UPDATE (October 15, 2024): This article has been updated with the correct spelling of one of the award recipient's names.

The World Heritage Cultural Center hosted its inaugural EmpowHER Awards Ceremony at HillTop Kitchen at the Village on August 24. Several people from the community were recognized for their achievements and dedication to the Newtown community. Many more attended to celebrate those being recognized.

Honorees last Saturday were Kenneth Miller, Chetranie Daka, Jennifer Chaudhary, Eunice Laverty, Zosia Teraszkiewicz, Don Lococo, Makbule (Patty) Latifi, Elizabeth Guckenheimer, and Professor Nazia Habib. These individuals are inspirations to the community and work for equal recognition between people, according to organizers.

Alex Villamil, a member of the EmpowHER Committee, said it was “an amazing event.

“The whole community coming together to celebrate people that weren’t acknowledged enough. They’re the unsung heroes of Newtown,” he said.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect about the event was that there were people from well outside Newtown who were recognized and/or joined the celebration. Dr Nazia Habib flew in from London the night before the event to be recognized with the Woman of Inspiration, Power & Influence Award and to share the evening with the other winners.

Habib shared in her speech, “The world definitely needs more of WHCC because that’s the love, that’s the second piece that we all share is to come together because time is now … and I think [the WHCC] is the kind of organization this town needs to have to get a different story for the rest of the world because the love affair with people is something that is so true for all of us, regardless of our skin color, our ability to read, write, or see each other ... [there is] only one way you can do it through art and culture.”

At the beginning of the evening, WHCC Founder Sattie Persaud described the goals and missions of the organization.

“At World Heritage Cultural Center, we’ve dedicated ourselves to creating a global platform in the United States and around the world. We use art as our voice to share, to connect, to advocate, to celebrate our shared humanities,” she explained.

“We have started a movement growing our portfolio to over 850 cultural groups, fostering an environment that echoes a lifelong commitment, a legacy in the making to gather and have conversations humanity was meant to have. Conversations of love, empathy, respect, and peace. We do global awards … but today we are celebrating individuals in our local community,” she added.

Persaud then moved to recognize a guest who came from the Boston area, Elizabeth Guckenheimer, who was given the Legend Award.

Anindita Nanda, the hostess for the evening, said, “There is no better person to inspire, motivate, keep us going, and you are a living legend for all of us … We are honored for this moment.”

Guckenheimer shared, “What Sattie has been building here, what you folks have been building here, it’s like a model for how to do it, how to bring the world together … Together, there is nothing we cannot do … This is beyond anything that I ever expected in my life, and I want to tell you, for all of you who are growing up, your 80th birthday is the best one!”

SupportHER & Lifetime Achievement

Following Guckenheimer’s recognition was Kenneth Miller, who was presented the SupportHER Award for ages 12-18. Miller is an active young man in the community, volunteering at the local food pantry, serving on student council, and speaking at local rallies, it was noted.

In his note of gratitude, he spoke very poignantly about the work that still needs to be done.

“I love Newtown, but there is still much work to do. We must ensure that our schools and community are truly welcoming and inclusive for all people. We must have schools that welcome people of every race, ethnicity, religion, ability, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, and background … We must ensure that we teach the history and highlight the accomplishments of all people.”

Miller continued, “We must address incidents of racism, homophobia, ableism, or sexism immediately and in such a way that all involved understand the impact.”

Following Miller’s speech, Nanda said, “I think our future is in safe hands, don’t you?” The crowd agreed with whoops, hollers, and a round of applause.

The crowd welcomed the next awardee with a lot of love. Recognizing her dedication and drive to connect with her customers, WHCC awarded Eunice Laverty with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The owner of Bagel Delight, Laverty joined Nanda and Villamil on stage to receive her award.

Laverty kept her speech short, saying, “Thank you. Thank you so much.” As she returned to her seat, members of the audience stood and congratulated her with a standing ovation.

Nanda shared, “I’m getting goose bumps because this is, this is what we work for … to be able to at least bring attention to the goodness we have around [us].”

Villamil said when he asked the person who nominated Laverty to encapsulate the popular local businesswoman in one word, he was given five. When pressed to narrow the selection down, Villamil was told “compassion,” he said.

“And I think we all can agree. She’s done so much for this town, compassion really does it,” Villamil said.

A Pillar And A Game Changer

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal took the stage to introduce the next award recipient, Makbule (Patty) Latifi, former co-owner and hostess at The Villa. Latifi was awarded the Pillar of the Community Award for her dedication to helping her brother, Vito, run the successful Sandy Hook Center restaurant until his retirement this past spring.

Rosenthal recounted his early days eating pizza at The Villa and how Patty and Vito “were the first one[s], really, that started to turn Sandy Hook … into what it is now.”

Latifi shared in her acceptance speech, “Reflecting on my journey, I am reminded of the immense obstacles and obstacles that women in business often face, whether it’s surpassing limits in our careers, or juggling family responsibilities, the journey is full of challenges. But it is through these tough times that we find our real strength and resilience. Empowerment is not merely about individual success, it’s about lifting others as we ascend.”

The Villa was sold earlier this year to the Persaud family, who turned it into HillTop Kitchen.

Latifi ended her speech acknowledging the Persauds, extending “my heartfelt thanks to Sattie and her family, and we wish them 40 years of success as well.”

Nanda then introduced the next awardee, Chetranie (Gita) Daka. Daka was awarded the Game Changer Entrepreneur Award for her service in feeding the community at Dodgingtown Market & Deli.

In her speech, Daka shared some of the hardships she experienced in opening the business.

“I started the deli with $1,000 and a set of keys in my hand. That’s all I had. Every piece of equipment I had broke, blew up,” she said. “One day, I started crying. I called my sister. I said, ‘I can’t do this.’ She got online, she called me, then at 3 in the morning, she said, ‘I found a place you can lease equipment.’”

She nodded to the people who helped her along the way, sharing her accomplishment. “I worked that grill, and I bought my Cadillac. I call my grill, my stove, my Cadillac,” Daka said.

Trailblazer And Rising Star

The ceremonies after dinner was served included the final awards of the evening. Jennifer Chaudhary was recognized with the Trailblazer Award for her continued service to the Newtown Public School system.

Nanda said, “She is a voice of reason … What have you not done?”

Chaudhary started her speech with, “I didn’t know I did all that!” She continued, “I’m humbled by the recognition … I truly do find it difficult to express how flattered I am that you would give this to me. I never expected to receive an award for the work I do every day.

“It’s my dedication to our community that stems from a deep passion and belief that, as a member of this community, it’s imperative to get involved to make this community even greater. Not just for all of us, but our future generations to come,” she said.

Chaudhary also read a note on behalf of Zosia Teraszkiewicz, recipient of The Rising Star Award. Teraszkiewicz was unable to attend the awards as she was starting her first semester at Amherst, but sent an acceptance note.

She wrote in part: “I often help others because I like the idea of making someone else’s challenges a little more manageable. It just seems like something we should all do if we have the ability. If we all look out for each other, this world could be a kinder place.”

Nanda said Teraszkiewicz “has so much conviction in herself, and it came through the nomination. It was just eye-opening to read about her and get to know her.

“I got the opportunity to speak with her and she was heartbroken that she couldn’t be here, but we do want to recognize such young people in the community,” she added.

SupportHER Award

The last awardee to be recognized was Don Lococo, who was awarded the SupportHER Award for his continued action in Newtown and commitment to speaking on important topics like human rights and anti-gun violence.

Villamil shared about Lococo: “Anything and everything that Don puts his heart into, sets his mind to, he’s there and he just shows up. He is relentless.”

In accepting his award, Lococo said, “Thank you so much for this wonderful award. I really appreciate it. I just want to mention, too, about the importance of supporting women and supporting small businesses that women are involved with … I just want to make sure that people realize that it’s important for us to support each other and to realize that it’s important to have a mission.”

Persaud closed the event by reiterating that, “Our passion is the organization and doing good for humanity. Thank you guys for the support and everybody who’s purchased a ticket … proceeds are going to the scholarships in Newtown, one for STEM and one for art.”

“It’s honoring people now, but it’s also paying it forward to the next generation,” she said.

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Reporter Sam Cross can be reached at sam@thebee.com.