Catalyst for Change
Celebrating our Community Leaders
Registration is now open for the 2026 Catalyst for Change event — register here to join us in celebrating this year’s honorees.
Over the past 10 years, MLRI’s Catalyst for Change award and event has celebrated exceptional leaders in the community who strive to improve the lives of low-income communities throughout the Commonwealth and who have achieved extraordinary success in making a positive impact on the people of Massachusetts.
In 2023, MLRI introduced the inaugural Gladys Vega Outstanding Community Leader Award, to highlight each year the incredible work of one of our community partners on the ground. The award was named in honor of President/CEO of La Colaborativa, Gladys Vega, who works closely with MLRI on a host of advocacy issues that support low-income communities.
For more information on Catalyst for Change, email development@mlri.org.
Thank you to our 2025 event sponsors for their generous support!
Richard & Rosemary Allen
Allan Rodgers
Sullivan LLP
Ken Berman
Tony Doniger and Liza Lunt
Brent Henry
Stephen Johnson
Georgia Katsoulomitis
The Honorable Edward (Ned) and Mrs. Patsy Leibensperger
Michael Keating
The Honorable Patrick and Mrs. Mary Fox
Jeffrey Petrucelli and Patricia Cantor
Lonnie Powers
Dean Richlin
The Rubblestone Foundation
2025 Catalyst for Change Award Reception
Photography: Francois Visuals
Past Honorees
2025
Catalyst for Change Award
Sue Finegan, Esq., Litigation Partner & Chair of Pro Bono Committee at Mintz
2025
Gladys Vega Award
Carmen Nieves, Executive Director of Alianza DV Services
2024
Catalyst for Change Award
The Red Sox Foundation, accepted by Dave Friedman, Executive Vice President, Legal and Government Affairs/Chief Compliance Officer
2024
Gladys Vega Award
Dr. Geralde Gabeau, Executive Director of IFSI
2023
Catalyst for Change Award
Michael Curry, Esq., President & CEO of the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
2023
Inaugural Community Leader Award
Gladys Vega, President & CEO, La Colaborativa
2022
Catalyst for Change Award
Brent Henry, Esq., Leading Health Care Advisor at Mintz
2021
Catalyst for Change Award
United States Congressman Jim McGovern
2018
Catalyst for Change Award
Jane Tyrell, former Executive Director of the Massachusetts Interest on Lawyers Trust Account Program (IOLTA), Access to Justice Fellow (50th Anniversary Event)
2017
Catalyst for Change Award
John Carroll, Esq., Of Counsel, Meehan, Boyle, Black & Bogdanow, P.C.
2016
Catalyst for Change Award
Paul Dacier, Current Partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP and Former General Counsel at Indigo
2015
Catalyst for Change Award
Mary K. Ryan, Esq., former partner at Nutter