KSER's Voice of the Community Awards

Thanks to the more than 200 people who packed the Weyerhaeuser Room at Everett Transit Station Saturday night for the 5th annual KSER Voice of the Community Awards Ceremony.

The KSER selection committee faced the challenge of determining award recipients from among an amazing list of individuals and organizations that make our community special.

Roger Pawley; Jan Vance; Lillian Ortiz-Self

The KSER Voice of the Community Award for Cultural Impact was presented to the Snohomish County Music Project.  Executive Director Roger Pawley runs the Project which was founded in 2011 by refocusing the Everett Symphony.  The group educates the public on the importance of music instruction and advocates for the funding of music educations programs.

The award for the category of Community Impact by an Organization was presented to MS Helping Hands of Edmonds.  MS Helping Hands is a statewide, all-volunteer organization formed to increase awareness of Multiple Sclerosis to the public and provide people with MS and their families a resource of education and support. MS Helping Hands Executive Director Jan Vance accepted the award.

And the award for the category of Community Impact by an Individual was presented to Lillian Ortiz-Self who drew a standing ovation for her powerful speech advocating for greater equality within the Latino community.  As a counselor at Everett High School, Lillian provides Latino students and their parents with vital information.  She also serves as an advisor for the Latin Image Club, which gives Latino students a safe place to express their ethnicity and bridge barriers to their academic success.  She has also served as the Chair of the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs and developed the Leading Change through Advocacy training program to bring together parents and community members to learn how to be better advocates for Latino children in public schools.

Congratulations to the award winners and all the nominees and thanks for making our community so special.  And thanks to everyone who attended and made the sold-out evening such a success!