2012 Multicultural Council Award for Leadership in Diversity

December 11, 2012

Bill Gaventa with Diana Autin AUCD President Tony Antosh and President-Elect Julie Fodor

The Multicultural Council Award for Leadership in Diversity is presented in recognition of exhibited leadership and commitment in the areas of increasing diversity, cultural, and/or linguistic competencies, as well as furthering the cause of diversity understanding for the needs of families seeking disability services.

William Gaventa, MDiv

Elizabeth M. Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities

and

The New Jersey Cultural Competence Collaborative

Represented by Diana Autin

In Appreciation of Your Ongoing Leadership and Dedication to Diversity and Cultural and Linguistic Competence 

Bill has always demonstrated a strong passion for addressing issues related to cultural diversity. Over the last ten years, he has made that passion one of his top priorities at The Boggs Center and in the process, has played a central role in helping New Jersey's disability service system more effectively address the state's increasing cultural diversity. Since its inception, the New Jersey Cultural Competence Collaborative has organized several Cultural Awareness Days, each one focusing on a particular ethnic community. These conferences, which were planned in collaboration with community leaders and families, were designed to teach disability service providers about the needs of that particular ethnic community, and families and community leaders about the disability service system. Bill's ability to help facilitate strong collaborative relationships based on mutual trust and respect was essential to the success of each of these events and to the Collaborative overall.