Honorees
Jarrett T. Barrios
Jarrett T. Barrios is the president of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, where until his appointment as president, he served as a founding board member. He sits on the board of directors of Families, USA and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America Action Fund. In March, 2009, he will join the board of Grantmakers in Health. Prior to coming to the Foundation, Barrios served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and State Senate where he was chair of the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security and vice-chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care. In 1998 he was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he represented the 28th Middlesex District until his election to the senate in 2002. A graduate of Harvard College and Georgetown University Law Center, Barrios has worked for the Boston City Council, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection and the law firms of Hill & Barlow and DLA Piper. His past efforts on health and wellness issues, as well as his work for other forms of individual empowerment — against violence, for education, and for consumer protection — inform his current work. He speaks English and Spanish, and is proficient in Portuguese.
Marisa Luse
Marisa Luse has been chosen to receive the SCI Social Capitalist Award for her accomplishments building social capital in the
Dorchester community. In her four years as the founding director of SCI Dorchester, Marisa exhibited great skill in uniting Dorchester residents from all neighborhoods and backgrounds. The Dorchester Youth Council, the eBlast and countless community collaborations and events are a result of her efforts. Marisa is continuing to strengthen Dorchester's social fabric as the Director of Community programs for DotWell
