Boston City Singers Founder, Former State Senator Forry to Receive Awards

Thursday, March 29, 2018

UMass Boston will honor Jane Money, founding artistic and education director of the Boston City Singers, with the Robert H. Quinn Award for Outstanding Community Leadership at the university's annual Community Breakfast on Thursday, March 29.

Former State Senator Linda Dorcena Forry will also be honored, with the Chancellor’s Award for Longstanding Community Commitment and Service, for her public service to the citizens of Dorchester, Hyde Park, Mattapan, and South Boston for nearly 20 years.

“Like Bob Quinn, our honorees exemplify dedication to public and community service,” said Interim Chancellor Barry Mills. “We look forward to continuing this important tradition of honoring one of our founding fathers and recognizing those who follow in his footsteps.”

Money founded the Boston City Singers in 1995 as a Dorchester-based division of Youth Pro Musica to provide outstanding music training opportunities to low- and moderate-income inner-city youths in the communities in which they live. The organization has since grown to serve more than 500 singers, many of whom reside in metro-Boston’s urban neighborhoods.

In 2017, Money organized the 39-voice Tour Choir’s three-week residency in South Africa. There the group performed at schools, community centers, museums, libraries, and churches and participated in several community service projects that supported the well-being of children.

The Robert H. Quinn Award selection committee noted Money’s extraordinary dedication to providing access to quality music education and life skills training for every child involved in the program and her significant contribution to developing the children of Dorchester and surrounding communities into tomorrow's leaders.

Forry, who will receive the Chancellor’s Award for Longstanding Community Commitment and Service at the breakfast, will be recognized for her commitment in the State House as a representative and a senator. Throughout her tenure, she has supported and empowered neighbors and families in Dorchester and other communities in the Commonwealth’s First Suffolk Senate District through leadership that encouraged inclusion and diversity, economic growth, and neighborhood revitalization.

UMass Boston established the Robert H. Quinn Award for Outstanding Community Leadership in 1987. The award is presented annually by UMass Boston to honor individuals whose contributions have significantly improved the quality of life in the Boston area.

The breakfast is open to the public and free. It begins at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 29 in the Campus Center Ballroom. Those interested in attending should register by or before March 15.