Former 18-year Somerville mayor Joe Curtatone is set to be honored June 4 with a Public Service Award by the Somerville Media Center, which teaches residents broadcast tech and journalism skills.
The celebration, with gourmet snacks, drinks and music, is called “Lights, Camera, Joe Curtatone!”
“Curtatone was a steadfast champion of local media and community storytelling,” said the center’s executive director, Sean Effel, noting how Curtatone supported each renewal of SMC’s grant agreement with the city, appeared frequently on its programs and in 2007 and 2011, testified before a legislative committee to fight rule changes that would have weakened local control of cable systems and diminished support for community and government access television.
Curtatone spoke about the changes as chair of the Massachusetts Municipal Association. “As the home of the commonwealth’s first independent nonprofit community access television corporation,” he said, “Somerville finds this completely unacceptable.”
The support for community media continued as Curtatone was a guest and speaker at national and regional Alliance for Community Media conferences, and as the star of numerous Community Media Day campaigns, Effel said.
“He has always demonstrated that community media is essential infrastructure for civic engagement, and his leadership helped protect and strengthen the resources that allow Somerville residents to share their stories and participate meaningfully in local democracy,” Effel said in a press release.
The evening features cheeses and other small bites by Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge’s Huron Village, drinks from Arts at the Armory, live music by the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble, raffles and a presentation honoring Curtatone’s long-standing advocacy for community media and the Somerville Media Center. Proceeds from the event directly support programs at the center, a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit.
“Lights, Camera, Joe Curtatone!” is 7 to 9 p.m. June 4 at Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Spring Hill, Somerville.
Tickets are here.
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