(Photos Francisco Chacon)
The annual El Mundo Professional Mixer featured two Mayors and 5 Gubernatorial candidates as a packed roomed of hundreds filled the Washington Ballroom at the Courtyard Marriot Hotel in downtown Boston last Thursday, March 20th.
“This was a great event and I really enjoyed myself as I was really glad to see Mayor Rivera from Lawrence in a room with so much energy and enthusiasm”, said Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, one of the guest speakers of the event.
“I can’t say enough about this event and the support I have recieved from El Mundo and the folks outside of Lawrence. This is energizing and makes me want to work even harder for Lawrence,” stated Mayor Rivera.
Five of the ten declared gubernatorial candidates also took the opportunity to “win it in a minute” as each was given 60 seconds to address the captive audience from the podium.
Democrats Steve Grossman, Juliette Kayyem, and Donald Berwick were joined by Republican candidate Charlie Baker and Independent Jeff McCormick. Conspiculously absent was Martha Coakley, who had been invited to the event.
‘This was a tremendous opportunity to get to know such a vibrant community and I am very glad I came” said Kayyem, a former civil rights attorney and homeland security expert and adviser.
For Independent Jeff McCormick it was all about running a campaign that makes sure everyone feels included.
“The Latino community is a very important segment that has contributed so much to our Commonwealth that we all need to embrace and recognize it,” he added.
Special words from Harvard University’s William Kane and from ALPFA President Migdalia Diaz were also well received, as each championed the wealth of talent that Latino professionals uniquely offer corporate America.
A special recognition was given to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, as their support of the many Latino initiatives El Mundo puts on each year could not go unheralded. Karen Young, VP and Chief Inclusion Officer for HPHC received the award.
Richard D. Parker from Children’s Hospital Boston, William Cain from Harvard University and Toula Politis from Politis & Associates, LLC
