The Annual Christine Ntagengwa Leadership Award
This award is given in memory of Christine Ntagengwa, former Senior Program Director at the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition. Christine, who came to the United States as an immigrant from Rwanda, and lived a life of service, leadership, and love. The award is given each year to an immigrant or refugee or child of immigrants or refugees who lives and works in Massachusetts and who has demonstrated a commitment to these same values in service to the immigrant community.
The award is presented at MIRA’s Spring Into Action Immigrant Rights Conference. Nominations are due in February, and can be submitted using the form below.
Recipients
2025
Huiling Chen arrived in the U.S. from China in 2009. She worked at a Chinese restaurant before enrolling in BEST Hospitality Training Center’s housekeeping job seeker class in 2011. BEST hired her before any hotel could, setting the stage for a transformative career in service and leadership.
2026
Thays Lobo serves as the Senior Manager of Economic Integration at English for New Bostonians (ENB), where she leads initiatives that empower immigrants and refugees to achieve economic stability and professional advancement in the Greater Boston area.
To submit a nomination for the Christine Ntagengwa Leadership Award, please use the form below.
Nominations will close in February 2027.