Irish Senator Receives Award for Humanitarian Efforts

Frances Black, Irish senator and founder of the nation’s RISE program, was presented with the Arab American Institute Foundation’s Kahlil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Award in Washington, D.C., in April. Black was selected as an individual who embodies the values of the foundation, whose mission is to showcase figures who commit themselves to the practice of inclusion and embracing the marginalized.
Originally a musician by trade, Black pursued a political career to provide a voice for the silenced in society. She commented in her acceptance speech, “My music and government service are one in the same – an outlet to show people they are not alone and that they can depend on me when times get rough.” ♦