Allison Boisvert
"Keep the Dream Alive" Award Winner
 Allison Boisvert is a Social Justice Minister for Pax Christi Catholic Community. Prior to this position she worked for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for 23 years. She began her career as an entry level worker and retired from the agency as a Senior Director in charge of all housing and emergency services for the homeless. During her time at Catholic Charities she was privileged to build nine housing programs.
Ms. Boisvert was a single mother and welfare recipient and has a deep appreciation for what it takes to rise from poverty, achieve self sufficiency and sustain in the middle class. Ms. Boisvert has done extensive work in examining the ramifications of long term generational poverty and the impact of present day systems on those in poverty.
Ms. Boisvert speaks on the subject of long term poverty nationally. She has been the key note speaker at a number of national conventions including the annual Bishops on Justice, Catholic Charities USA, National Ignatian Volunteer Corp. etc. Additionally, her articles on generational poverty and charity vs. structural change have been published in Catholic Charities USA national magazine.
Currently Ms. Boisvert works in Social Justice at Pax Christi Catholic Community in Eden Prairie, Mn.
Dr. Arturo Chávez, Ph.D
"Keep the Dream Alive" Award Winner
 Dr. Arturo Chávez, Ph.D. is the president and CEO of the Mexican American Catholic College . He has worked for over twenty years in a variety of ministries.
As a teacher and youth minister, he worked with youth in an inner city parish setting. As a chaplain to incarcerated youth, he developed pastoral care and community after-care programs. As a community organizer and activist, he founded a nonprofit organization for youth and families called JOVEN in San Antonio , TX.
He is a coauthor, with his wife Mary, of the dynamic new curriculum for Latino Youth Leadership Formation called RESPETO that is being implemented in parishes throughout the country.
He is a national speaker and workshop facilitator. His areas of expertise include the following: leadership in multicultural communities and Hispanic ministry; Latino youth and family ministry; Immigration; social and religious history of Mexican Americans; and Catholic Social Thought.
Dr. Chávez holds a Masters in Theology from Oblate School of Theology and a Doctorate in Religion and Social Change from the University of Denver and the Iliff School of Theology.
Ralph McCloud
"Keep the Dream Alive" Award Winner
 Ralph McCloud is the Director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development in Washington D.C. Previously, he served as the Division Director of Pastoral and Community Services for the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth Texas.
In his diocesan duties he was also the Diocesan Director for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Relief Services. He was the Director of Peace and Justice Ministry and directed the Office of African-American Ministry.
He is the former President of the National Association of Black Catholic Administrators, a former Board member of the Roundtable (a national social justice advocacy group), a member of the Board of Trustees for the National Black Catholic Congress and serves on many other boards and commissions.
He served as the City of Fort Worth’s liaison to the Texas Attorney General in 1998 and 1999. He was appointed to the National League of Cities Human Development Steering Committee from 1998 to 2003 and a member of the National Association of Black Local Elected Officials.
Rev. Raymond B. Kemp
"Faith Does Justice" Award Winner
 Rev. Raymond B. Kemp, a senior fellow of the Woodstock Theological Center, is director of Preaching the Just Word, and teaches at Georgetown University.
He is immediate past pastor of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Catholic Church (1986-1992) and former pastor of St. Augustine’s, both historic African-American churches in Washington, DC. Father Kemp has served as secretary for Parish Life and Worship and director of Renew for the Archdiocese of Washington.
A graduate of St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and the Licentiate in Sacred Theology degrees.
He lists pastoral theology, liturgy, preaching, Christian initiation, community organizing, urban development and urban politics as areas of interest. Publications: Journey in Faith; articles included Worship, The Catechumenate, Church, Liturgy 90, National Catholic Reporter, National Jesuit News and Preach Magazine.
Background
The national holiday to commemorate the “Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.” was first observed on January 20, 1986—fifteen years after his death. On the first national holiday 25 years ago, St. Anthony Church on the eastside of Detroit celebrated a Mass in which the members of the parish bestowed the “Keep the Dream Alive Award” to a dozen individuals of diverse religious backgrounds, racial groups, genders and social classes who were building the Beloved Community of the Rev. Dr. King in southeastern Michigan.
The “Keep the Dream Alive Mass and Award” become the high profile Catholic event due to its front page coverage in the print media and through television news each year. After 16 years at St. Anthony Church, the Mass and Awards moved the celebration to the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament to accommodate the annual “standing room only” participation.
The “Keep the Dream Alive Mass and Award” are now celebrated throughout Catholic communities across the nation to witness to society that the Catholic community stands in solidarity as partners in building the Rev. Dr. King’s Beloved Community and recognizes those in our midst who are keeping the dream alive. |