Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards

Worcester Regional Research Bureau announces the recipients of the 2025 Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards! Since 1988, The Research Bureau has celebrated the unsung heroes of public service through the Thomas S. Green Public Service Award. The Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards publicly recognize the extraordinary efforts of individuals across the region who have dedicated their careers and personal lives to our communities. This year, The Research Bureau honors five employees who have made outstanding contributions to public service and embody the ideals of the Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards: Exceptional competence and efficient handling of all assigned responsibilities Enthusiastic performance of tasks above and beyond the call of duty Cooperative, helpful, and friendly attitude toward the public and fellow employees Community involvement outside the scope of job-related responsibilities MARIBEL CRUZ, Director of Housing and Development, Fitchburg Community Development & Planning Maribel was born and raised in Fitchburg. Her love for the city and its people is evident throughout her work. In her role, she has revitalized Main Street, expanded affordable housing opportunities, cultivated small businesses, and fostered community partnerships. A nominator noted, “She approaches her work with dedication, efficiency, and an unwavering commitment to improving Fitchburg—qualities that make her not just fully competent in her position, but a true leader in public service.” As another nominator wrote “her contributions extend far beyond her job description, embodying the principles of integrity, service, and civic responsibility.” This illustrated by Maribel’s deep involvement in the community, volunteering for the Spanish American Center, Fitchburg Latino Heritage Festival, Empowering Latina Leaders Affirmation Inc, Community Health Connections, and more. ADRIAN MACHADO, World Language Spanish Teacher, Worcester East Middle School, Worcester Public Schools Adrian is a dynamic educator “whose dedication to the children and youth of Worcester and beyond is unmatched.” As a Spanish teacher, he pushes his students to reach their full potential but as a person, he’s a trusted mentor, coach, and advocate for them. A nominator wrote, “Adrian is a key part of our community and has made a huge difference in the lives of our students and families. He is well-known and respected for his hard work, kindness, and dedication to helping others.” He goes above and beyond for youth in our area, covering the costs of basketball clinics for students, organizing food drives, hosting an annual golf tournament to raise funds for school incentive programs, and running fundraisers for Christmas gifts, Thanksgiving Turkeys, even the 8th grade dance. “If a student is ever in need, Adrian steps up and makes sure they get the support they need.” REBECKA MAILEA, Community Outreach Officer, Worcester Police Department Officer Mailea’s dedication to service is unparalleled. Before becoming an officer, she and her family organized The Giving Tree in 2006 and since then has provided over 8,000 Worcester children with wish-list gifts. As an officer she has visited every classroom in Worcester, started the New Migrant Family Education Program, began “Talk with a Cop” and “Don’t be scammed” programs, organized the National Night Out event, and visited every classroom in Worcester. When the storm hit North Carolina last year, she loaded a 30-ft box truck with donated items and drove it to NC, delivering bags of toys, jackets, hats, to over 900 kids. She provided 40 families with indoor heaters, blankets, first aid kits and other necessities; and donated over 100 adult jackets and 200 plastic bins. A nominator wrote, “Officer Mailea’s constant commitment to this city’s youth should inspire people in the City of Worcester to go out and be a more active member of the community.” LINNEA SHELDON, Community Relations & Communications Manager, Worcester Public Library Many may not know her name, but they know her work. Linnea is the mind behind “March Meowness,” the viral sensation that landed Worcester Public Library (WPL) on the international stage for its innovation in librarianship. WPL was featured on the NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, Good Morning America, BBC News, The New York Times, and many more. A nominator wrote, “Linnea Sheldon’s contributions to Worcester Public Library and the broader community have been nothing short of transformative. Her ability to develop creative communication strategies, foster community engagement, and build lasting partnerships is unparalleled. Through her leadership, WPL has enhanced its reputation, expanded its reach, and created a more inclusive environment for all patrons.” At a time when libraries face unprecedented challenges, Linnea “amplifies WPL’s good work in ways that make all of Worcester shine brighter.” MOHAMMED SIDDIQUI, Senior Software Developer, Information Technology Department, Worcester Public Schools Mohammed is the architect behind many of WPS’ IT innovations. He has Special Education Student Information System, a Translation Services Database, guest sign-in tracking system, and referee payment system, to name a few. Mohammed is exceptionally competent, but beyond that, he is generous with that knowledge, believing that helping others contributes to the overall success of the Schools and its students. A nominator wrote, “Mohammed’s problem-solving and strategic planning abilities are second to none. With decades of hands-on experience in the field, he approaches every challenge with confidence and ingenuity. Whether troubleshooting critical system issues or implementing long-term IT solutions, he consistently delivers results with efficiency and precision. His steadfast commitment to excellence ensures that our technological infrastructure remains reliable and effective for students, faculty, and staff alike.” Join us in celebrating the 2025 Thomas S. Green Public Service Award Recipients on May 29th, 5:00PM at Mechanics Hall. The Event is Free & Open To The Public. All Are Welcome! The Award is named in memory of Thomas S. Green, a founder of The Research Bureau and one of its original Directors. Mr. Green was a civic leader for many decades and a Vice President of Norton Company (now Saint-Gobain). This is the 37th annual Green Awards presentation, which has honored 150 public servants over the past three decades. The Research Bureau’s Award Committee, composed of representatives from diverse community organizations, selected the recipients from nominees submitted by the public. This year’s committee includes: Chair Ché Anderson, Joyce Augustus, Melanie Bonsu, Katie Crockett, Kathleen Gagne, Ellen Ganley, Dave Garvin, Paul Matthews, Michael McDermott, Todd Rodman, Hank Stolz, Michelle Tufau Afriyie, and Ron Waddell. Ché Anderson, Chair of the Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards Committee, said “This year, we received a record number of nominations, illustrating the incredible work of public servants from across Worcester County. The 2025 recipients of the Thomas Green Awards stood out for their exceptional work and selfless commitment to their community. I thank them all for their service and congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition.” Paul Matthews, Executive Director and CEO of The Research Bureau, said “The Thomas Green Awards are a highlight of The Research Bureau’s calendar each year, and we appreciate that so many worth candidates were nominated, as well as the hard work of our committee selected this year’s honorees. It is an honor to recognize the exceptional contributions of individuals like them. This year’s recipients hail from Worcester and Fitchburg, representing a multitude of disciplines: housing, education, public safety, libraries, and information technology. WRRB is grateful to have the opportunity to thank them, and all of Worcester County’s public servants, for their work on behalf of our communities. Additionally, the Bureau thanks Mechanics Hall for their generous support of the TSG Awards, bringing the ceremony back to its venerable …

We invite you to submit your nominees for the 2025 Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards by Friday, March 14. Forms available on our website.

Worcester Regional Research Bureau announces recipients of the 2024 Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards.

Worcester Regional Research Bureau announces recipients of the 2023 Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards.

Worcester Regional Research Bureau announces recipients of the 2022 Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards.

Worcester Regional Research Bureau announces recipients of the 2021 Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards.

The Worcester Regional Research Bureau is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2020 Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards.

The Worcester Regional Research Bureau is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards.

The Worcester Regional Research Bureau is pleased to announce the 2018 recipients of the Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards.

The Worcester Regional Research Bureau today announced the 2017 recipients of the Thomas S. Green Public Service Award

The Worcester Regional Research Bureau today announced the 2016 recipients of the Thomas S. Green Public Service Award.

The Research Bureau celebrates the 2015 Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards.

The Worcester Regional Research Bureau today announced the 2015 recipients of the Thomas S. Green Public Service Award

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