The Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston will host its annual fall dinner and awards gala on Thurs., Oct. 27 at Florian Hall in Dorchester. The theme of the evening will be “Diverse Leaders Committed to Our Community.”

Reverend David Wright, executive director of the BMA, described the evening as a very social event, “like a homecoming, you get to see all of your friends and community you have not seen in a long time.” Reverend Liz Walker will serve as the emcee.

“For too long, people have seen churches as disconnected from the community,” said Wright. BMA’s goal is to connect available resources to the communities which they serve primarily through faith and community-based organizations.

This year’s gala will celebrate the work of Klare Shaw, who is the national director of Programs for Liberty Mutual. The other two honorees will be Carney Hospital and The National Grid Foundation.

Louis A Elisa II will accept the award on behalf of National Grid, which has given BMA grants to fund youth oriented after school programs such as Victory Generation. According to Wright, many if not most of the students who participate in after school programs at churches are not part of that specific parish.

That serves the goal of BMA as a whole- which is to have places of worship take a more active role in the communities they serve.

Walter J. Ramos, the president of Carney Hospital, will accept an award on behalf of the Dorchester-based hospital.

“Over the past couple of decades, Carney Hospital has not had the best reputation, and they have turned that around for the benefit of our community, which is why we wanted to recognize their efforts,” said Wright.

BMA has helped to start health and fitness programs at churches in the community.

“Even simple programs like a walking club can have an impact,” said Walker. BMA has connected health vans and other health resources directly to parishes.

As part of the gala, some of the students from the BMA-led after school programs will make oratorical presentations.  Wright described that portion of the evening as a deeply moving and powerful.

“When we first started doing it, it was pretty much only boys who would be present, and then slowly more and more girls got involved. Now girls have started to dominate it. I love watching the kids over the course of the years get better and better at it. Their fear of public speaking goes out the window.

Some ministers could learn a thing or two about public speaking from these students,”  Rev. Wright said, laughing.

This year students will recite poems by black writers.

The money raised from the gala will be used to cover expenses that grant money does not cover, such as heat and utility bills.

People interested in attending the event can register online. Tables of ten are available for $1,500 for non BMA members and $1,000 for members.