Sue-Ellen Hershman-Tcherepnin, was named a Commonwealth Heroine by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women. Here she speaks at the 2016 Unity Breakfast.
The following information was sent out by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women:
Sue-Ellen Hershman-Tcherepnin, of Watertown, will be honored as a member of the ’s 2020 class of Commonwealth Heroines. State Rep.Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women Jonathan Hecht recommended Hershman-Tcherepnin for this recognition due to her outstanding work on immigration and refugee issues.
Hershman-Tcherepnin has led efforts in Watertown to increase awareness of challenges faced by our immigrant and refugee neighbors and to build trust between immigrants and the police. She is convener of the Watertown Citizens Refugee Support Group, which engages in vigils, cultural celebrations, clothing drives, legislative efforts, film festivals and direct support of Massachusetts refugee families in need. In recent years, the group has initiated a communitywide effort, Watertown Celebrates Iftar, at which local Muslims and non-Muslims share Ramadan fast-breaking and engage in interfaith dialogue. Professionally, Hershman-Tcherepnin is a flutist who has performed with symphonies around the world and teaches at MIT.
Commonwealth Heroines are women who don’t make the news but make the difference. Thousands of women in every community of the state perform unheralded acts on a daily basis that make our homes, neighborhoods, cities and towns better places to live. Commonwealth Heroines use their time, talent, spirit and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others in their community. They are mentors, volunteers, and innovators who strive to protect and represent the interests of seniors, victims of violence, children, immigrants and other vulnerable populations. They are the glue that keeps a community together.
A complete list of this year’s honorees is available by contacting the commission at mcsw@state.ma.us.
