2024 Light of Dawnn Awards

Lan Baker is a Program Manager at the New England Village’s Living Center, where she has worked for the past 21 years.  The Living Center is a community-based day services program for individuals who have retired or wish to spend time in a slower-paced environment. Lan works with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to create an enrichment program that centers on their personal interests.

According to her coworkers, “Lan has an uncanny ability to show up and pitch in where ever necessary, going above and beyond without ever being asked. She is humble and dedicated, and will always shine a light on others before taking any credit herself.”

In order to better connect with one of her clients that communicates through ASL, she started taking sign language classes. She then arranged for this individual to teach ASL classes at a local library — all outside of her regular day program schedule. This is just one example of her unique ability to build trust with each person by providing the most appropriate support exactly when needed.

Lan is the proud mother of 3 amazing children, step-mother of 4 wonderful children, and grandmother to a beautiful granddaughter.

Wilfrix Cherazard works as an ESOL Career Coach at English for New Bostonians or ENB. ENB’s mission is to ensure immigrants – regardless of race, education, economic or migratory status – can access high-quality English classes.

As an ESOL Career Coach, Wilfrix provides group and individual workforce readiness coaching for adult limited english speakers. He helps students prepare for the job market and small business opportunities, use technology in their job search, and connect with employers who will treat them with respect. For Wilfrix, working as a Coach is an opportunity to give back by  helping those struggling to have a better life as an immigrant, as he has done himself.

Before emigrating to the U.S, Wilfrix was a youth teacher, journalist, and a pastor in Haiti. The Haitian community, while growing, is less visible than many other immigrant communities in Boston due to smaller numbers, and a unique language not spoken by most non-Haitians. Wilfrix is a proud Haitian American who demonstrates friendship by cooking and personally delivering Haitian foods for co-workers, friends, and family.

Perhaps most importantly, Wilfrix builds trust with students, many of whom have experienced trauma. He provides referrals for those expressing need for mental health and other services.

He believes ENB gives immigrants “The Key,” and is happy to help extend that key –  English classes. Wilfrix knows that by helping others, he helps himself.

Saaran Sillah works at the Yawkey Club of Roxbury Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, where she serves as their first-ever College Pathways Manager. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston provides a pipeline for young people to explore their passions, find their purpose, and prepare for a life of impact.

As a proud Club alumna who started working at the Club when she was 17 years old, Saaran now provides one-on-one college advising services to members and their parents. She has been instrumental in assisting over 80 seniors navigate the intricate process of college applications and assisted in securing seniors and alum with over 20 scholarships.

Saaran is often the first person in a Club member’s life to talk seriously with them about college. She takes the time to get to know the interests, passions, and challenges of each teen, offering support and guidance to choose many different paths to success. As part of the College Club program, she also facilitates affordable college tour trips, created and runs the financial literacy program, and manages the Counselor-in-Training program.

Saaran has brought in almost a million dollars in college support to the Roxbury Club community. She is a leader who advocates for her teens at every step of the admissions process, answering late-night questions about financial aid and nominating members for scholarships they might have never heard of without her outreach. She leads by example every day, and her kindness, hard work, and contagious smile bring happiness to the entire Roxbury community.