The Dimock Center President & CEO honored for a distinguished legal career that included her selection as the first female African-American partner with a major Boston law firm.

The Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA) recognized The Dimock Center’s President and CEO, Ruth Ellen Fitch, as one of its 2010 Trailblazer Award recipients at the Association’s annual gala on Thursday, April 22nd.

The Trailblazer Award specifically recognizes individuals whose careers included groundbreaking accomplishments that established positive examples for other African-American lawyers and professionals.

“In addition to a stellar legal career, Ruth Ellen Fitch’s selection as a partner with Palmer and Dodge set an example that helped blaze a path for other African-American attorneys to follow,” said Douglas Martin, President of the MBLA.  “Her work and the contributions of our other trailblazers helped to create professional opportunities for countless others.”

Past recipients of the Trailblazer Award include, Governor Deval Patrick, Massachusetts’s first African-American governor, and the Honorable Joyce London Alexander, the first African-American Chief United States Magistrate Judge in the Nation and the first African-American Chief Judge in Massachusetts.

As President and Chief Executive Officer of The Dimock Center, Ms. Fitch has returned to the Roxbury neighborhood where she was raised, bringing her significant experience managing complex organizations to Dimock, as well as her commitment to helping others overcome social and economic obstacles so they may achieve in life. 

Community advocate and the Program Manager for The Asia Academy at Dimock recognized for his commitment to the community and service to others 

ROXBURY, MA – Barry Butler, the Program Manager of Askia Academy at Dimock, will receive the 12th Annual Stanley Jones Clean Slate Project Courage Award for his tireless work and commitment to helping others on March 17, 2010 at the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry, First Church at 10 Putnam St. in Roxbury at 7:00 p.m.  

Butler originally came to the Askia Academy at Dimock, then the First Askia Academy, thirteen years ago seeking help with his own struggle with addiction.  During the process of recovery, Butler discovered his desire to help others lead more fulfilling lives, motivating him to complete the training and education necessary to become a primary counselor with First Askia Academy in 1998 and eventually the program’s director in 2004. 

“I have always had a love for people, even through all my shortcomings in life,” Butler said. Reflecting back on his experience Butler said, “I truly believe I have been saved to serve others.” 

In addition to his work helping those with addiction, Butler has remained a steadfast advocate for people working to restore their lives following incarceration.  This includes ongoing work to establish sensible CORI reform on Beacon Hill and policy work with the Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery. 

“We are honored to have Barry as a member of the Dimock team,” said Ruth Kelley, Dimock’s Chief Behavioral Health Officer.  “He has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of men through his work at Askia and benefited thousands more through his advocacy.”  “The Courage Award represents well-deserved recognition for Barry’s commitment to those in recovery and the community-at-large,” continued Kelley. 

The Askia Academy at Dimock offers addiction recovery support for men and focuses on addressing health care disparities, relapse prevention, employment preparation and the rebuilding of family relationships.

On Saturday, February 20^th, 25 Red Sox Scholars and members of the Boston Red Sox Foundation spent the day at Dimock’s Mary Eliza Mahoney House shelter. Together with guests from the shelter, the team of Scholars painted a colorful mural by local artist, Howie Green. 

In addition to providing the paint and their artistic talents for the new mural, the Scholars brought a fresh supply of materials for art & crafts, allowing them to spend time with the shelter’s youngest guests beading and creating beautiful picture frames.  The Scholars also read and shared a lunch of hot pizza with the children and their parents. 

The Red Sox Scholars are Boston City School children who apply in the fifth grade for this unique scholarship program, which provides the students with a $10,000 college scholarship as well as ongoing academic tutoring and mentoring through high school. 

Enthusiastic members of the Red Sox Foundation team that made the day of activities possible included: Executive Director, Meg Vaillancourt, Gena Borson, Ann Zeigler, Laurie Smith, Jonathan Batista and Justin Prettyman. Thanks to Donna Saunders-Wallace, Cheryl Fox, the great MEMH staff and wonderful guests for sharing their home with the Red Sox Scholars.  Also, a note of thanks to Ruth Ellen Fitch, Ruth Kelley, Julie Chappell and Diane Malcolmson for pitching in and lending a hand on what was a great day.          

Thank you to the Red Sox Scholars and The Red Sox Foundation!

The Dimock Pediatrics team celebrated their new look with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that showcased the clinic's fresh coat of paint, new furniture, countertops and artwork.  The improvements to the clinic were made possible with support from the East Boston Savings Bank's Meridian Charitable Foundation.

In addition to financial support, a team of enthusiastic volunteers from East Boston Savings bank donated a Saturday to paint the clinic, which now features exam rooms that reflect fun themes ranging from the solar system to super heroes.

The Dimock Pediatrics staff welcomed representatives from the bank for the ceremony.  East Boston Savings Bank president, Deborah Jackson (pictured at right), joined The Dimock Center's president and CEO, Ruth Ellen Fitch (second from the right), pediatrics director, Dr. Nandini Sengupta (third from the right), and Dr. CJ Polcari (on the left) who coordinated The Dimock Center's efforts with the bank.

On Saturday, January 30^th, Dr. Jennifer Scott from The Dimock Center’s OBGYN clinic will lead a multi-disciplinary team of four physicians and two nurses to the Haitian boarder with the Dominican Republic. Working with the Harvard Humanitarian Institute, Dr. Scott will also deliver vital supplies, including an ultrasound from The Dimock Center, as well as medications and other items being donated by the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Scott expects to be in Haiti for a month, providing immediate medical care and assessing the need for longer-term assistance. 

An experienced global health care provider, Dr. Scott has worked providing women's health care in settings that include Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya.  Her research interest is in preventing gender-based violence, work she has presented throughout the US and in Africa.  Good luck Dr. Scott!

On Saturday, October 3rd a team of more than one hundred volunteers organized by the Red Sox Foundation visited The Dimock Center’s Sewall Building, which houses one of just five inpatient detox centers in the city of Boston.  Despite the rain, spirits were high as the volunteers from Covidien and YouthBuild Boston tackled landscaping, repaired and painted walls, installed new flooring and delivered new furniture and other supplies.

Volunteers also completed several murals by local artist Howie Green, adding color and energy to the halls of the building.

Our sincere thanks to the Red Sox Foundation, Covidien and YouthBuild Boston!