We Are Very Grateful!

Thank You for Such a Meaningful Annual Celebration

On October 1st we gathered at the Portland Museum of Art for an evening rooted in gratitude, community, and a shared commitment to making Maine a more welcoming and compassionate place for all.

As the sun set over the Sculpture Garden, longtime friends reconnected, new relationships began, and people from communities across Maine came together to celebrate one another and the extraordinary work happening throughout our state.

At the heart of the evening were this year’s Gerda Haas Award recipients: the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project, Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, In Her Presence, and Hope Acts. Their leaders, Sue Roche, Mufalo Chitam, Claudette Ndayininahaze and Madeleine Saucier reminded us that meaningful change is never the work of one person. It is made possible by communities of people who choose, again and again, to stand alongside one another. Each of our honorees echoed similar themes: the importance of building supportive, interconnected, close communities where everyone contributes and thrives. The daily work it takes to do this successfully. They offered heartfelt thank-yous to the many, many people who bring about change while noting the urgency of everyone’s participation. Maybe its a conversation, holding open a door, seeing the talents, being curious and open-hearted. It takes all of us, helping as we are able. As Mufalo said, “I accept this award with profound gratitude—but I do not accept it alone. I accept it on behalf of the MIRC team, our coalition partners, and the communities whose courage guides our work every day. This award carries their fingerprints. Their voices are in this room.” 

That connection to the next generation was especially meaningful as we celebrated three remarkable Maine students. Lauren Jordan of Noble High School received the $1,000 Lawrence Alan Spiegel Remembrance Scholarship for her essay, More Than Memories. The essay expresses her long interest in the Holocaust, both in school and in conversations with her grandfather—and a growing sense of personal responsibility in welcoming classmates into community.  Nela Parker of Cony High School and Grace Jiang of Dexter Regional High School were recognized with the Mathilde Schlossberger Outstanding Student of the Year Award for work exploring remembrance, responsibility, and Jewish resistance. Nela's story Have You Seen Sofia? explores how it feels when a close friend is taken away by ICE. Grace's picture is an abstract depiction of her thoughts and feeling abut the courage and spirituality of resistance. Read more about them on our website.

We were also honored to recognize photographer and author Jack Montgomery with the Distinguished Service Award for his work creating From the Holocaust to Maine: Testimonies of the Survivors. Through his portraits, the personal testimonies of Maine Holocaust survivors, and presentations across the state, Jack has helped preserve these histories and bring them to new generations.

We ended the evening together over coffee and dessert, reflecting on the people and stories we had heard. What stayed with me was not simply what we celebrated, but who filled the room: people committed to belonging, human dignity, justice, and one another.

To everyone who joined us—to our honorees and to all who helped make the evening possible—thank you. I am deeply grateful for this community and for the many ways you continue to carry the HHRC’s mission forward.

With gratitude,
Tam Huynh
Executive Director