Erick received his Light of Dawnn Award at the 11th Annual Light of Dawnn event in February, 2025.
We proudly served as host of the 11th Annual Light of Dawnn Awards ceremony – an event that honors the legacy of Dawnn Jaffier, a youth leader and lifelong West End House family member. Established in 2015 by the Highland Street Foundation, Josh Kraft, and the MA Nonprofit Network, the gathering shines a spotlight on the extraordinary professionals directly providing mission critical services in our community. Scholarship awards for high school seniors are also included, thanks to The Foundation to be Named Later. This year’s award was presented to Erick Ramirez, West End House’s Director of Teen Impact, in recognition of his unwavering commitment to service.
Erick’s journey with the West End House spans over a decade, beginning as a Club member in his teens, progressing to a Peer Leader, and now a full-time youth development professional and Director of Teen Impact with a social work degree. Erick has a knack for building transformational relationships with youth, fostering trust and empowerment, and finding the balance between accountability and fun. Our teen members know they can count on him to provide support and encouragement, which results in their being motivated to strive to achieve more.
In his role, Erick partners with multiple stakeholders to best support our teens, including working with teachers to help struggling teens re-engage in their academics. He provides practical guidance while celebrating their progress. Erick’s approach centers on integrity, warmth, and being solutions-oriented, which elevates everyone around him and strengthens our team’s ability to fulfill our mission in partnership with our community!
