JUNE 5, 2007

The Massachusetts Department of Youth Services dedicated the new Zara Cisco Brough Center  on June 5, 2007 in Westboro, MA.  It is the new home of the Pelletier Assessment Program and the Robert F. Kennedy Rotenberg School for Girls.  The dedication event began with an outside program that took place under a tent at the rear of the building.  It was a sunny, warm spring day.  Speakers included: 

        Dr. JudyAnn Bigby (Secretary of Health & Human Services)

        Commissioner Jane E. Tewksbury, Esq. (Dept. of Youth Services)

        Commissioner David B. Perini (Division of Capital Asset Management)

        State Rep. Karen Polito. 

Guest speakers included:

        Chief Walter Vickers (Nipmuc Nation)

        Shelleigh Wilcox (Cisco Family)

        Ed Kelly (Pres. & CEO, Robert F. Kennedy Children's Actions Corp.)

        Laura Prescott (Director of the Zara Cisco Brough Center)

        Barbara Morton (Regional Director, Central Region)

Also in attendance were members of the Nipmuc Nation Tribal Council as well as members of the Nipmuc Nation.

All speakers stressed the importance of this facility to the many girls in need who will pass through its doors.  Chief Vickers spoke in detail about the life of Zara Cisco Brough (also known as Princess White Flower).  Shelleigh Wilcox, too, talked about Zara and how much this building would have meant to her and what it will mean to the girls who will be here in the future.

Upon completion of the speaking portion of the program, everyone meandered to the front of the building for the ribbon cutting ceremony.  There was a luncheon reception following the ceremony and tours of the facility took place throughout the afternoon.