#HHBBOSTON
Head Table
Some of Boston’s most prestigious corporate and public institutions featuring an awards presentation recognizing individuals that make the area’s Latino community truly special.
KIM JANEY
CITY OF BOSTON MAYOR
2021 HHB - Head Table Speaker
Kim Janey earned a bachelor's degree from Smith College in 1994. Janey's career experience includes working as a project coordinator, deputy project director, and senior project director with Massachusetts Advocates for Children and a community organizer with Parents United for Child Care. She currently serves as the Mayor of Boston in Massachusetts. Janey is running for re-election for Mayor of Boston in Massachusetts. Janey is on the ballot in the primary on September 14, 2021.
JULIA MEJIA
BOSTON CITY COUNCILOR AT-LARGE
2021 HHB - Head Table Speaker
Julia was born in the Dominican republic and arrived in Dorchester when she was five years old. Raised by a single mother who was undocumented, she began advocating at a young age on behalf of her mother and others in her community in order to access vital city services. Julia is a graduate of Dorchester High School and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Ida College.
JOSEPH BETANCOURT
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, EQUITY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH AT MGH
2021 HHB - Head Table Speaker
Born in New York City to a bilingual household, then raised in NYC and Puerto Rico. He focused his life on equity and social justice fueled by a pursuit of diversity and equity in health care. Later he founded The Disparities Solutions Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, and currently hold the position of Vice President and Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer.
GLADIS VEGA
LA COLABORATIVA
2021 COMMUNITY PARTNER
2021 HHB - Head Table Award Recipient
Gladys Vega has dedicated more than 30 years of service to the city of Chelsea and The Chelsea Collaborative/La Colaborativa, which she joined in 1990 – just two years after its founding. She took on increasing responsibility with each passing year, moving from receptionist to community organizer to Assistant Executive Director and, ultimately, to Executive Director in 2006.
CHARLIE BAKER
MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR
2021 HHB - Head Table Speaker
Charles D. Baker was born in Elmira, New York, and spent most of his childhood in Needham, Mass. The former CEO of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates and Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare currently serves as the Governor of Massachusetts. Before being elected governor of Massachusetts, Baker served as a selectman of Swampscott Massachusetts, Massachusetts secretary of administration and finance and Massachusetts undersecretary and then secretary of health and human services.
KENDRYS VASQUEZ
CITY OF LAWRENCE MAYOR
2021 HHB - Head Table Speaker
Experienced Program Director and City Councilor with a demonstrated history of working in the health care and government administration industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Microsoft Word, Grassroots Organizing, Government, and Event Management. Strong entrepreneurship professional with a BA focused in Political Science/Communications from Merrimack College. Currently serving as the mayor of Lawrence
ANDY VARGAS
MASSACHUSETTS STATE REPRESENTATIVE
2021 HHB - Head Table Speaker
Andy Vargas is a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the 3rd Essex District. Vargas was first elected to the chamber in a special election on November 7, 2017. He ran for re-election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives to represent the 3rd Essex District. He won in the general election on November 3, 2020. Vargas' professional experience includes working as the senior marketing manager at Lowell-based Entrepreneurship for All.
NORA BASTON
BOSTON POLICE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT
2021 HHB - Head Table Speaker
Nora L Baston became a Boston Police officer in 1996. She is the Boston Police Deputy Superintendent. She currently lives in the Boston neighborhood of Roslindale. Supt. Nora L Baston has been a Boston Police officer for 25 years.
YVETTE MODESTIN
2021 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
2021 HHB - Head Table Award Recipient
Yvette Modestin is a writer, poet and activist for Afro descendants in or coming from Latin America. She was born and raised in Colon, Panama, and is the founder and executive director of Encuentro Diaspora Afro in Boston, MA. She was named in the 30 Most Influential Afro Latinas of the world. She is the diaspora coordinator of the Red de Mujeres Afrolatinoamericanas, Afrocaribeñas y de la Diaspora a national and international network of Afro-latinamerican women.