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[ Music ]
>> So, on behalf of the University
of Massachusetts Boston, my co-Chairs Pattie and Joe,
I want to thank each and every one of you
for being here tonight.
This is, this is an extraordinary turnout.
This is the eighth annual gala
and by the way the most successful
and so congratulations to all of you.
[ Applause ]
>> Some people say that the reason this is the most
successful turnout in the history is
because of our honoree, Jim Brett.
Others, those that are a little more knowledgeable know it's
because the master of ceremonies is Jack Connors,
everyone wanted to be here.
So, we have, we truly have a wonderful evening.
I want to give special thanks tonight for all the hard work
of Pattie Jacobs, my co-Chair, the President
of AT&T New England and Joe Nolan from Nstar,
Senior Vice President of Government Relations.
Pattie and Joe if you would stand up
and take a bow I'd appreciate that.
Thank you very much.
Without Joe Nolan, Pattie by the way
and AT&T made an extraordinary contribution.
But, let me tell you without Joe Nolan there'd be no lights
on here tonight, a huge contribution.
I'm told that that Ed Markey is with us this evening.
Has anybody seen him?
Is Ed here?
>> Not yet.
>> He's not here as yet.
Okay, when he comes it'll be a surprise, so act surprised.
Okay, ladies and gentlemen act surprised,
United States Senator Ed Markey and my friend
and Jim Brett's friend and a friend to all of you.
Let's give him a warm round of applause.
>> Thank you.
>> [inaudible comments]
>> Thank you Jack.
Thank you Jack.
If you're doing anything good in Massachusetts Jack is the man
who you make the first call to.
There's nobody else like Jack.
And it's my honor to be here with him
to honor our friend Jimmy Brett.
When you Google the words champion
and disabilities Jim Brett's picture comes up not only here,
but across the whole country.
He has dedicated his life to ensuring
that these issues are put on the front burner.
He is a very special person
who makes a difference in peoples' lives.
President Kennedy used to say that to those
that much is given much is expected
and this Dorchester has been given much.
But, he knows that he has
to give back even more and he has done so.
And he does so in partnership with the University
of Massachusetts in Boston, which is the school for those
who need a little extra help.
When I went to BC, when Jack went to BC my--
there were three Markey brothers going--
the son of a milkman to BC at 55,000 dollars apiece.
That's 165,000 dollars to send three boys
to Boston College today.
That's not happening from Alden for a milkman.
So, UMASS Boston it is the institution.
It's the place where people
who dream can get the same quality education as anyone else
in our state or in our country.
And for Jimmy to have an endowed chair there, an endowed chair
in his name dealing with the issue
of disabilities it all fits perfectly.
So, what I did at the end of last week was I flew this flag
over the Capitol dome down in Washington,
because Jimmy is national.
He is a leader nationally on all of these issues.
And we actually, we think today about the, all the people
who were killed in D.C. today four blocks
from where this flag flew and we think of them
and their families today and the senseless violence that goes
on in our inner cities, but across our country
with the use of weapons.
Jimmy is just a very special person, a special friend
and so I flew this flag for Jimmy and I will be giving it
to him so that he can remember this day as one
where not only his friends here in Massachusetts and across all
of New England honored him, but that the nation honored him
for all of his work as a national leader in disabilities.
Thank you Jimmy so, so much.
[ Applause ]
>> Ed Markey thanks so much for coming up to Washington to be
with Jim and all of us this evening, thanks very much.
>> [Inaudible background comment]
>> Oh, aren't you a Brett?
So, we have another very distinguished gentleman,
a leader that I want to introduce to you.
But, before we do that on the cue
from Senator Markey I'm going to ask for a moment of silence
for the victims of today's tragic ***
at the Washington Navy Yard, please.
[ Silence ]
Thank you very much.
And now among the list of luminaries who are
with us tonight to honor Jim
and really the entire Brett family it is my pleasure
to introduce a young man whose name is quite familiar,
a fellow by the name of Joe Kennedy who is a Congressman.
If I'm not mistaken a successor to Barney Frank, that seat
and I must say that I had an opportunity
to meet Joe Kennedy early on in his candidacy
and I was very impressed.
This is a bright young man.
A graduate of Stanford University
and the Harvard Law School and he is Massachusetts friend
and he's going to make you all very proud,
ladies and gentlemen Representative Joe Kennedy.
[ Applause ]
>> Good evening ladies and gentlemen.
Mr. Connors it is a pleasure and a privilege to be able
to join you on stage tonight.
And I just want to thank you.
That introduction was exactly as I wrote it,
so I appreciate you reading it so well.
As Senator Markey said, hit a obviously a nail right
on the head, for all that you do for our city, our Commonwealth,
our community Jack I just want to say thank you.
You are the root of so many charitable initiatives.
It's such an integral part to what makes Boston
and Massachusetts what it is so thank you very,
very much for all you do.
[ Applause ]
So, I'm sure this is going
to be a great disappointment to all of you.
I actually wasn't planning to speak tonight.
I saw Jim this morning for breakfast and he mentioned to me
that he wanted to, me to at some point come
to an event and introduce him.
I said, "That's great.
Send me the date."
Chalk it up to the Jim Brett persuasiveness that I'm sure
so many of you are so familiar with.
So, here I am eight hours later in front of 850 people.
Not quite sure what you got me into Jim,
but thank you very much.
I learned a long time ago
that when Jim asks it's usually best to say yes.
With that in mind I was traveling
down the expressway I think last week.
We hit this terrible traffic jam and I started getting stressed
out we were going to be late to try to get
down to the southern part of my district.
And it was bumper to bumper and then all
of the sudden the traffic eased up and I couldn't figure out why
and I looked up and there was Jim Brett's face plastered all
over a huge billboard.
I turned to our District Director who was with me
and I just said, "How come I can't get press
like that", so Jim well done.
Jim you and my family go back, sorry, but for generations.
He likes to tell a favorite story of mine about Jim marching
with the, in the Southeast Evacuation Day parade
as an eager 16 year old right
between my grandfather and my Uncle Teddy.
And since then Jim, you have worked by my family's side
for years from the R.F.K. Children's Action Corps
to the J.F.K. Library and all that you did with my dad
to start up Citizens Energy.
I'm pretty sure that's gotten to the point where most
of my family members will return your calls more quickly
than mine, but I can't really blame them
for that then now can I.
On a serious note it is an absolute privilege for me
to continue that relationship today and to call you a mentor,
a counselor and a friend.
For someone who's just starting a career
in public service it's hard
to imagine a better example than Jim Brett.
From the streets of Southeast to the halls of the State House
to the arms of your beloved St. Margaret's Parish this city
and this Commonwealth run through your veins.
Your career is a testament to the incredible capacity
that we have to do good, to improve opportunity,
to encourage empathy and to end injustice.
It can be easy to get disheartened down in Washington,
but to have people like Jim Brett in your corner by side,
let's just say if everybody did we'd all be a lot better off
for it.
Tonight those of you in the audience will hear an awful lot
of wonderful things about Jim.
How he has the gumption of his dear mother Mary Ann,
the gentle heart of his brother Jack,
and the incredible kindness of his other siblings
who have never been far from his side.
You will hear about all the selfless, tireless work
that he has done on behalf of those with disabilities
and the incredible commitment
that he has brought to that cause.
You will hear about the amazing good judgment he had
to marry wonderful Pattie.
In going through the amount of organizations
that you are a part of, that you are involved with,
the Brett's are clapping in the corner, well done.
>> Pattie's family.
>> Going through the amount of organizations
that you're involved with, the awards you have won,
the charitable boards you sit on would take far more
than the 10 minutes they've allotted me to speak.
They are many and they are all befooting a man
who has truly dedicated his life in service to others.
So Jim, tonight I would just like to take the moment
to say how lucky I am in front of 800 of our closest friends
to say thank you for the friendship
that you have shown me and my family,
for the way that you answer my call at any hour to talk
through a manufacturing policy or the economy, for the insight
and economic vision you have brought to Massachusetts and all
of New England, for the example that you set for every one of us
in this room who hopes
to the leave the world a little bit better than we found it,
for your wisdom and for your grace.
You live your life by the lessons instilled in you
by an Irish-Catholic mother who knew
that richness was not measured by money or monuments,
but in hard work, simple faith, common decency
and above all else compassion and care.
That mother cleaned the floors of downtown banks by night
so she could raise six strong remarkable children by day.
Her spirit was her gift to you
and you have made it your life's work to pass that gift
on to each and every one of us.
I could think of no greater tribute than a chair at one
of the Commonwealth's most integral institutions dedicated
to continuing the cause that you have championed.
As I'm sure all of you in this room know, Jim's commitment
to individuals with differences is deeply personal stemming
from his experience with his own brother Jack.
Jim, you've always told me
that Jack's ultimate gift was the way he taught people
about differences.
How in his warm and earnest way he did what our society
struggled to do, encouraged acceptance and inclusion
for himself and those like him.
So, it's fitting today that we celebrate a chair
at UMASS Boston that will enshrine the lessons
that Jack embodied, the lessons that you have carried for him
in the years since his passing.
One of my favorite stories about Jack is
that when he introduced himself
to people he would ask them three questions:
What's your name?
Are you Irish?
And do you know my brothers?
Besides indicating that rightful place of Irish heritage
in his heart, those simple honest questions
that shine a light on the one thing
that defined Jack Brett's life above all else, his family.
Jim, you, your brothers, your sisters, your mother,
you were his true north, his sturdy rudder in stormy seas,
the hand he had held onto, the shoulder he searched for,
the smile he looked to, to know that everything would be alright
in a world that didn't always embrace him the way it should.
In turn he is to this day your humor and your heart.
You once said that, "My brother Jack was a very special person"
and I don't mean that just in the narrow more
or less euphemistic way that persons
with developmental disabilities are often referred
to as special.
I mean it in the ordinary everyday sense.
The ordinary everyday sense.
More than anything Jim, those four words are the gift
that you have given Jack and the millions like his
across this country and the millions more who love them
and yearn for a day when their brothers and sisters, daughters
and sons are special regardless
of their differences, not because of it.
Your work done and your family's legacy
and memory brings richness not just
to the lives you touch directly, but to every single one of us
who are better and stronger and truer
to count you as our company.
I know that your mother and Jack are smiling down on us tonight.
Jim, thank you for all you do.
[ Applause ]
[ Silence ]
>> How about a round of applause for this young man?
[ Applause ]
Call me crazy, but I have a hunch here that you're going
to hear a lot, a lot more from Joe Kennedy and he's going
to make this a better country.
[ Applause ]
So, I want to also recognize in our presence this evening
in addition to the very impressive leadership
that President Caret has provided this university,
I want to recognize a number of trustees that are here.
I'm not going to ask each of them to stand, but the trustees
and members of the Board of Advisors and the Board
of Directors of the Alumni Association.
I also want to recognize a couple
of other very distinguished folks, friends of Jim.
The first I'd like to ask
to stand is the New Hampshire Governor, the brand new Governor
of New Hampshire, Maggie Hassan.
[ Applause ]
Governor, you honor all of us
with your presence here this evening and congratulations
on that hard earned victory and the former Governor
of Maine, Joe Brennan.
Joe are you here?
Thank you so very much.
Thanks Joe.
So, we have a wonderful evening planned for you tonight with,
once we introduce all of Brett's we'll also be introducing a
breakfast menu just after midnight.
But, I want to call your attention at the moment
to the centerpieces that are each of your places.
Each is unique and each of these center pieces was created
by some folks from the Cardinal Cushing Center,
the Mass Hospital School and Work, Inc.
in Quincy, created and decorated as art for your tables.
These piggybanks are priceless, but they're also homeless.
So, here's what we're going to do.
You are going to hold your own auction at your own table
and the high bidder is going to take the centerpiece home.
Oh, and by the way leave some money
for Jim's scholarship and the chair.
So, you do this any way you want.
You can all kick in 100,000 dollars, a million dollars
or you decide who takes it away.
You can kick in 10 dollars apiece.
Whatever it is that you give it's simply going to add
to the enormous success, the record success
that we have this evening.
And all that money will support the James T. Brett Chair
in Disability and Workforce Development.
Now, this proceeds tonight
and these activities tonight are setting a record not just
with the amount of money that's been raised,
but also with the extraordinary attendance.
This, when it was announced, this was going to be
at the Oak Bar at the Copley Plaza,
but we kept changing the venue
because of the incredible success.
We have a couple of very distinguished people that I'd
like to come up and speak to the power of your investment,
your gifts to this chair.
And I'm going to introduce Dean Kiernan and Ashley Wolfe.
Dean Kiernan, William Kiernan is the founding Dean of the School
of Global Inclusion and Social Development
where this chair will sit.
A nationally and internationally recognized authority
on the issues relating
to disability Dr. Kiernan has expertise in employment policy
and practices for people with disabilities,
workforce development for people with disabilities and transition
from high school to adult life for students with disabilities.
And he's joined by Ashley Wolfe who serves as a research liaison
and consultant for the Institute for Community Inclusion.
Ashley has earned national recognition
for her participatory action research in the fields
of intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Ladies and gentlemen please welcome Dean Kiernan
and Ashley Wolfe.
[ Applause ]
>> Thanks Jack.
And a slight amendment
to the introduction 2,000,000 would be welcome too,
if anybody wants to pay for the centerpiece.
On behalf of the 200 plus staff and graduate assistants
at the Institute of Community Inclusion at UMASS Boston I want
to extend my greetings to all of you.
And I'd like to thank you all
for your generous support to this benefit.
The ICI is a university center for excellence in disabilities
and is located at UMASS Boston
and Children's Hospital in Boston.
The focus of the ICI is research, training,
technical assistance, model demonstration
and policy is upon supporting the full inclusion of persons
with disabilities of all ages and their families
across the lifespan in education, employment,
recreation, healthcare and community living.
The James T. Brett Chair on Disability
and Workforce Development, the only endowed chair concentrating
on employment opportunities for persons with disabilities
in this country and probably the world, will address an issue,
an essential issue facing persons
with disabilities, poverty.
The pathway out of poverty is employment.
Twenty percent of persons
with disabilities are in the workforce.
For persons without disabilities that figure is 70 percent,
fully three times greater.
One might think that persons
with disabilities are not interested in working.
But, the reality is that more than 90 percent of youth
with disabilities in a national survey reported that they expect
to be working upon graduation.
Many persons with disabilities are by necessity
and in the absence of a job relegated to public monies
and services with few opportunities of getting
out of the poverty trap.
So, what will the chair do?
It will address the disconnect between what youth
with disabilities expect, a job, and what adults,
many of the adults with disabilities find, no work.
It will address policies that will support ways
to help persons with disabilities access
and advance in employment.
It will create equality of opportunity for persons
with disabilities to be more independent.
And socially and economically it will help employers
to access the untapped labor resource while providing
pathways into inclusion and out of poverty
for persons with disabilities.
This past year UMASS Boston launched the School
for Global Inclusion and Social Development addressing issues
of inclusion and equality not only here,
but abroad for all excluded populations including persons
with disabilities.
The mission of the school will build upon the lessons learned
and future activities of the Brett Chair.
Like most of you I know Jim for many years
and have seen the many hats that he wears as a leader
of the New England Council, as the Chair
of the Presidents Committee for Persons
with Intellectual Disabilities and as a friend to persons
with disabilities and their families.
While diverse in the responsibilities
across these areas the common band
around Jim's many hats is his advocacy on behalf
of persons with disabilities.
This chair reflects Jim's passion for advocating on behalf
of persons with disability and bringing together the supply
and demand sides of the workforce,
advocating that the supply of persons
with disabilities can meet the demands
of employers and all will benefit.
Congratulations Jim and as your brother Jack would say, "James,
you did the right thing."
Again, let me extend my sincere welcome to all of you here
and to celebrate the announcement
of the James T. Brett Chair in Disabilities
and Workforce Development as a true recognition
of the many accomplishments of Jim Brett
and the Brett family who are here today.
It is now my pleasure to introduce to you one
of the talented members of the ICI staff, Research Liaison
and Consultant Ashley Wolfe.
Ashley is a multitalented person.
She's an actress, a speaker, a researcher and an advocate
within Intellectual Disabilities.
She co-stared in the TV movie, "Jewel" with Farrah Fawcett
and Cicely Tyson and appeared in the TV movie, "Mr. Blue Sky"
with Richard Karn of the TV show, "Home Improvement."
Since joining the ICI in 2008 Ashley has acquired extensive
experience in qualitative research,
presented her research findings at conferences
and mentored self-advocates in Florida.
Please join me in welcoming Ashley Wolfe.
[ Applause ]
>> Well hello everyone.
Is everybody ready?
>> Yea.
>> Okay. Just bear with me [inaudible].
Good evening everyone.
I am proud to be part of this amazing event
which really stars the James T. Brett Chair at the Institute
for Community Inclusion.
Thank you for the opportunity
to share what it means-- wait, hold on.
I'm playing with mic.
I'm nervous.
What it means to be a disability advocate and a woman
with Down Syndrome who has the self-confidence to stand
in front of all of you, of you all tonight.
I have an intellectual disability.
[ Applause ]
Yea, I can still be part of a professional team at the ICI
because of efforts of people like Mr. Brett.
I was thrilled to be nominated by the ICI
and awarded the first Participatory Action Research
Award from the [inaudible] of the United States in 2011.
I have my own office space for doing research
that I am passionate about, working with coworkers
and supervisors who are passionate
about the same things.
I have an on the job support--
[ Adjusting microphone ]
Support from my colleagues to get to practice my people skills
and to think and speak on my own, having my own voice
and being heard by others.
It is so important for a person with a disability
to feel validated by coworkers and supervisors.
My supervisors and I create a work plan every week
and they also help me out when I need it.
I do take my job seriously as you can tell.
That's why I'm here for tonight and I am proud
to be paid well for my work.
[ Applause ]
Well, research articles, I also had the chance
to make presentations, sit on different pilot teams,
do qualitative research
and connect the disability community.
To me they're all pretty amazing.
That's why I nominated ICI for the Charlie Award.
That's an award for the best place to work.
It actually really is.
I had to throw that in there,
through the best place jobs program.
With the ICI's support I learned
to voice my opinion with confidence.
I am also more open to other peoples' feedback.
I have learned to conduct myself more professionally
and I have better social etiquette.
I think my colleagues and supervisors have learned a thing
or two about working with me as well.
Mr. Brett and I have a few things in common.
We are both activists for people
with intellectual developmental disabilities.
We are both passionate; whoa, this a lot--
disabilities have much to contribute to the community,
the workplace and society.
I know that you are here because you all believe in that too.
I'd like to congratulate--
[ Applause ]
I would like to congratulate Mr. Brett
for his fantastic contributions to the world of disabilities
and for the honor of having the Endowed Chair in his name.
It is a pleasure to be a part of this special event
and I look forward to working with all of you.
Wait, did I skip-- hold on a minute.
I think I skipped a page here.
I did. Let's try that again shall we.
From my research I've-- my research, I've learned how
to enable more people with disabilities to gain employment
and succeed in the workplace.
From the start it is important that we are included
in all aspects of work.
We also may need accommodations to be successful,
support from a mentor and from family members is as important
to help any young adult succeed.
I would like to thank some of the special people who are part
of my support team like my parents who came
up from Connecticut to be here tonight.
[ Applause ]
I also appreciate my managers from ICI like John Kramer
and Jean Windsor who have,
who are important mentors in my career.
I work in many environments.
Some have been truly rewarding like acting in a movie
with Farrah Fawcett and Cicely Tyson.
They also have been tough like cleaning tables
and dishes at Panera Bread shop.
But, my passion for helping others
with disabilities has become my life's work.
[ Applause ]
The dignity I feel and the insights I share
on my team are the best part of my job.
I'm often driven by the reactions
to my comments and suggestions.
I'm always grateful for their patience when I screw up.
I don't get things 100 percent right.
My teammates have faith in my abilities.
They support me to do what I really do care
about in a workplace that is truly inclusive.
The ICI has supported me as a Disability Advocate,
as a peer mentor for such advocates
and a co-author in writing articles.
I also had the chance to make presentations,
serve on different pilot teams, do qualitative research
and connect with the disability community.
To me it is all pretty amazing.
That's why I nominated the ICI for the Charlie Award.
That's an award for the best place to work given
at the Best Buddies [inaudible] program.
With the ICI's support I learned
to voice my opinion with confidence.
I am also more open to other peoples' feedback.
I learned to conduct myself more professionally
and I have better social etiquette.
I think my colleagues and supervisors have learned a thing
or two from working with me as well.
Mr. Brett and I have a few things in common.
We are both activists for people
with intellectual developmental disabilities.
We are both passionate about making changes
that help all people including those with disabilities.
And we both believe that people with disabilities have much
to contribute to the community, the workplace and society.
And I know that you're here
because you all believe in that too.
[ Applause ]
I would like to congratulate Mr. Brett
for his fantastic contributions to the world of disabilities
and for the honor of having the endowed chair in his name.
It is a pleasure, a real pleasure to be part
of this special event and I look forward to working with all
of you here as a colleague and advocate for many years to come.
Thank you so much for having me for tonight.
[ Applause ]
>> Dean and Ashley, thank you very much.
Ashley you wouldn't know this, but Jim invited all
of us this morning at breakfast to be here this evening
as Joe Kennedy mentioned earlier.
And none of us knew why we were being invited,
but with Jim we're obviously grateful
for the invitation Ashley.
Now, because of your remarks we're reminded
of why we're here.
Thank you very much and God bless you.
[ Applause ]
Just a commercial break here for 30 seconds to recognize those
who are significant sponsors for tonight and thanks
to them we've raised over 1.4 million dollars.
Thanks to them and thanks to you.
[ Applause ]
John White from Barclays and the Garden Fund, AT&T New England,
Bank of America, Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos,
the New England Council, Joe
and Rose Corcoran [assumed spelling] Liberty Mutual
Insurance Company, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare,
I-Insure with Kevin and Mary Ellen Kelly,
Natixis Global Asset Management, Nstar Northeast Utilities,
Boston Business Journal and Clear Channel Outdoor,
a round of applause for our sponsors.
[ Applause ]
Our next presenter is gifted in his own right in so many ways
and he understands everything anyone ever needs to understand
about disabilities because he was born
with a lower limb disability
and he had both legs amputated below the knee at the age of 20.
Before the event tonight Ronan Tynan asked if I would join him
in singing a couple of songs.
And to be honest with you I was all for it
until my wife Eileen said,
"You're not going anywhere near this."
She's a very smart lady.
This is a fabulous talent and he's friends with Jim Brett.
And he's here tonight because of his affection and admiration
for Jim Brett and the Brett family to sing a couple
of numbers with or without me, Ronan Tynan.
[ Applause ]
>> Good evening everybody.
You know you only have to stand back and be
in awe when you hear Ashley.
There are not enough adjectives to describe her greatness,
her perseverance, her wonderful heart.
I applaud you.
I laud you.
I think you're amazing.
I just, I'm so impressed.
[ Applause ]
I met Jim, I hope you don't mind me calling you Jim
because I feel we're related really.
Most Irish are in some way or other.
We get to know each other.
We understand each other and we didn't even need phones to find
out about each other's business.
You know exactly what I mean.
Jim is an amazing man.
There will be-- all the praise you get
and all the lauds are well deserved.
When I met you three years ago you invited me to sing
at the Chamber of Commerce event and I stood back and listened
to your eloquence of speech, how you phrased everything,
how you communicated with people,
how your passion was proclaimed.
And I thought well, there is a mentor
that so many can learn from.
You're a battalion of inspiration.
You shape peoples' mind
and you're the helping hand Mr. Brett.
Thank you for the opportunity to come
and sing for you this evening.
I enjoy the aspect.
Of course, I know you have a huge sense of humor
and God Pattie sometimes it's difficult to carry the cross,
but you do it as a shining example.
It's my pleasure.
Jim has selected these songs that I'm about for you to sing.
The first one you'll be very, very familiar with
and I think the second one says a lot about him.
Thank you.
[ Applause ]
[ Silence ]
[ Music ]
[Singing] While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
let us swear allegiance to a land that's free.
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
as we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God bless America, land that I love, stand beside her
and guide her through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans white
with foam, God bless America, my home sweet home.
God bless America, my home sweet home.
Thank you.
[ Applause ]
Thank you very much.
So, the song that Jim chose is a song that was written
by a man called Jimmy McCarthy.
He's about five foot four and he wrote it
about a very handsome bald man.
I don't have to say any more about that.
Jim you're well-endowed with the folic,
you're not follicularly challenged anyway that's
for sure.
And but, I do have to comment that grass does not grow
on a busy street and there are many in this room
that would understand my sentiments.
You don't have to stand up.
I wouldn't ask you to do that.
The song is called, "Ride On."
[ Music ]
[Singing] Sure you ride the finest horse I've ever seen,
standing sixteen one or two, with eyes wild and green.
And you ride the horse so well, hands light to the touch.
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to.
Ride on, see you.
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to.
Ride on, see you.
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to.
When you ride into the night without a trace behind,
run your hand across my heart one more time.
I turn to face an empty space, where once you used to lie
and look for the spark that lights the night
through a teardrop in your eye.
Ride on, see you.
I could never go with you no matter how I wanted to.
Ride on, see you, I could never go
with you no matter how I wanted to.
Thank you.
Thanks very much.
[ Applause ]
>> Ronan Tynan, ladies and gentlemen.
Ronan you haven't lost anything off your fastball, world class.
We'll be hearing from Ronan again in just a little bit.
It's my pleasure to introduce Father Jack Ahern who is a very,
very dear friend of our honoree tonight, Jim Brett,
but he's also his Pastor.
So, you can just imagine the confessions
that he's heard, all of them.
This is from the former St. Margaret's now Blessed Mother
Theresa of Calcutta Parish right at the intersection
of Columbia Road and Dorchester Avenue.
And by the way, we will be passing the basket
for his parish tonight.
To give our invocation, Jim's friend, my friend and a friend
of the Catholic Church, Father Jack Ahern.
[ Applause ]
And the collection will go to the chair.
Lord God lover of us all it is good for us to be here.
As we gather tonight we recognize
and commend the good works of Jim Brett, a friend to us all,
but equally so a friend to so many of the most vulnerable
and alienated among us who have been struggled along the way
and needed someone to believe in them,
advocate for them, love them.
In many ways Jim has the heart of his mother Mary Ann
and the soul of his oldest and very proud brother Jack.
Tonight as the University of Massachusetts
at Boston establishes the James T. Brett Chair in Disability
and Workforce Development you can almost hear Jim's brother,
Jack, saying to his mother
and her great grandson Christopher Grimes
who they welcomed to Heaven last week, James has done well.
He has made a difference.
Blessed Pope John Paul II reminded us that
"Every human person no matter how vulnerable or helpless,
no matter how young or old, no matter how healthy, handicapped
or sick, no matter how useful or productive
for society is a being of inestimable worth created
in the image and likeness of God", end of quote.
Persons with disabilities challenge us
to be more fully human and compassionate,
to recognize a presence of God
and goodness in each human being.
This requires us to sacrifice and to stretch our hearts.
As we stretch our hearts and enable and empower persons
with disabilities to share their gifts and needs
with us they bring out the best in our mutual humanity.
They challenge us to live the precepts of charity
in the real world, to sacrifice some of our own comfort
for others, to take the time to enable them to be full,
productive members of society.
They need to feel our solidarity with them
and to know their true dignity and worth
as fellow sisters and brothers.
Many, many years ago Mary Ann Brett over the objections
of her doctor made a decision to open her heart and her home
to her first born son with disabilities.
Little did she realize that it would be Jack, loved dearly,
that would be the glue that kept the family together
and made the family great.
So, too our greatness as a society will only be realized
when we recognize that ever human person is
of inestimable worth and that everyone has a place
in the human family.
And often it is the most unlikely of persons
that is the glue that keeps us together.
May God bless Jim for his willingness to stretch his heart
over the years to so many people especially those
with disabilities.
May God bless his wife Pattie, his sisters and brothers
for their never ending love and support of him.
May God bless this great University of Massachusetts
at Boston not only for its vision
in establishing the James T. Brett Chair in Disability
and Workforce Development, but more so for being a beacon
of hope and opportunity for so many who are privileged
to attend this great university.
May God bless the food and the drink, which we receive
from his bounty, those who have prepared it and those
who will serve it and those who will do without this night.
May each and all of us know God's friendship
and peace in our lives.
All these things we ask in the power
of God's holy name now and forever, amen.
>> You know occasionally you may find somebody running
for Governor walking through the room here
so you can't be too careful.
But, in this case he's a really wonderful guy,
Charlie Baker right here.
This may be the last time I'll get away with this.
Charlie, go back to your seat.
So again, what an extraordinary success this is tonight.
And I just want to remind everyone that this chair,
this chair in Disabilities and Workforce Development
to my knowledge is the only one in the United States of America.
So, you are on the cutting edge of something very, very special.
Thank you all very much.
[ Applause ]
I'd also like to just take a moment and ask if the President
of the University of Massachusetts who's here
with us tonight, in fact he's, I'm honored to have him
at our table, if I could ask Bob Caret to please stand?
This is the, this is the big boss right here.
You may know the name.
He's a little quiet to be honest with you, but let me tell you
when it comes to working the legislature
and championing the future of the University
of Massachusetts he's a giant.
And so, Bob thank you for your leadership
of the University of Massachusetts.
Now, speaking of people that are quiet
and reticent it's my pleasure to introduce the Chancellor
of the University of Massachusetts
in Boston, Dr. Keith Motley.
This guy has the credentials to be anywhere he wants to be
in any university system anywhere in the country,
in fact, anywhere in the world.
But, he's exactly where he wants to be as the Chancellor
at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.
And he's got a great team around him,
but if he didn't have a team
around him he could build the university all by himself.
That's the kind of strength he has.
That's the kind of energy he has.
He loves UMASS Boston and he has led the charge,
which has allowed the University of Massachusetts Boston
to become more important, more effective and more powerful
to the population of this state and to the population
in Dorchester of University of Massachusetts Boston.
Ladies and gentlemen it's my pleasure to introduce our hero
and our leader Dr. Keith Motley, Chancellor University
of Massachusetts Boston.
[ Applause ]
>> So, you know when you've arrived is
when Jack Connors calls you his hero.
That's an amazing, amazing thing because Jack you are our hero.
Thank you, but more importantly I'm going to thank your wife.
Eileen, thank you for allowing him to add one more thing
to his life knowing that it was the right thing to add,
to add something that's going
to impact not only this Commonwealth, the communities
that we serve, all 331 of them within the Commonwealth,
this nation and this world in such a magnificent way.
Jack you are the man.
I appreciate it.
I love it when you come on campus.
Keep coming and coming and coming and coming.
You've been an absolutely phenomenal University
of Massachusetts Boston ambassador, a tireless worker
and the phone calls and your list of friends
and colleagues you've asked without even batting an eye
and we're so grateful for that.
Give him a round of applause.
[ Applause ]
So, everyone's been coming up here talking about Ashley.
Ashley this and Ashley that.
Well, if you haven't had the chance yet you got
to meet Ashley's dad and Ashley's mom.
They don't have names.
Their names are Ashley's dad and Ashley's mom.
But, more importantly back there
in the corner is Ashley's grandma, 95 years old,
came up from Brooklyn to be here today.
[ Applause ]
We've introduced our President.
I'll have a chance to do that again in a moment.
However, today is the birthday of one
of the Presidents whose life's work went into making sure
that this campus understood its place in this great city.
Dr. Wood would have been how old today?
Ninety years old today.
Oh my goodness and I know he's smiling at all the work we have
to do and the work that we've been doing all along the way,
happy birthday to him as well.
Good evening everybody.
And all of you that I haven't had a chance to see and hug
and smile it's a giant hug sent out to all of you.
Thank you for being here.
You have been so phenomenal in answering the call,
understanding what it meant and knowing
that this evening is great because you are here.
It's even greater for me because I have my beautiful wife Angela
with me tonight.
I'm so grateful that she's here, my partner in this work.
And the President will talk about it,
but our board members are here.
And at our table we have chairs and trustees
and they're all over the room.
Welcome to all of you as well, Chair Thomas
and all the Governors that are in the room tonight, thank you.
Tonight the University
of Massachusetts Boston pays tribute
to a legendary public servant, Jim Brett.
For so many years our friend Jim Brett has brought tremendous
energy, compassion and commitment to serving others
to his many roles and all the things that he's represented
in his life, New England Council President, civic leader,
advocate for people with intellectual disabilities.
This evening his vast network of friends are at work
and his colleagues have come together with your university,
the University of Massachusetts Boston and all of our supporters
and all the wonderful team that I have that works
with me every day to make this possible to make sure
that we honor his outstanding leadership
in a most meaningful way.
We brought you the greatest wait staff
in we could find anywhere tonight for this event.
We brought you outstanding chefs.
[ Applause ]
As Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Boston I'm
so proud to announce the establishment
of the James T. Brett Chair in Disability
and Workforce Development.
The nations only endowed chair focusing
on advancing employment opportunities
for persons with disabilities.
This chair is made possible because of you.
Every dollar that you've donated tonight has helped value
and bring value to this university, to this chair
and to the opportunities we have to serve.
Because you believe in inclusion in a society
where all people regardless of their abilities
or their disabilities fully participate in our schools,
our workplaces and communities this has been a
tremendous success.
We had to move this event off of campus.
The list kept growing and growing.
It's over, it's close-- I'm going to do like Jack.
It's about 900 people who couldn't get in and 900 people
that are here tonight.
We're so grateful for that.
You've come together as a community.
You've donated more than 1.4 million dollars Jack.
I know I'm supposed to keep it low and I'm supposed
to only tell you that we have 1200 and something,
one million 200 and something dollars.
But, the reality is that because of the hard work
of the committee and we're going to thank them later,
that we're 1.4 and growing and we're going to grow even more
when you buy those or when you donate, ha, ha, ha,
to those centerpieces on the table.
I couldn't resist it man, as we move forward with the night.
And so, there are more than 1.4 million reasons why we need
to prepare a new generation of leaders
in workforce development and disability.
Give yourselves a round of applause for all
that you've done tonight.
[ Applause ]
So, on behalf of the University of Massachusetts Boston
and the School for Global Inclusion
and Social Development I would
like to express our deepest gratitude
to our fabulous gala host committee, our event sponsors
and each and every one of you
for your truly generous contributions to our work.
We're truly honored to have you here
and we're inspired by your kindness.
Our students, you saw them as you walked in here tonight,
filled with energy because of you linking to the future.
You know this gift to the future
that you gave tonight is amazing.
All of us, our work, it lives on because of efforts like tonight.
In another first tonight
in our fundraising achievement we set a new record
for this University of Massachusetts Boston gala.
But, it's also a powerful expression of your conviction
that this university, Boston's only public research university
has the research, the intellectual capacity
and the commitment to fulfill the promise of the Brett Chair.
When we sat down with our co-chairs
and we told them the number that we wanted
to raise they did not blink an eye.
In fact, they said we weren't even ambitious enough
because when they started listing the work that all
of these great people are doing it even amazed me as Chancellor
and so we're so grateful.
So, with the support of the endowed fund,
the James T. Brett Chair in Disability
and Workforce Development will receive a permanent source
of funding to further Jim's vision and his family's vision
to maximize employment and social opportunities
for those with disabilities.
Give him a round of applause.
It's a family thing.
Now, this is going to ensure that the chair is always held
by an academic leader, preeminent in the field.
And in future years as the position grows
in stature we look forward to all the good work
that will be done in Jim's name.
So, thank you for joining us tonight and thank you
for your extraordinary support
of Boston's great public university, the University
of Massachusetts Boston.
And so, as I think about leaders
who understand our work it was easy for me to connect
with the next young man who's coming to the stage
because our life's work have been so parallel and someone
who understands what it means to link up with a great city
like Boston and do work that stands with the city.
But, also builds on the mission of the founders to be equal to
or greater than or even let's just say equal to the best.
And so, without further ado I want to bring to the stage
to say a few words our President of our university and all
of his five great campuses,
President of the university Robert Caret.
Come on up Bob.
[ Applause ]
>> Thank you, I appreciate it.
This job has a lot of great perks.
Unfortunately one of them is not having
to follow Keith every time we give speech here in Boston,
bigger than life in so many different ways,
but having such a great impact on the University
of Massachusetts here in Boston.
Thanks Keith.
Thanks for that introduction.
Welcome to all of you to this critically important event,
this wonderful event this festive evening.
This is an event that is important to the University
of Massachusetts Boston and the students we serve.
It's important to Jim Brett and his family.
But mostly, it's important to all of the individuals
who will benefit from the work
that is being begun here this evening.
I've been here a little over two years, lived here in the 60's,
came back two years ago connecting
with Boston and its history.
And part of my role is to get to know people,
to get to know how things are done, to build on a culture
that is in place, to build a long, long history,
150 year history for the University of Massachusetts
and you can't do that by yourself.
You need people to help and guide you
and Jim Brett has been there since I arrived to help me
in that adventure and in that learning experience.
You're going to hear a lot of great things
about Jim this evening, his legislative experience
and what he did there, what he was able to accomplish there,
what he's doing at the New England Council,
the board I serve on with him.
We're proud of the fact that he's a Dorchester neighbor.
We're proud of the fact that we can call him a friend.
He's always been there to give me advice, guidance, support,
friendship and he's done with a sense of humor.
He's been there with many others to help me as I take
on this role as the Head of the University of Massachusetts.
As Keith said, UMASS Boston is Boston's only public research
university and the University
of Massachusetts is Massachusetts only public
research university.
We serve over 100,000 students a year through our
on class experiences and our online experiences.
We have over 300,000 alumni here in the state
and over 500,000 alumni around the globe.
We graduate 15,000 students a year and 85 percent
of them stay here in the commonwealth.
They are the foundation of the future of the commonwealth.
They are the leaders of the future of the commonwealth.
We take our role very, very seriously.
On behalf of the University of Massachusetts and on behalf
of the Board of Trustees and we have two of our trustees here,
Henry I'd like you to stand.
Henry's the, Henry Thomas III, the Chairman of the Board
of Trustees at the University of Massachusetts
and Richard *** Campbell, another trustee here with us,
*** if you'd stand for a second.
I work for these wonderful gentlemen.
And as with most boards they put in tireless amounts of hours
and they do it for no pay and we appreciate all that they do
in providing leadership to this great university.
I also want to thank the host committee and the sponsors.
I want to thank the chairs and particularly Jack
for all he's done to make this a successful evening.
And I want to thank all of you for being part of it.
Creating this chair this evening is an important step
in the evolvement of this great campus.
As you've heard it's the first chair of its type
in the entire country.
But, the kind of work this chair will provide is being leveraged
by its partnership with the individual
that we're honoring here this evening, Jim Brett, linking him
and all of his work over the last several decades to the work
that goes on at the University of Massachusetts Boston
and the mission of that campus.
It shows what partnering together can do
to leverage each other to accomplish great things.
The role of a university is human development.
It's to help people become better people
and to help society as a result become a better society.
That is accomplished through education, economic vitality
and social wellbeing
and creating this chair serves all three of those purposes.
The research expertise of this campus will lend itself
to helping us solve problems in the arena of disabilities
and workforce and intellectual challenged individuals.
That's a critical part of the role of a research university.
We link that to a man who has worked his entire life
to help those with intellectual disabilities thrive
and you can cause great things to happen.
You can cause people to change and lives to change.
I want to take a moment just as an aside
to welcome the two Governors that are with us tonight,
Governor Hassan of New Hampshire and Governor Brennan,
former Governor Brennan of Maine.
I grew up in Maine.
I was educated in Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
All of you who have been part of the human development
of this individual standing up here today,
grew up in Biddeford, Maine, one of the few people
who ever left Biddeford, Maine and who ever went to college.
But, it's been an exciting, exciting journey
and that's what universities do, they transform lives.
[ Applause ]
Ladies and gentlemen, this university has been
on a great adventure for 150 years.
That adventure will continue,
but we do it for the commonwealth.
We do it for the citizens who come in our doors
and together we can continue to do it for another 150 years.
We can only do it with your support
and we appreciate your being here,
providing that support this evening.
Continue to provide that support both financially, politically
and as I like to say, emotionally.
Every once in a while just give Keith and me a hug.
We can use it.
Thanks for being here tonight.
Thanks for being part of this important evening.
[ Applause ]
>> So, as we continue a night
of wonderful surprises Keith Motley has an additional
surprise for you and then we're going to--
I'm going to come back and introduce a very special video.
>> So Jim, I got a letter today from one
of your friends Vicki Kennedy,
but she didn't say Dear Jim, she said Dear Keith.
She wanted to humble you a little bit on this night.
She said, "Dear Keith: As I see it Jim Brett's life has been
defined by service to others from his service
in elective offices in the Massachusetts House
of Representatives to his current chairmanship
of the New England Council, he's been a leader in the civic life
in our common wealth in our region.
But, day jobs have never been enough for Jim.
He has always had a full and rich volunteer life as well.
I've been especially touched by Jim's work in the area
of intellectual disabilities.
He's received many awards.
He's been recognized by and for his work, but everyone
who knows him understands
that his greatest reward was being the brother of Jack Brett,
his inspiration and his best pal.
As he said when he eulogized his brother Jack,
Jack was the inspiration that led all of the Brett brothers,
and there's lots of those Brett brothers
around tonight, and his sisters.
There's lots of them around too.
Yea, yeah for the sisters.
That's what I'm saying.
To understand that each
of us has had a personal responsibility to do all we can
to care for persons with disabilities.
Jim's life and work has been a testament to that inspiration.
Jim gave Jack credit for opening eyes and hearts to the beauty
of the soul, an infinite contributions of people
with intellectual disabilities and through his work Jim took
that inspiration and opened the eyes and hearts
of countless more around and around and around the world.
When President Obama was first elected in 2008 Teddy knew
that there was only one person who should serve as the Chairman
of the President's Committee for People
with Intellectual Disabilities.
And that person was and is Jim Brett.
The President's Committee was first started
by President Kennedy and his strong leadership was very
important to his younger brother Teddy.
I can't help but think how delighted my husband would be
about the establishment of the James T. Brett Chair
in Disabilities and Workforce Development
and that it would be held by Jim at his university,
the University of Massachusetts Boston.
What a fitting tribute to an extraordinary man.
I congratulate the University of Massachusetts Boston
and the Institute for Community Inclusion and the school
for recognizing Jim Brett with this chair.
And I send warmest best wishes to you Jim,
Pattie and every single one of the Brett family.
Sincerely, Vicki Kennedy."
Now let's keep Vicki in our prayers.
She's home in Louisiana because her father is under the weather
and she had to go home to be with him, as she should be
or she would be here tonight.
And so, she sends her love to you Jim and I promised her
that I would read this letter.
But more importantly, I would let Jack would read the letter
but he wanted to Keith to do it and I love
that about Jack Conners, alright, okay.
[ Applause ]
>> Keith, Mr. Chancellor, thank you so very much
for your leadership and your spirit.
So, we've heard so often tonight about disabilities
and workforce development.
But, that's really only a piece of Jim Brett's life.
It's a big piece.
It's an important piece.
It's the compass piece if you will, but it's just a piece.
Jim Brett is a statesman.
He's served in public office as a State Rep.
He runs the New England Council,
but in my opinion we're all familiar
with the New England Patriots, but this is an example
of a New England patriot.
And you're going to see a video that'll tell you just how a
number of people reflect perhaps your own feelings
about Jim Brett, please.
[ Music ]
>> It's an extraordinary story in a sense that this is 1934,
she's only been here a few years.
She came from a farm in Northwest Ireland,
has a first child and the child has a disability
where the doctor says, "Put him in an institution
where he gets three meals a day, has a roof over his head,
will not live long, will not live a productive life
and the burden will be lifted from you."
And she said, "No, he's coming home and I'm going
to have more children and those children are going to be part
of his life and he's going to be part of their life."
[bell ringing]
>> We lived right behind the church.
We went to school right here at Saint Margaret's
and the only time we could get out at night was to go
to a novena at night in the church.
>> Jack and I played together like any other siblings.
You know at one time it was just the two of us and we played
in the house, we played outside.
He liked what everybody else liked.
He liked toys, you now reading the funnies in the house.
It wasn't until he started going to school that you find
out there's something a little different, because he used to go
to a different school.
>> Jack was the eldest of the family.
We didn't know any different and so he was treated
like everyone else within the family.
And it wasn't until we were old enough and wise enough
to know what was going on out in the streets that we realized
that you know Jack would be bullied.
>> Well, Jack came home one night and he was crying
and he was pretty visibly upset and he said
that somebody was hitting him, hit him.
So, I asked him where it was and I went up there.
And the kid was-- there was one boy I think at the time
and he was still there and I confronted him.
I was so hurt that somebody would pick on you know somebody
that was disadvantaged like that.
>> The other thing about Jack, Jack was able
to keep us all together as a family in his own way.
It's you know I think people will say the Brett family is
unique in the sense they're very close.
And we are and it's a tribute to my mother and it's a tribute
to my brother that he kept us close.
>> I had a paper route in this neighborhood.
I was probably nine or ten when I started this
and I had everybody because I knew everybody.
When I was fourteen I sold it to Jim.
>> I heard about John Wayne and I took my tape recorder
to the Copley Plaza Hotel.
He's having a press conference and there I am 12-13 years
of age and I just said, you know,
Mr. Wayne I'm a newspaper boy
and I'm trying to win this contest.
If I can get an interview with you this would help me.
And because of that I was very lucky.
I was able to become Newspaper Boy of the Year and go
on a trip to the Philippines.
Because of the newspapers I was able to travel and meet people.
One of the newspaper customers I had in that route happened
to be a politician and that politician happened
to be the Speaker of the House, John W. McCormack.
And he would tell me stories of what he's doing in Washington,
you know meeting with the President,
meeting with foreign ministers
and it was just a wonderful experience
for a young lad to listen to.
So, that's what I decided that politics was a noble profession.
Now there were two people in my life that I thought very highly
of politically, John W. McCormick
and the second one was Bobby Kennedy.
In 1968 I had the opportunity to meet with him and to march
with him in a parade in South Boston, which today is one
of the highlights of my life.
Jim Ranford, State Representative back
in 1981 my mother was out campaigning for him everyday.
She was so proud of him.
>> Yep.
>> And that was the biggest thing in her life.
>> There's my mother, holding signs and being with me at all
of the coffee hours with the elderly.
And there we had several elderly sights in Dorchester
and she would be at each and every one of them.
In late March of 1981,
when I finished campaigning she had a massive stroke
and my brother Jack was standing over her
and he put a pillow under her head.
He was unable to pick up a phone,
unable to dial you know 911.
We rushed her to the hospital.
She lasted a few days.
I sensed her.
She couldn't speak but she squeezed my hand and she hung
in there and we had the fundraiser.
And she passed away like the day after the fundraiser as though,
everything is going to be alright.
Two months later I'm elected State Representative
but for everyday after that she's in the back of my mind.
I had to keep it together also because of my brother Jack,
that I needed to be a voice for people like Jack.
She gave me that strength.
[ Silence ]
[ Bell ringing ]
>> One of the things his mother taught him
and his wonderful sisters and brothers is that you look
after one another and you take care of your neighbor
and he's never forgotten either one of those things.
And you walk around the parish there's a Jim Brett Way,
there's a Brett House.
He and his family adopted the Food Pantry.
It's named after his mother and went from serving 25 families
to well over 600 families a month now.
When I think of Jim Brett and his legacy I think
in many ways it's a legacy of love.
He's Dorchester through and through.
Even though it's taken him to the White House,
he's never forgotten his roots.
>> My mother always said,
"That the harder you work the luckier you'll get."
As she was getting older and older and she worries
about where does Jack go and we would say to her, "Mom,
you don't have to worry about Jack.
We will all take care of him."
And we did.
I had the opportunity to introduce him
to Governor Dukakis, this is my older brother Jack
and Jack would turn to the Governor
and say, "You know my brother.
You know my brother James?"
Oh yea, I know James.
"Gees, imagine that.
He knows James."
It's not the other way around and we know the Governor.
So, Jack was always putting things in perspective.
>> Jack really loved Jim the best,
because he knew him the longest.
>> Yea.
>> He is the only one since Jim left grade school
who called him James.
God gives all of us all different kinds
of talents and gifts.
Through Jack we recognized the gifts that he was given.
He taught us to be compassionate.
I think whatever good the Brett family has done,
particularly Jim in relation to people
with disabilities, is a result of Jack.
>> Yea.
>> Yea, definitely.
>> He was the teacher for all of us.
>> That's right.
>> No question about it.
>> There's no question about it.
>> They really have this extraordinary bond
that their mother instilled in them.
You know a real appreciation for family,
for caring for other people.
It's such a gift.
>> The people who are like Jim Brett have this incredible
compassion for those that through no fault
of their own struggle in this world.
>> I had an opportunity to visit Jack as he was dying.
I said to Jack, "Are you afraid of dying?"
And he said, "James I'm not afraid."
And I said, "Now why is that."
And he said, "Two things will happen, one I'll go to heaven."
I said, "Well."
"And then two, I'll see my mother."
How beautiful is that.
[ Music ]
There isn't a day that goes
by that I don't think of him or her.
>> Jim's intention and the intention of those
at the University of Massachusetts is
to send a signal to the world that we, we are supportive
and we're going to make something special happen here.
The chair was named after Jim Brett,
because Jim Brett is a man with a lot of soul.
And what I mean by that is he has a tremendous passion
for the issues that matter to our school for inclusion
in social development.
Jim gets it.
We're honoring his life's work, his life's commitment,
his ability to understand and to fight
when others didn't see it to be fashionable.
That's what this public university has been about.
This university has been built on those principles.
Our founder's vision for us was to be able to go
out into these communities right here in the city of the Boston,
throughout the Commonwealth and then to the world and be able
to help right some of the disparities
that existed in the world.
>> When I first heard about the endowed chair,
a couple of things came to mind.
One is Jack.
What would Jack think?
I need to keep my brother Jack's memory alive.
And what I want to see happen with it is that we spend more
of our resources and knowledge and how we get people
with disabilities into the workforce.
>> The love that he had for Jack
and that his mother I think somehow engendered
in that family, they have this great Irish smile and twinkle
in their eye, but they have,
they just have goodness of heart.
>> Jimmy's mother was a hero.
Jimmy's family were heroes.
Jimmy was a hero, but what Jimmy knows is that heroes need help.
Every family needs help.
>> I knew Jim before he was married.
I was at their amazing wedding
and what really strikes me even now, all these years later,
is how much of a team they are.
Whatever Jim commits to, Pattie is there to lend her support
and her talent and energy and they just have an amazing,
an amazing ability to work as a team.
>> I first met him when he was in the House up on Beacon Hill
in Boston when her served in the legislature.
And he was just a huge advocate for Best Buddies,
you know wrapped his arms right around it.
Obviously he had the personal family connection
with his brother.
The issue really resonated with him.
>> The question is whether or not you're going
to identify more with those that struggle or those
that have it easy and Jim Brett has always been the guy
who shows up for those that struggle.
>> A hundred years ago people didn't want
to talk about these things.
Children were institutionalized.
Family members were kept in a room in the house
and nobody ever talked about it.
>> Every cause needs a leader and Jim understood that he era
of closing the door on these families
and making it impossible for them to take care
of their loved one had to end.
>> Jim thank you so much for being a tremendous friend
of this university, for being a wonderful advocate
for the issues around inclusion that matter,
for your leadership, for being Dorchester;
someone who makes us proud to be part of this great city
of Boston and more importantly, someone who cares.
[ Music ]
[ Silence ]
[ Applause ]
>> So, wasn't that terrific?
I tell you boy, that was something else.
[ Applause ]
So ladies and gentlemen it's now my pleasure to introduce one
of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts leaders
and an esteemed State and National Advocate for People
with Intellectual Disabilities, James Brett.
Jim come join me on the stage.
[ Applause ]
So, we are going to at this point have the formal
presentation of the James T. Brett Chair and Disability
and Workforce Development.
I'm going to ask President Caret,
Henry come on up on the stage as well.
[ Silence ]
Jim it is our honor as a university to present you
with the Chancellor's Medal for exemplary leadership.
This is to a most distinguished leader and admired friend,
James Brett in recognition of your outstanding leadership
in public service, civic engagement in advocacy
for people with intellectual disabilities
and you many contributions to our region's economy.
It is my honor to present you with the University
of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor's Medal
for exemplary service in leadership.
[ Presenting medal ]
[ Applause ]
So, we're supposed to come over this way so that we can get Bill
to take this wonderful picture
and I can give you this medal that's framed already.
[ Applause ]
>> Can I just ask Jack--
>> Come on up Jack.
>> He's the only fellow who hasn't been in.
[ Inaudible background discussion ]
>> That is the only photo that Jack hasn't been in today.
[ Laughter ]
[ Silence ]
[ Applause ]
[ Inaudible background discussion ]
So, Jim also on this date September 16,
2013 the University
of Massachusetts Boston formally announces the establishment
of the James C. Brett Chair in Disability
and Workforce Development.
We commit to use the support from this endowment fund
to provide leadership for research training
and technical assistance to enhance workforce participation
and social inclusion for people with disabilities.
In recognition of this honor I am pleased to present you
with this special University
of Massachusetts Boston Chair inscribed with the name
of your endowed chair on it.
As, see Jim does his homework and he understood
that the origin of this was that the person was held
in highest esteem way back a long time ago actually received
a chair.
So, not only did he want it in his name,
h actually wanted a chair.
So, here is the chair.
May it serve as a reminder of the investment
that our university and all that are here tonight have made
to create economic opportunity and a more equitable society
for people with disabilities.
Congratulations, Jim.
Pattie Brett and also the rest of the family, congratulations
to each and every one of you.
Jim. [applause]
>> Thank you my man.
>> You're welcome man.
You are welcome.
>> Thank you.
>> Thank you very much Chancellor.
First of all, a news bulletin.
The billboard on the Southeast Expressway will be
down by the time you go home this evening.
>> Yeah!
>> As the very generous comments were being made
by the speakers my family reminded me
that they should have bought some boots
with them this evening.
Family keeps you very humble.
But also let me just acknowledge a few other people
that were not acknowledged here this evening.
Former United States Senator, Paul Kirk.
Paul Kirk--
[ Applause ]
Paul Kirk, as you all know that he succeeded our great Champion
of Disabilities, Senator Kennedy.
And it was true that Senator Kennedy was very,
very kind in considering me and nominating me for the position
of Chair of the Disability, but it was Paul Kirk
that pushed it over the goal line.
And he only served a matter of a limited number of days,
but they were productive days and he really worked very,
very *** my behalf and I will always be appreciative
of his generosity and advocacy on my behalf.
So, I'm very happy to see him here this evening.
Former Senator Jack Hart from South Boston,
who did just a terrific job and his name is appropriate, Hart.
He gave his heart to the job and then I'd just
like to acknowledge a few members of the legislature,
because after all they are the ones
that fund the University of Massachusetts.
So, we want to make sure they're have a good time this evening,
they don't walk out saying we didn't get introduced.
I was that line item.
What line item?
[laughter] What ever happened to Keith Motley?
Whatever happened to him?
I don't-- so at this time, please give a very warm,
warm welcome to the Senator from Dorchester,
Senator Linda Dorcena Forry.
[ Applause ]
And she is joined by her follow colleague,
someone who I've known for many,
many years when I joined the Great
and General Court he was one of the first legislators
that I had an opportunity to develop a relationship
and he is now the State Senator for the Brockton area
and that is Senator Tom Kennedy.
[ Applause ]
And then one other individual, he's representing the House
of Representatives and that is the Chairman of the Housing
and Urban Development Committee
and he truly has done an outstanding job
in providing affordable housing throughout the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts.
He just conducts himself in the most professional manner
that you would ask of a public servant and it's someone
that I have a great deal of admiration and respect for
and that's State Representative Kevin Honan.
[ Applause ]
So, now wow!
After watching that film I am almost speechless, almost.
I have this little problem
and in my head I can't help hearing Carley Simon singing
to me, you're so vain, you probably think this movie's
about you, don't you, don't you?
Well sort of, yea.
It did seem that way for a bit, but then it hit me.
No, this isn't just about me.
It's really about you.
It's about your generosity and you're commitment
to finding ways to help people
with disabilities make the contributions to our community.
They are fully able and anxious to make
and on their behalf let me say thank you for your support.
In fact, I guess it's fair
to say thanks a million and counting.
I want to recognize the leadership of President Caret,
Chancellor Motley and Dean Kiernan,
strengthening the university's commitment to the work
of the institute for community inclusion.
The ICI's mission is to encourage persons
with disabilities to dream big
and to help them make their dreams a reality,
advance in opportunities for children and adults
with disabilities, to participate in all aspects
of community life as fully
as possible is noble and important work.
And I am proud to join with all of you
in supporting ICI's in that mission.
By the way, as some of you may know, my brother Harry,
he's a big man on the campus at U Mass Boston.
[ Applause ]
He is the photographer's laureate or something like that.
And I understand that the original plan was
to endow what was to be called the Harry Brett's brother's
chair and disability and workforce development.
But there were just too many apostrophes
so they settled for using my name.
A huge thank you as well to the committee chairs Jack Conners.
Jack Conners said when he was asked to be the chair,
I don't even like him.
I like his family but I really don't like him.
I said okay, that's a good start.
That's good.
But we would not be where we are tonight without Jack.
Jack has been a-- and it's been said by so many people
that his fingerprints are on so many things and a lot
of them you're not even aware of.
But I mean if they did have this book of philanthropists,
Jack Conners' picture would probably be on that first page.
He's been generous and a very, very, very good person.
Somebody said the other day, he's always investing in things.
I thank God he invested in me as a friend.
Thanks Jack.
Pattie Jacobs, AT&T, she's one of the co-chairs.
She's AT&T and she used every connection to make this night,
every connection to make this night a huge success
and she keeps saying I didn't really do that; she did.
She did more than we asked and I just want
to say thank you to her.
Joe Nolan, what can one say about Joe Nolan?
One he kept the lights on all night here tonight,
but he is a big shot at Nstar Northeast Utilities.
He used all his energy, all his energy in working
to make this dinner gala a huge success and boy did he ever.
To Joe Nolan, Pattie Jacobs I just say thank you
from the bottom of my heart.
[ Applause ]
And one other person, John White.
Some of you may know him, some of you may not.
But he have a major, major, major, major contribution early
on when I was asking someone for a hundred dollars,
he was big; I mean really big.
Let me just tell you that John is a classmate
of mine from high school.
He was voted most likely to succeed.
He has succeeded in that ladder.
But he's brought along a lot of friends and I am one
and I am eternally grateful that he stepped up to the plate
to support this gala tonight.
John White, I say thank you to you.
[ Applause ]
And to everyone else on this wonderful committee
who has given their time and energy
to make this enormous success that it is.
I want to thank Father Jack for his beautiful invocation.
I told him, I mean I was told that Father Jack once planned
to chant the invocation.
But that was before he learned
that we had some real musical talent on hand.
So, we thank and I know he can hear it,
Ronan Tynan for changing Father Jack's mind, but more especially
for his very moving performance.
And by the way, we can't take the time to go into here,
but if you want an inspiring story
about overcoming the adversity of physical disability,
check out Ronan Tynan's life story.
It is as inspiring as it can get.
I also want to say about a special word of thanks
to the folks from Cardinal Cushing Centers, JoAnn Simons.
The Massachusetts Hospital School, Brian Kerns and Work,
Inc., Jim Cassetta for their very generous contribution
of the table centerpieces tonight.
Let me just say this, all three
of those organizations do wonderful work.
They do God's work and they deserve your continuing support.
And last, but by no means, no means least and,
in fact, quite the opposite.
I have said this many times privately,
but I want to say it here publicly.
I huge thank you to Pattie, my wife.
[ Applause ]
Not only has she assisted in planning this evening's event
with her usual meticulous attention
to detail and organization.
She's had to do it while fending off kibitzing from her very,
very nervous, nervous husband.
But she's used to that.
Thank you Pattie.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
[applause] Now people have said to me occasion how did I come
to be interested in helping the disabled.
And I often said that a have a very simple answer.
It happened the day I was born.
And as you have seen from the film our brother Jack was a very
special person.
And as Joe Kennedy reminded me of my remarks
at my brother Jack's celebration of life, I don't mean that just
in the narrow moralist, euphemistic way that person's
with developmental disabilities are often referred
to as special.
I mean it in the ordinary, everyday sense.
He was very special
and he occupied a very special place in our family.
And it is true in many ways he was that glue that kept us
as a family as close as we have been.
Our mother made sure of that.
Jack was her son and he would not be sent away from the family
to an institution, but rather would live with her
and his brothers and sisters in her home.
Frankly I don't think my mother would have cared much
for academic theories or research about inclusion.
But she certainly understood in fundamentally loving
and human terms that it was important.
No, she would have said necessary for Jack to be
as fully part of our family life as any of the rest of us.
Jack was my mother's first child.
The other five of us came along later.
I was the last.
I figured she had no more children after me
because she had finally achieved perfection.
[laughter] Others in my family think she gave
up out of exasperation.
We five other kids were expected to look after Jack
and we joyfully did that.
He truly was certainly the inspiration
that led his brothers and his sisters and many others as well
to understand that each of us has a personal responsibility
to do what we can to care for persons with disabilities.
Yes, in this way he was a gift, a blessing to us.
He did open our eyes and our hearts to the needs
of the disabled and yes, in his own way he was our teacher
and we took the lesson to heart.
Now shortly before Jack died a few years ago, he undertook
to express himself through art.
He took a canvas and he took up a green crayon.
Green was his favorite color and a yellow one
and he drew a portrait.
Now I would say from my considerable knowledge
with a Morton Master's it is more or less
in the style of Picasso.
It is entitled, "My Brother James."
And when you look at it, you'll notice that above the head
of that green human figure moi, there is some yellow.
Now my sisters Peg and Mary think I represents the sun.
Now, to me looks more like a halo,
but I guess that's modern art for you.
Well, we've come a long way in the last 75 plus years
since Jack was born, both in our attitudes
and our actions towards people with disabilities.
In his nationally syndicated column a year or so ago,
Judge Will, he wrote to commemorate the 40th birthday
of his Jonathan, who has Down Syndrome.
And with his typical rye wit, Will wrote quote,
Judging by John, the world would be improved by more people
with Down Syndrome who are quite nice
as humans go", end of quote.
Well, true enough.
What we need is the wisdom to see that and then to act on it.
And hence, the work of the institute.
But much work remains to be done.
We have seen and we can expect to continue to see efforts
to divide the human family into classified some human lives
as hopeless, inevitably limited and not worthy
of sustaining support and that must not be.
We, we must continue to be faithful, fearless
and forceful advocates for all persons
with disabilities seeking not to diminish their participation
in our human family, but to maximize it.
With that, I am grateful for this recognition.
I am grateful for the work of the institute and I am grateful
for your support for that work.
And thank you all for being here this evening.
[ Applause ]
>> I can lift it up man.
Where do you want it at?
You want it down.
>> [inaudible background comments]
>> Oh okay, I got it for him.
>> Hit him with it.
>> Okay, come on man.
Come on over here.
>> Here's the picture without Jack in it, wow.
Okay.
>> I'm going to let you hold most of it.
[ Taking pictures ]
>> You can't.
She says you can't; it's loose.
>> We're going to put it together a little tighter.
>> Alright.
>> So another round of applause for Jim, ladies and gentlemen.
[ Applause ]
So Pattie Brett and also Ashley Wolfe could you come up here
on the stage for me please.
Come on up Pattie.
I know you don't like coming up here.
Come on up here.
Yea, you Pattie.
That Pattie; Pattie Brett and Ashley Wolfe, Ashley come on up.
Please join me.
Come on. Ashley, she's coming.
Come on up here Pattie.
Here's Ashley.
>> [inaudible background discussion]
>> Ah, we got him.
[ Inaudible background discussion ]
Congratulations.
>> Thank you.
>> This is for Pattie.
>> Oh my goodness.
Thank you.
Thank you.
>> And please come on around here Ashley.
And these are for you Ashley.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Come on in here.
[ Applause ]
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
>> You're welcome.
Alright.
>> My stuff is back here.
>> Yea we got it.
No we got you.
Thank you.
[ Applause ]
Also I'd like to ask the gala coaches here Jack Conners,
Pattie Jacobs and Joe Nolan to come up here
and join me on the podium.
Yea. Yes, how about this team.
So, I told Pattie I needed some glue,
some mortar to hold it all together.
Look at her, right in the middle holding it together.
That's a team right there, a million dollar team.
Let me get in this million dollar picture.
>> Let's get Brett up here.
Jim come on.
>> Come on up here Jim.
>> Come on up here Jim.
Come over here.
Let me just suck he gut--
>> Tell him where he needs to go.
>> Get over here.
>> Sorry old man.
>> So we have a oh-- come on, hold on, hold on.
>> Wow, I'd just assume some cash.
>> Jack said he would assume some cash.
>> Oh, thank you Jack.
Thank you very much.
>> Oh, no, no that's yours.
>> Oh. There's cash in it.
>> You know we have there--
>> Thank you.
Thank you very much.
>> Thank you James.
Thank you very much.
>> Thank you James.
>> Okay thank you.
Thank you for your terrific voluntary leadership
on the gala committee and for helping us have a phenomenal
fund-raising record, record, record setting evening.
Jack take it away.
>> Okay.
>> Thank you my man.
>> I wonder if Ronan Tynan is still in the house.
Ladies and gentlemen what you say we have Ronan Tynan.
>> Thanks Jack.
Nice to see you man.
You're looking very distinguished,
nearly ad friend Jim.
So, I know we're at the closing stages, your bellies are full.
You've listened to a lot of politicians.
I'm not one of them.
I'm just proud of Jim.
Good man. So, he picked this next song particularly
for his wife.
It's called "Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears."
[ Music ]
[ Singing] On the first day on January, eighteen ninety-two,
they opened Ellis Island and they let the people through.
And the first to cross the threshold of that isle of hope
and tears, was Annie Moore from Ireland,
who was all of fifteen years.
Isle of hope, isle of tears, isle of freedom, isle of fears,
but it's not the isle you left behind.
That isle of hunger, isle of pain,
isle you'll never see again, but the isle
of home is always on your mind.
In a little bag she carried all her past and history.
And her dreams for the future in the land of liberty.
And courage is the passport when your old world disappears.
But there's no future in the past when you're fifteen years.
Isle of hope, isle of tears, isle of freedom, isle of fears,
but it's not the isle you left behind.
That isle of hunger, isle of pain,
isle you'll never see again, but the isle
of home is always on your mind.
When they closed down Ellis Island in nineteen forty-two,
seventeen million people had come there for sanctuary.
And in Springtime when I came here and I stepped
onto it's piers, I thought of how it must have been
when you're only fifteen years.
Isle of hope, isle of tears, isle of freedom, isle of fears,
but it's not the isle you left behind.
That isle of hunger, isle of pain,
isle you'll never see again, but the isle
of home is always on your mind.
Isle of hope, isle of tears, isle of freedom, isle of fears,
but it's not the isle you left behind.
That isle of hunger, isle of pain,
isle you'll never see again, but the isle
of home is always on your mind.
But the isle of hope is always on your mind.
[ Applause ]
Jim I don't know if you want another one.
Are you sure.
Okay, this was his final request.
In 2003 they decided they wanted to put Shrek on Broadway.
That's not funny.
And I was being considered to play that lead;
that's still not funny.
Easily known you're a Massachusetts audience.
You find humor in a lot of stuff, thank God.
But I actually ventured to, I got to the last five,
but a series of events took place where I found
that the costume was weighing 30 pounds.
I stand in front of you 280 pounds of raw Irish beef,
that's a lot of weight to put onto a theater floor.
And also it took a lot of time to do makeup
and why would you change something like this?
So, Jim has picked this song.
It was a song written by Leonard Cohen.
It's called Halleluiah.
[ Music ]
>> [Singing] Now I've heard there was a secret chord
that David played, and it pleased the lord,
but you don't really care for music, do ya?
It goes like this the fourth, the fifth, the minor fall,
the major lift, the baffled king composing hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.
Maybe I've been here before, who knows if I walked this floor.
I used to live alone before I knew ya.
Yea baby. I see your flag on the marble arch,
love is not a victory march.
It's cold but it's a broken hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.
This the instrumental where usually people huddle
and give each other a hug.
That's ago idea.
Jim and Pattie just give each other a little squeeze.
And reminisce of the last said, who's your daddy?
[ Music ]
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.
Maybe there's a God above, but all I ever learned
from love was how to show that someone is true to ya.
It's not the cry you hear at night,
it's not the one whose seen the light it's called a
broken hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.
Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah,
hallelujah, hallelujah.
Thank you very much.
Congratulations Jim.
Is this your new chair?
I won't attempt to sit in it.
Jack, great to see you.
>> [inaudible comments]
>> You're very welcome.
Thank you.
>> Ronan Tynan ladies and gentlemen.
So, on your program it's listed that tonight is a gala.
And that is true.
But what tonight is really about is about family.
It's about friends and it's about the inspiration
of family members on this family.
It's a great story.
In a sense it's an American story.
But one senses that there's a certain exceptionalism here
and it's well deserved.
Jim, you're a special man.
You're a gift and we're so very honored to be together tonight
to honor you and the entire Brett family.
On behalf of your brother who was your inspiration
and your mother who was your inspiration,
as well all of the Bretts, also about another inspiring person,
Ashley whose dad's name tag reads Ashley's dad.
This is, this is a wonderful tribute tonight
and it's a great opportunity for those of us who admire the work
of the University of Massachusetts Boston Campus
to be supportive tonight as you have been
and in the future as well.
Have a wonderful evening.
Thanks very much.
[ Applause ]
[ Silence ]