Over 200 people gathered at a reception on Sept. 29 to honor Middletown’s Lydia Brewster as she received Liberty Bank’s Community Diversity Award for her work with the North End Action Team (NEAT).
The award is administered and given out every year to a person in a community that Liberty Bank services.
Brewster co-founded NEAT in 1997 with the primary goals of revitalizing housing and empowering the neighborhood in the North End of Main Street. The North End is the lowest income neighborhood in Middletown, and has the city’s highest percentage of minorities.
Liberty Bank chose Brewster out of the 29 candidates were nominated. The bank bestowed the award and a $5,000 donation to NEAT after a rigorous selection process. Of the 29 nominees, a committee from the bank chose and interviewed three finalists.
Brewster is the fourth recipient of the award.
Sue Murphy, a marketing representative for the Liberty Bank branch on 190 Main St., was involved in the selection process and was impressed with Brewster’s character. “She’s a wonderful person,” Murphy said. “Lydia has fought to help the North End take control of their destiny. We feel good about giving her the award.”
Paul McConnell, CEO and President of Liberty Bank was one of the 200 people in attendance at the award ceremony. McConnell shared adulating words for Brewster as he presented her with the award.
“Lydia Brewster exemplifies the qualities of leadership, tolerance, and respect for diversity that we seek in a recipient of our award,” Brewster said. “All of us have encountered leaders in our lives—people who motivate and inspire us. Occasionally, we run across a leader of a very special kind: someone who encourages others to become leaders themselves. People in Middletown’s North End know Lydia as such a leader.”
Brewster, who is modest about her accomplishments and newly found recognition, accepted the award with modesty.
“I’m just a carpetbagger from Haddam Neck,” Brewster said. “This award really belongs to the neighborhood.”
NEAT is overseen by a board that is 51 percent resident driven. One of its main focuses is indigenous leadership development.
“Residents must ultimately take responsibility for the neighborhood’s future,” Brewster said. “We try to build grassroots leadership.”
Many of NEAT’s projects have been in cooperation with the University and the Green Street Arts Center.
Green Street Arts Center, something Brewster is particularly proud of, began as a partnership between the University and NEAT. The Da Vinci Club, a group for children in the neighborhood, came out of collaboration with the University and the arts center. Da Vinci Club members have made two films, built a small house, and, are working currently to build boats as a community.
“Green Street Arts Center is a cornerstone of revitalizing the North End,” Brewster said.
In addition, NEAT has created and oversees childhood mentoring programs, youth clubs, an a cappella choir, and a 10 point community policing plan that was accepted by Middletown
In the past, the Community Diversity Award has been awarded to Ramon Ortiz, who is involved in low income housing; Jane Glove, founder of a multi-cultural center in New London; and Claire Gaudiani, former president of Connecticut College and New London Development Corporation.
To contact and get involved with NEAT, please call 860-346-4845.
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