BEVERLY — Marblehead’s Kerry-Frances Bourne was honored by Congressman Seth Moulton on Monday night at Beverly Middle School with the eighth annual Peter J. Gomes Award, which recognizes public-service and community contributions of constituents across the Commonwealth’s 6th District.
Bourne was nominated for her work as a volunteer for Open Door Immigration Services, where she provides pro bono legal services to immigrants on the North Shore. In an interview after the ceremony, Bourne said winning the award came as a surprise.
“Honestly, I was really shocked,” Bourne said. “I am happy that people can learn about our organization and the needs of immigrants on the North Shore.”
Bourne started working with ODIS in 2020, her first experience in immigration law. The nonprofit is currently one of the only organizations on the North Shore that offers free immigration advice. Bourne added that immigration resources and services are in high demand and that many hours of volunteer work go into being able to provide immigrants with the help they need.
“There’s a huge need and it’s hard in this day and age to get people to give to immigration nonprofits,” Bourne said. “We worked hard to keep us afloat and a lot of us are volunteers.”
Bourne has also volunteered for a number of other organizations, including the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition and the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation Project.
Moulton said a few words about Bourne after she was announced as the award’s winner.
“At a time when the failures of our citizen immigration laws are front and center in our communities and in our politics, her work is of critical importance to her clients and our communities,” Moulton said.
During her acceptance speech, Bourne said that she was “inspired’ by the other nominees.
“I feel like we’re all doing extremely important work and I view immigration services as all sorts of people helping,” Bourne said. “I’m really proud of it.”
Lynn resident Carolina Trujillo, the executive director of Citizens Inn and consultant to Essex Media Group’s La Voz, was also one of the nominees selected by Moulton. Trujillo was nominated for her more than 20 years of experience working in human services for organizations including Northeast Arc, Beth Israel Lahey Health, YMCA of Metro North, and the North Shore Maritime Center.
