2016 2016: Bristol County Savings Bank’s Michele L. Roberts receives civic leadership award at Civic Engagement Summit

UMass Dartmouth shines spotlight on community commitment to civic engagement

UMass Dartmouth recognized Michele L. Roberts, Executive Vice President & Community Relations Officer of Bristol County Savings Bank, for her sustained commitment to civic engagement. Ms. Roberts was honored during UMass Dartmouth’s Dr. Robert Lawrence Civic Engagement Summit held earlier this month at the University’s Woodland Commons.

The Community Member Civic Leadership Award recognizes a community member who has demonstrated sustained civic leadership and demonstrated the community member’s success in creating sustained positive community impact or public policy change.

The Bristol County Savings Charitable Foundation (BCSCF) supports needs that contribute to the economic and social well-being of the people and institutions located in the greater Attleboro/Taunton and greater New Bedford, Massachusetts area and the Pawtucket, Rhode Island area. Since the Foundation began, more than $16 million in grants have been committed to 501(c)(3) organizations in local communities. This March, the BCSCF awarded grants totaling $80,000 to twelve Pawtucket, Rhode Island area non-profit organizations and grants totaling $45,000 to six New Bedford/Dartmouth, Massachusetts area non-profit organizations. This month the Foundation presented a grant totaling $13,000 to the Friends of Acushnet Public Library.

Ms. Roberts received a $500 award to be given to a community-based organization or cause of her choosing.

The Dr. Robert Lawrence Civic Engagement Summit brought together the University community and members of the SouthCoast civic and business community for a discussion on race, religion, and service-building bridges that empower and strengthen our communities. The University welcomed two distinguished keynote speakers for this year’s Summit: University of Notre Dame Packey J. Dee Professor of American Democracy David Campbell, Ph.D. and Director for the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Education Reverend Brenda Girton-Mitchell J.D..

The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching selected UMass Dartmouth to receive the 2015 Community Engagement Classification, recognizing the University's commitment to serving the SouthCoast and the Commonwealth. UMass Dartmouth was recognized as among the national Top 20 in community service. This nationwide designation is part of the 2014 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, and recognizes UMass Dartmouth and its students for their commitment to service-learning and volunteer service.