Linda Dorcena Forry, a proud Haitian American from Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood, a former member of the Massachusetts State House of Representatives (2005-2013) and State Senator (2013-2018), is bound for the 2025 Kennedy Summer School in New Ross.
Said a KSS release: "Dorcena Forry is a trailblazer. She was the first woman and person of colour to be elected to the State Senate’s First Suffolk district. In 2014, she also became the first person without Irish ancestry and the first woman to host South Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day breakfast - an occasion described as the “Boston political event of the year.”
"What began as a roast among Irish-American political insiders, such as legendary Senate President William Bulger and current U.S. Congressman Steve Lynch, has evolved into a televised show of political power, attended by the state’s top officeholders and often addressed by leading national politicians. On the morning of the event, Forry entered a packed Southie ballroom to the theme from "The Quiet Man," the quintessential Irish-American film. Smiling and clapping, she made her way to the stage.
“For those of you watching at home, do not adjust your television set,” she said. “There is nothing wrong with the picture on your TV. That is right, everyone. That’s right.” She paused. “I’m a woman!”
Since leaving office, Dorcena Forry has become one of the founders of the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund (NCF), which supports Black and Brown non-profit leaders and community organisations by providing equitable access to philanthropic funding in Massachusetts, and she serves on a number of boards. She is also co-publisher of the Dorchester Reporter.
Dorcena Forry will join a summer school panel discussion on the changing face of America. The session will be moderated by RTÉ’s Jackie Fox and feature fellow panelists Ruairí Barnwell, founder of the Ireland Network, Chicago/Minnesota; Larry Donnelly, Boston Attorney and University of Galway Law Lecturer, and Senator Mark Daly, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Éireann. The discussion will take place on Saturday August 30 in New Ross as part of the 2025 Kennedy Summer School.
There is more on tis year's summer school in this week's print/digital edition of the Echo. More at www.kennedysummerschool.ie. The summer school is supported by Wexford County Council, the Office of Public Work, Fáilte Ireland, Purdue University, and New Ross Municipal District.
