Annual Tea Celebrating Deaf Culture September 19

September 17, 2024

Annual Tea Celebrating Deaf Culture September 19

AUGUSTA - In celebration of Deaf culture and the heritage of American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf literature, art and folklore, Governor Janet Mills has issued a proclamation designating the week of Sept. 22 through 28, 2024, as Deaf Culture Week. Deaf Culture Week will kick off on September 19 with the Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened's 33rd Annual Award Ceremony and Tea, from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Hall of Flags, State House in Augusta.

"The Deaf community has its own language, culture, history, and traditions which have shaped our state for generations. During Deaf Culture Week, and every week, the many contributions of Deaf people to the State of Maine should be celebrated," said Governor Janet Mills. "Like all Maine people, I have been inspired by the tremendous resilience of the Deaf community in the wake of last year's tragedy in Lewiston, which took the lives of four of its community members. My Administration will continue to stand side by side with the Deaf community as we all work to build a more inclusive Maine."

This will be the first Deaf Culture Tea since the tragedy in Lewiston last October.

This year, the commission will present seven awards in seven categories to individuals who have contributed to Deaf culture in Maine.

Award recipients are:

• Promoting of American Sign Language, Deaf Culture and Deaf People Award Julie A. Novack
• Citizenship Youth Award ABEL Celestino
• Ginny Hewes Advocate for the Needs of the Deaf Community Award Betsy Hopkins
• Outstanding Citizenship Award Erika L. Martinez
• Special Commendation Award Sisters in Style
• Dr. Toni H. Rees Interpreter Award Marisa Zastrow
• Clifton F. Rodgers Lifetime Achievement Award Awarded Posthumously to Joshua A. Seal

Kellynette Gomez will give the keynote address. Gomez is a dedicated advocate and licensed social worker committed to empowering individuals to achieve their goals. With a diverse background in organizational training, talent searches, and leadership development, she has actively served various local and national organizations in roles such as community liaison, peer advocate, volunteer, and consultant. She currently serves as an adult service navigator at the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and as a board member for Our Deaf Survivors Center, Inc. She is also committed to increasing accessible resources and employment opportunities for the Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard-of-hearing communities. To this end, she founded the Deaf Job Seeker Network Facebook group, which now has over 8,000 members.

The Division of the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened, part of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS) in the Maine Department of Labor, works to bring about full access to employment, independence and community integration for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

For more information about hiring people with disabilities or identifying job training resources for people with disabilities, visit your local CareerCenter, call 1-855-ALL-HIRE (TTY users call Maine Relay 711).

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