cee” Jackson as an exemplary philanthropist and humanitarian.

Named for the Swahili word for promise, the Ahadi Youth Award is presented to a young African-American who excels in academics and performs admirable service to the Greater Springfield community. Eligible candidates must be age 19 or younger, live in or have strong ties to the Greater Springfield area, and be currently enrolled in grades 10, 11, or 12. In 2021, the Ahadi Award honored Tigist Dawit Terefe for her remarkable civic-minded volunteerism and outstanding academic record.

The Ubora and Ahadi awards will be presented at a ceremony at the Springfield Museums in September. Nominations forms can be downloaded by visiting springfieldmuseums.org/ubora. Nominations may be e-mailed to [email protected] or mailed to African Hall Subcommittee, c/o Karen Fisk, Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards St., Springfield, MA 01103.

SPRINGFIELD — Due to the ongoing pandemic, the Springfield Museums will postpone the 30th annual Ubora Award and Ahadi Youth Award ceremony, originally slated for Saturday, Sept. 18, until further notice.

“We would very much like to meet in person for this celebration,” said Gwen Miller, chair of the African Hall Subcommittee, which confers these prestigious awards. “We had a wonderful experience with a virtual award ceremony last year, but we are going to hold on until we can have a social gathering in person.”

The winners of the 2021 Ubora and Ahadi Youth awards for African-Americans with exemplary leadership in Springfield are Robert “Cee” Jackson and Tigist Dawit Terefe.

The African Hall Subcommittee is a volunteer group comprised of educators, business people, and community leaders from the African-American community. The group has administered this annual award since 1992.

SPRINGFIELD — The African Hall Committee of the Springfield Museums announced its annual Ubora Award and Ahadi Youth Award winners. Now in its 30th year of celebrating leadership by people of African heritage, the 2021 Ubora Award honors Robert Cee Jackson as an exemplary philanthropist and humanitarian. The 12th Ahadi Youth Award honors the remarkable energy and intent of Tigist Dawit Terefe, a junior at the High School of Science & Technology.

Robert Cee Jackson

As president of Jackson Security and Jackson Transportation, Jackson employs many community members and negotiates fees to help make his services affordable to all. As vice president of the African-American philanthropic organization the Brethren Community Foundation, he helps neighborhood youth with projects such as staging a celebration of Juneteenth that showcased remarkable community talent and providing college scholarships for youth.

Jackson’s community-minded leadership also includes the Urban League board of directors and the Springfield Partners for Community Action board of directors. In addition, he is an active member and distinguished leader of the Masonic Order.

For decades, Jackson has helped at the Stone Soul Festival, which is recognized as one of New England’s largest African-American festivals. He was a co-founder of the 5A football program, which is now called Springfield Youth Athletics. Its mission is to provide activities and opportunities for young people, regardless of race, religion, or economic status, in the urban Springfield community and surrounding area.

He volunteers with the Old Hill Neighborhood Council, which is dedicated to serving the needs and concerns of community members. And he was appointed in 2008 by Mayor Domenic Sarno to serve as a commissioner of the Community Police Hearing Board.

“This is such an unexpected surprise,” Jackson said. “I am honored to be the recipient of the 30th Ubora Award. The volunteer service that I do is because of my commitment to and love for my community. This is a prestigious award, and I am humbled and grateful to the African Hall Committee, Springfield Museums, and all involved in this honor.”

Tigist Dawit Terefe

Terefe maintains top grades while also pursuing difficult coursework, including advanced-placement classes. She has taken advantage of dual-enrollment opportunities with Springfield Technical Community College to earn college credits as well as the After Dark Vocational Program with Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, which allows her to graduate with both her high-school diploma and as a certified nurse assistant.

Terefe also works part-time at Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute, as an intern in the cancer-research lab, and looks forward to going into cancer biomedical research in the future. She participates in the Baystate Educational Partnership to expand her insight into the medical world. She is also one of the founders of the first-ever Springfield Leadership Advisory Council, which will work to connect students of Springfield public schools with district leaders.

Terefe is a member of District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s Youth Advisory Board, which addresses issues facing today’s teens, researches effective prevention strategies, and works to give youth and residents in the City of Springfield a more powerful voice to make positive change. She is a tutor to other Youth Advisory Board members and leads the inclusion committee, which has created a series of podcasts to give insight on how people could be more inclusive, and what they have experienced as students in Hampden County.

“I am overjoyed to have received the Ahadi Award,” Terefe said. “I have always found people with an interest in their community impressive, and have worked in my academic ventures to do the same. I love working on topics of equity and inclusivity in the Springfield community and generally. I thank the committee for selecting me, and I thank my guidance counselor, Ms. [Amy] Quinlan, for nominating me. I hope I represent the award well throughout and after my high-school career.”

The Ubora Award and the Ahadi Youth Award are awarded to African-Americans from Greater Springfield who have demonstrated commitment, above and beyond, to the fields of community service, education, science, humanities, and/or the arts.