LYNN — Carlos Prudencio, a 17-year-old student at Lynn English High School, was selected as the winner of U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton’s annual Peter J. Gomes Service award on Thursday night.
Prudencio was selected from a group of five finalists, which included two other people whose work directly benefits the Lynn community, during a virtual ceremony that was streamed live on Moulton’s Facebook page.
Moulton said Prudencio was chosen for the service award based on his commitment to leading racial justice initiatives in the community and efforts to distribute food during the pandemic with the Lynn Salvation Army.
“Congratulations to you, Carlos, for your excellent work, for being the type of next-generation leader that our world desperately needs, and for inspiring your peers to do the same,” said Moulton. “We look forward to seeing it continue for many years to come.”
Prudencio, who was nominated for the award by his mentor, Beyond Walls CEO and founder Al Wilson, is leading the push for a Black Lives Matter street mural in the city with his classmate, 18-year-old Damianny Garrido.
The senior class president at Lynn English helped implement a human rights curriculum at the school, and is involved with several organizations, including Beyond Walls and Youth Without Borders, according to Wilson.
“The thing that I’ve found so remarkable this year is that in the start of the pandemic here in Lynn, Carlos and his mom began volunteering, handing out boxes of food at the Salvation Army,” said Wilson. “They worked every day starting in March well into June to hand out boxes of food to those in need, ultimately helping to hand out over 1.7 million meals through the Salvation Army.
“I saw what that commitment was, what the work toll was on Carlos at the time. (It was) just an amazing commitment.”
Prudencio said he was honored and humbled to be accepting the award, and in turn, to continue the legacy of Rev. Gomes, a former minister at Harvard’s Memorial Church and Moulton’s mentor, whom the congressman credits with inspiring his commitment to service.
In his remarks, Prudencio credited his fellow youth leader, Garrido, for keeping him going during their push for a Black Lives Matter street mural when he’s felt discouraged after unproductive meetings; Wilson for keeping him on track with Beyond Walls, where he serves as an intern; and another finalist for the service award, Elizabeth Lopez, a Lynn-based volunteer with the Salvation Army who helped propel his food distribution efforts.
“I do all the work I do because I have people behind me supporting me,” said Prudencio. “The award is just a reflection of people behind me. Without them, I don’t think I would be anywhere near to receiving this award.”
Prudencio was one of three Lynn residents honored as finalists for the fifth annual award.
Lopez, who was nominated by state Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) was considered for her volunteer efforts with the Lynn Salvation Army during the pandemic.
“(Lopez is) a Lynn-based volunteer who redoubled her service distributing meals to families in need during the coronavirus pandemic,” reads a press release from Moulton’s office. “Elizabeth is a fixture at charitable efforts in Lynn, and participated in numerous clean-up campaigns, food security initiatives, and community programs.”
Vickie Mata, a case manager with the Lynn Shelter Association who helps homeless guests find housing, healthcare and job resources, was nominated by Tom Lorrello, LSA director of clinical operations and training.
“Although she was an outstanding case manager before the pandemic, she has gone above and beyond in recent months to support people displaced from shelter during the pandemic,” the release said.
The other two finalists considered for the award were Elizabeth Pettis, executive director of the Salisbury Council on Aging, and Joyce Deliyiannis, the founder of Help Me Help Someone Inc., a social network of charitable and kind acts in Burlington.
Moulton said choosing a winner among the five finalists, who were selected from a significant number of nominations, was difficult as they have all not only strengthened their communities, but inspired others to serve, which encompasses the spirit of the service award he created in memory of Gomes in 2016.
“Reverend Gomes was my mentor and my friend,” said Moulton. “His example inspired my own journey to serve in the Marines and later as a member of Congress. Carlos received the Gomes Service Award for his work helping others and leading change in Lynn. He embodies the values that Reverend Gomes instilled in me: integrity, compassion, and a commitment to service others.”
