HCC President Christina Royal presents National Education Service Award to Congressman Richard Neal

HOLYOKE, MA | HOLYOKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | February 11, 2022 –Congressman Richard E. Neal, D-Massachusetts, received the 2022 National Education Service Award earlier this week at the Community College National Legislative Summit in Washington, D.C.

PHOTO courtesy of ACCT: L to R: Richard Rhodes, American Association of Community Colleges Board Chair and President, Austin Community College, Texas; Chairman Neal; Christina Royal, President, Holyoke Community College, Massachusetts; James Cooksey, ACCT Board Chair and Trustee, Moberly Area Community College, Missouri; Jee Hang Lee, ACCT President and CEO Holyoke Community College President Christina Royal introduced Neal and presented the award to him on behalf of the Association of Community College Trustees and the American Association of Community Colleges, the summit organizers. This annual award honors a national leader who has made extraordinary contributions to national public policies and resources that support education, training, and post-secondary learning. “As chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Neal has worked tirelessly to fix the tax code in a way that would benefit community college students and support workforce training programs,” Royal said. She noted that Rep. Neal is a key proponent of the Tax-Free Pell Grant Act, which would exempt students from being taxed on the portion of their Pell award that exceeds tuition costs. He was also instrumental in securing $1.2 billion in funding for a potential successor to the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College Career Training Grants in proposed legislation. “The community college system in America plays a critical role in preparing individuals for the workforce,” said Congressman Neal, an HCC alum from 1970 who now represents the First Congressional District of Massachusetts. “I have been a longtime supporter of our community colleges because they are successful. They provide technical career training, serve as a stepping stone, and welcome individuals looking to retrain or refresh their skillset.” “Western and central Massachusetts is lucky to have many of these types of educational options right outside their doors and at their fingertips,” he said. “I am thankful for this recognition, and I am committed to continuing to provide for the community college system so that all students have a path to higher education.” President Royal previously served on the AACC’s Commission on College Readiness. “It was an honor to present Congressman Neal with this award,” President Royal said after the Tuesday night reception at D.C.’s Marriott Marquis Hotel, where she attended the weeklong summit. “He has long been an advocate for progressive programs and federal funding for community colleges and our students, particularly in the area of workforce training. He recognizes that investments in our community colleges support regional growth, job creation, and economic mobility for individuals and families. I know this was a proud moment for him as it also was for me and should be for all the communities in Massachusetts that he represents.” Previous winners of the National Education Service Award include President Barack Obama in 2010.

Política / Politics

Leading Latino Businessman Calls for Massachusetts Electronic Signature Legislation

by CESAR RUÍZ | cruiz@goldenyearsusa.com Western Mass businessman Cesar Ruiz, one of the state’s first-ever elected Latinos and the President and CEO of Golden Years Home Care, is urging Massachusetts to adopt electronic signatures as a means for candidates to access the ballot statewide in constitutional offices. As a result of the pandemic, the Massachusetts Supreme Court in a ruling in 2020 allowed the gathering of electronic signatures needed by candidates to see their name on the ballot for election. The ruling was temporary, and Ruiz is advocating for this to be made permanent. Ruiz announced the formation of a group, Citizens for Transparency, to lead the effort to bring about this change and to support other initiatives that encourage enfranchisement of voters and those attempting to gain ballot access. Ruiz and his business are based in Western Massachusetts, and he will be calling on the Western Massachusetts delegation to file legislation immediately to make the 2020 ruling on electronic signatures permanent. Ruiz said, “We hear so much in the political discourse today about inclusion and enfranchising all in the electoral process. The sad truth is, as we see around the nation with voter suppression legislation being enacted and the failure of Washington to pass a voting rights bill, that there is still a very long way to go. The Commonwealth should immediately adopt the use of electronic signatures to provide more access to the ballot for those seeking office. “How in good conscience can any reasonable elected official oppose a ruling that was implemented during the height of the COVID pandemic to leverage technology to help candidates access the ballot? Our elected officials often preach inclusion in our electoral system and this is an opportunity to put those words into action. Citizen and candidate participation are the cornerstones of a healthy democracy, and I look forward to working with the Western Massachusetts legislative delegation and other sponsors to file and pass this legislation this year.” Ruiz, who was recognized by the Massachusetts State Senate for being the first Latino ever elected at large in Massachusetts history, said another avenue would be for Secretary William Galvin to permanently adopt the 2020 ruling. Ruiz was elected at age 25 as the first Hispanic in Springfield on the School Committee, and served until 1986. Golden Years Home Care was named Entrepreneur of the Year for 2020 by BusinessWest magazine. Ruiz was also featured by Hispanic Executive, a publication spotlighting business’s most influential Latinos. Launching Citizens for Transparency is hoping to make electronic signing the law of the land, while also supporting other electoral initiatives. As President and CEO of Golden Years Home Care, Ruiz leads an organization that provides quality and compassionate home care services to those who need assistance performing their day-to-day tasks due to disability, injury or aging. Golden Years is based in East Longmeadow.

Cesar Ruiz (via Facebook)