This Saturday, poet, journalist, activist, and Bolton resident Bessy Reyna will be honored at a gala ceremony for the 2017 class of inductees to the Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame (IHHF). The gala takes place at CCSU in New Britain. Tickets for the event are available here.

The IHHF “Celebrates the diverse ethnic heritage of our state by honoring individuals and institutions, who exemplify the best of their immigrant heritage and have made outstanding contributions to the cultural, economic, and civic development of the state.”

Bessy was born in Cuba and raised in Panama. A former opinion columnist for the Hartford Courant and now a writer for Identidad Latina and CTLatinoNews.com, she writes about gender, ethnicity, and equality. In 2012 she was honored by the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame. She is also the recipient of numerous literary awards.

The importance of immigrants to Bolton is indisputable. Whether they be Italian, Portuguese, Latvian, Indian, Turkish, or Cuban, whether they are new arrivals to town or trace their roots here back generations, the mix of backgrounds is a key part of the vibrancy of our community and enriches us all. Congratulations to Bessy for this honor!

Bessy Reyna (left) with John Toomey and Susan Holmes at the Bolton Democrat of the Year celebration in September 2017