City Awake’s Ten Outstanding Young Leaders


Congratulations to our 2024 ten exceptional emerging leaders whose impactful contributions enhance both their company’s portfolio and their community, making a significant difference in the civic and business landscape of the Greater Boston region.

The Ten Outstanding Young Leaders Awards celebrate young professionals dedicated to advancing the Greater Boston region as the premier place for businesses and individuals to thrive. These awards recognize their innovative approaches, leadership, and steadfast dedication to improving their communities and industries. Nominees must have held a leadership position within their organization or community, have lived or worked in Greater Boston for at least one year, and demonstrate a commitment to fostering an equitable and diverse culture.

ABOUT CITY AWAKE

City Awake centers young professionals, seeking to welcome and retain them in Greater Boston with an intentional strategy of cross-sector collaboration to increase their social capital through a blend of programming. Its programming is designed to promote civic engagement; connect them to personal and professional networks across industries and communities; and strengthen the region’s inclusivity efforts while highlighting its cultural vibrancy.

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Jessica Sanon
Jessica Sanon

Senior Program Manager

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Congratulations to our 2024 Honorees!

Anita Yip 2024 TOYL Honoree
Anita Yip

Founder and Creative Director, Project Asian Joy

Anita Yip is a purpose-driven technologist with a diverse background spanning the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Emerging as a social practice artist, she…Read more

Rev. Art J. Gordon 2024 TOYL Honoree
Rev. Art J Gordon

Senior Pastor/Director of Community Engagement, St. John Missionary Baptist Church/Office of Governor Maura Healey

Rev. Art J. Gordon is a fourth-generation pastor. After graduating from Savannah State University with a degree in History, he moved to Boston to attend the Boston…Read more

Brandon Teixeira 2024 TOYL Honoree
Brandon Teixeira

Founder & CEO, Mental Health Declassified Inc

Brandon Teixeira is the CEO and founder of Mental Health Declassified Inc., a passionate mental health advocate, and a dynamic storyteller. Born and raised in Stoughton,…Read more

Jessica Pires Brown 2024 TOYL Honoree
Jessica Pires Brown

Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Leader, Brown & Brown Insurance

Jessica is the Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Leader for Brown & Brown, Inc. where she develops and executes the enterprise DIB strategy throughout all aspects…Read more

Julie Eaton Ernst 2024 TOYL Honoree
Julie Eaton Ernst

Climate Resilience Practice Leader, HNTB Corporation

Julie Eaton Ernst is HNTB’s Climate Resilience Practice Leader based out of Boston, MA. She is a licensed professional civil engineer (MA #54968), and her background…Read more

Liz Powers 2024 TOYL Honoree
Liz Powers

Co-Founder & CEO, ArtLifting

Liz Powers is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of ArtLifting, a business that champions artists impacted by housing insecurity and disabilities. ArtLifting…Read more

Michel Bamani TOYL 2024 Honoree
Michel Bamani

Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Michel arrived to the United States at the age of 14 as a refugee. Having lived through a war zone and leaving his country of birth, Michel has a deep admiration…Read more

Monica Adwani 2024 TOYL Honoree
Monica Adwani

CEO, Breezy Seguros

Monica Adwani is a highly accomplished insurance industry leader with over 18 years of experience across diverse roles, guiding organizations through strategic growth…Read more

Patrick Lucey 2024 TOYL Honoree
Patrick Lucey

Executive Vice President, Division Manager, Suffolk Construction

As Executive Vice President of Suffolk, Patrick Lucey leads Suffolk’s Northeast office, proudly based here in Boston. Lucey “grew up” at Suffolk, starting…Read more

Ryan Gordon 2024 TOYL Honoree
Ryan Gordon

Project Manager, Nitsch Engineering

Ryan is a registered professional Civil Engineer, Project Manager, and shareholder at Nitsch Engineering, an employee-owned land development and engineering consulting…Read more

Our TOYL Honorees have at least one of the following qualities:

*Nominee Criteria

The nominee must have held a leadership position within their organization or community.

The nominee must be under 40 years old as of November 1, 2024.

The nominee must demonstrate inclusive leadership and actively support and promote an equitable and diverse culture.

The nominee must have lived or worked in Greater Boston for at least one year.

* Business associations and their staff members do not qualify

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