BOSTON, October 4, 2007 - The Reverend Gloria White-Hammond, M.D., a community leader and activist in Boston, will be honored this month with the first Duane Morris Leadership Award. She will receive a $25,000 award for her long-standing commitment and service to the community on October 25, 2007 at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
"The Rev. White-Hammond's achievements are truly an inspiration and a testament to her ability to see real problems and to lead others to actions that ease suffering and promote healing around the world," said Sheldon Bonovitz, Chairman of Duane Morris, who will present the award at the Museum event. "With this award, Duane Morris honors Gloria for her invaluable contributions and humanitarian achievements."
The Rev. White-Hammond was selected from among hundreds of possible recipients in the Boston area by the partners of the Boston office of international law firm Duane Morris. The selection process was led by Boston office managing partner Martin Shulkin. To be considered for the award, candidates must motivate and inspire others to help people, lead initiatives creating programs or projects that positively impact their community, show dedication to these goals through their service to others, and be a recognized and well-regarded community figure.
As a pediatrician, the Rev. White-Hammond began her long career of community involvement in 1981 at the South End Community Health Center, where she continues to practice today. In 1994, she began a program called Do the Write Thing, which aimed to teach creative writing skills and mentor high-risk black adolescent girls. In its first year, it served four girls. Currently, more than 250 young women across Boston are project participants. She has been the co-pastor of the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Boston since 1997. In 2003, she co-convened the Red Tent Group with Rabbi Elaine Zecher of Temple Israel, bringing together Christian and Jewish women for Bible study.
As part of her work as a doctor and an advocate for women in Africa, the Rev. White-Hammond has traveled to Botswana, Cote D'Ivoire and South Africa to provide medical assistance. She has made numerous trips to southern Sudan to assist in gaining freedom for more than 10,000 women who were enslaved during the country's civil war. Additionally, she has traveled to refugee camps in Darfur to speak with and learn from female victims affected by genocide. She is an original co-chair of the Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur.
The Rev. White-Hammond also guides the work of several local and international humanitarian organizations. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Brigham and Women's Hospital, the Board of Overseers for the Tufts University College for Community and Public Service, and the boards of the Washington, D.C.-based Darfur Peace and Development Organization, Sudanese Education Fund in Boston and Christian Solidarity International in Zurich, Switzerland.
She earned a B.A. in biology from Boston University, her medical degree from Tufts Medical School and a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School.
The Rev. White-Hammond will donate the monetary award to My Sister's Keeper (MSK), an organization she co-founded in 2002. Through MSK, Gloria has sought to stop or ease the genocide in Sudan, and to rebuild and reconcile communities that have been affected by the war there. With others, she has sought to provide support for those still suffering in slavery and former slaves who have returned to their homelands.
My Sister's Keeper has worked to provide resources to rebuild the economic and communal foundations of the war-torn region, such as grinding mills for villages, training for health care workers and medical supplies. The idea for the organization originated with its founder's trip, years ago, to southern Sudan. During her travels, the Rev. White-Hammond participated in the liberation of more than 6,700 slaves. Deeply moved by the experience and the lives of the women and girls of the region, she joined with Elizabeth Walker, CBS 4 news anchor and minister; Cynthia Bell, President and Founder of One Vision; and Patricia Brandes, Senior Advisor at The Barr Foundation, to create MSK. Today, MSK has two primary initiatives. First, it is supporting the village of Akon in its efforts to construct a school for girls that will create a pipeline for strong, well-educated women leaders. Additionally, the organization expanded its mission to include support for the victims of genocide in Darfur. It is building a global network of African American, Sudanese, and Muslim women activists to stop the genocide in Darfur and establish peace and justice in all of Sudan.
About Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP, one of the 100 largest law firms in the world, is a full-service firm of more than 600 lawyers. In addition to legal services, Duane Morris has independent affiliates employing approximately 100 professionals engaged in other disciplines. With offices in major markets in the United States and internationally, Duane Morris represents clients across the U.S. and around the world.