October 18, 2024 – The Essex National Heritage Commission (Essex Heritage), a non-profit that manages and provides numerous programs preserving and enhancing Essex County’s historic, natural and cultural places, welcomed business and community leaders from around Essex County to its Annual Fall Meeting on Thursday, October 10 at Greater Lawrence Community Boating Program in Lawrence. Welcomes to Lawrence were given by State Representative Francisco Paulino and State Representative Estela Reyes. A welcome to the site was given by Greater Lawrence Community Boating Program Executive Director, Jed Koehler. The program portion of the session focused on Youth Stewardship across the Essex National Heritage Area, highlighting the impactful work being done in Lawrence. The Commission also announced its newly elected Trustees, voted in new Commissioners, and presented its 2024 Essex Heritage Pioneer in Partnership Award and Special Recognition Awards.

New Essex Heritage Trustees:

- Andrew Darien: Professor of History & Interim Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences at Salem State University
- Michael Selbst: Real Estate Professional at Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty
- Francisco Urena: Manager of Greater Lawrence Municipal Airport

New Commissioners Elected
Essex Heritage is governed by a 16-member Board of Trustees and supported by over 100 Commissioners who live and/or work within Essex County. These Essex Heritage Commissioners serve as representatives of community organizations, educational institutions, and historic, cultural and natural resources of the region. “Our local Commissioners represent a variety of institutions across the Heritage Area and serve an important role as ambassadors and advocates for this region,” said CEO, Annie C. Harris. “Essex Heritage is grateful for the support of these new Commissioners as partners in promoting the unique assets of Essex County.” 

The following individuals were elected to serve the Essex National Heritage Commission:

New Commissioners, 2024-2027
- Alan Foulds: Lynnfield Historical Society, chair of Rev250 committee
- Pilar Garro: Property Director for Long Hill/Stevens-Coolidge House, The Trustees
- Chris LaPointe: President of Greenbelt
- Louis Meyi: Marblehead Racial Justice Team

Special Recognition Awards
As leaders of heritage organizations and supporters of the Essex National Heritage Area, Essex Heritage honors those who have made a professional or personal commitment to the heritage work in this region and thanks them for their service. 

The following individuals were identified as 2024 Special Recognition Award Recipients:

Kenneth Turino was recognized for his years of dedication to the history of this region and his tremendous influence on current and future generations of New England museum professionals. Turino recently left his position as the Manager of Community Partnerships and Resource Development at Historic New England--the oldest, largest, and most comprehensive regional preservation organization in the country. Ken was responsible for developing and managing Historic New England's traveling exhibition program. Ken is Past President of the board of the House of Seven Gables Settlement Association and serves on the American Association for State and Local History Council. He is a lecturer for the Tufts University Museum Studies program, and a valuable consultant on interpretation and community engagement at historic house museums and LGBTQ+ projects.

Kate Bowditch was recognized for her dedication to preserving and enhancing the natural resources of the Essex National Heritage Area. Bowditch recently retired as President of Greenbelt after joining in 2018. Prior to that, Kate worked for 24 years at Charles River Watershed Association, where she helped transform the Charles River into the cleanest urban river in the country. Under Kate’s leadership, Greenbelt has grown its capacity as the most active land conservation organization in Essex County and had the opportunity to protect 148 acres of land owned by the Patton family in Hamilton and Topsfield. In just six months, $4 million was raised to purchase the land, creating the Vineyard Hill Reservation and Iron Ox Farm. During Kate’s tenure, Greenbelt also expanded its capacity by engaging more people in their work, leveraging technology to help people navigate trails, and focusing on the current and future impacts climate change. Over these past 6 years, Greenbelt has conserved more than 4,000 acres of land.


Pioneer in Partnership Awards
Each year, Essex Heritage presents Pioneer in Partnership Awards to individuals and organizations who exemplify the commission’s spirit of collaboration. The award recognizes those who build partnerships and celebrate the nationally significant places that form the Essex National Heritage Area. 

The following project was identified as 2024 Pioneer in Partnership Award Recipient:

The Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation and the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence’s Stewardship Corp Program:

In fall, 2023, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) launched the DCR Stewardship Corps at Lawrence Heritage State Park in partnership with the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club. 

The eight-week program engaged 12 high school students in weekly after school hands-on learning sessions and weekend field trips, to experience a variety of topics related to climate, conservation, recreation, and DCR’s stewardship of properties. The program is part of DCR’s workforce engagement pipeline and is designed to help participants gain a greater awareness of DCR’s mission, experience state parks close to home, and foster a sense of community by exposing them to the nearby natural, cultural and recreational resources and thereby gaining an appreciation and ongoing commitment to shared stewardship of these resources. The Stewardship Corps’ April community service project, where they planted trees and flowers in the courtyard at Lawrence Heritage State Park, completely transformed the place for the enjoyment of all, and developed a lasting legacy.

DCR is grateful to the Stihl Corporation, known for its commitment to supporting local communities and America’s State Parks, for providing the initial funding to DCR through its Hearts of Stihl grant program to pilot the DCR Stewardship Corps in Lawrence. DCR has since replicated the model in Fall River and is delighted to partner with the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club again this year to welcome its second DCR Stewardship Corps in Lawrence.  Equally exciting is to have two members from the original Corps serve as mentors for the new Corps.

About Essex Heritage and the Essex National Heritage Area
Essex Heritage is the non-profit management entity for Essex National Heritage Area, one of fifty-five heritage partnership parks of the National Park Service. Essex Heritage promotes public/private partnerships and develops and implements programs that enhance, preserve and encourage regional awareness of the unique historic, cultural, and natural resources found within the Area. For more information, visit www.essexheritage.org or call (978) 740-0444.