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Date: 5/10/2023
AGAWAM — The Agawam Democratic Committee will celebrate its annual breakfast on May 13 at the Storrowton Tavern and Carriage House. The breakfast begins at 10 a.m.
Agawam Democratic Committee Chair Wendy Rua said the 15-person organization remains dedicated to the issues facing Agawam. They work to support candidates running for election by volunteering and fundraising.
“We focus a lot on the issues that affect Agawam,” said Rua.
The Democratic Committee also aspires to get more involved in community activism. Rua shared that the organization is currently planning a “fix-it fair” that pairs youth groups with senior citizens to help repair and educate on technology.
Rua also said the committee’s annual breakfast is an opportunity to recognize significant contributions to the committee and their values.
“We like to honor those on our committee who have done some outstanding work through the years,” said Rua.
This year, the committee is honoring Chris Catjakis with its Lifetime Achievement Award and state Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield) as its Democrat of the Year. Catjakis has served on the committee for several years, currently working as its co-chair along with Agawam City Councilor Rosemary Sandlin.
As a state legislator since 2020, Velis represents Agawam and several neighboring communities. He has advocated for community needs while supporting the veteran community as the chair of the state’s Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. He is also the chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, helping to address critical societal facets exacerbated by the pandemic.
“We appreciate the work he does. He remembers Agawam when we goes to vote to get money to support the needs of Agawam. We are proud to have him be our Democrat of the Year this year,” said Rua.
Another instrumental figure of the breakfast is keynote speaker Carmen Yulín Cruz. Cruz formerly served in Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives before becoming mayor of San Juan from 2013 to 2020. During her mayoral career, Cruz was a dedicated advocate for the city’s needs. She is most synonymous with her fierce call to action when Hurricane Maria severely impacted her city and island, urging the United States to provide critical resources during a challenging period.
Rua said she got to know Cruz during her time at Mount Holyoke College, where Cruz served as the college’s Harriet L. Weissman and Paul M. Weissman Distinguished Fellow in Leadership. Cruz has won several humanitarian awards, including being chosen as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year in 2017.
“I found her to be a fierce advocate for so many things that are so inspiring. Getting to listen to her story, I thought it would be remarkable if we could have her engage the citizens of Agawam. ... She is a new voice, someone new for our town to listen to and highlight some things going on outside of Agawam,” said Rua.
Following the breakfast, the Agawam Democratic Committee will focus its efforts on the upcoming local elections, including the mayoral, City Council and School Committee races.
For more information on the breakfast and the Agawam Democratic Committee, visit facebook.com/AgawamDTC.