Charter Oak Cultural Center's 24th Annual Vision Awards Gala

Join us for a magical evening at Charter Oak Cultural Center’s 24th ANNUAL VISION AWARDS GALA honoring:

MERRILL MANDELL, Vision Award, Jewish Heritage
TAO LABOSSIERE (1968-2024), Vision Award, Arts & Education
AIDA MANSOOR, Vision Award, Social Justice

Special Guests:

KEISHA GRANT, Emcee
JACQUES LAMARRE, Auctioneer

Dust off your dancing shoes, don your favorite party duds, and mark Monday, May 5, 2025 for a fabulously good time! Our gala has a well-earned reputation for being one of Hartford’s most fun parties and for being a warm and elegant evening of inspiration. This event is guaranteed to lift your spirits, nourish your heart and remind you of how wonderful it feels to be together - not just to party - but to support a good and noble cause.

Where: Hartford Marriott Downtown, 200 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT

5:15 pm Registration

5:30 pm Cocktail Reception

Open bar, butlered hors d’oeuvres
Silent Auction and more!

6:30 pm Dinner and Celebration

Vision Awards Ceremony
Performances by City School of the Arts Students
Live Auction
Groovin’ to the music of Mass-CONN-Fusion

To pay by check:

Please make payable to CHARTER OAK CULTURAL CENTER
Attn: Annual Gala
Charter Oak Cultural Center
21 Charter Oak Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106 

This evening is generously sponsored by

HSB

The Mandell-Braunstein Family

Coleman and Grace Brandt Foundation

The Temkin Family

For more information, visit CharterOakCenter.org.

FOR SPONSOR INFORMATION OR TO VOLUNTEER TO BE A TABLE CAPTAIN: BarbaraG@CharterOakCenter.org

MORE ON OUR HONOREES

Merrill Mandell

Vision Award, Jewish Heritage

Merrill Mandell has been a community advocate and volunteer since arriving in Connecticut 23 years ago. She has a particular interest in organizations and causes that strive to improve quality of life through social justice, compassion, and access to opportunity. Over the years, she has been involved with Charter Oak Cultural Center, Jewish Federation (both locally and nationally), Jewish Community Foundation, Commission on Jewish Education, Jewish Family Services, Jewish Leadership Academy, The Wadsworth, and Kingswood-Oxford School. She is a graduate of the Wexner Heritage leadership training program. Merrill has had the opportunity to work with amazing mentors and fellow volunteers over the years and is particularly grateful for their guidance and encouragement.

Tao LaBossiere (1968-2024)

Vision Award, Arts & Education

Tao LaBossiere (1968–2024) was an award-winning muralist, sculptor, illustrator, and painter known for his exceptional craftsmanship and boundless creativity. After moving to Hartford ArtSpace in 1997, he dedicated himself to enhancing the arts scene in Hartford. Tao co-led Art of Tao LaBossiere LLC and, alongside his wife, Amy, served as co-director of the Hartford ArtSpace Gallery for decades. Through his iconic public artworks, mentoring, and community-building efforts, his legacy lives on in the art and people he inspired.

Aida Mansoor

Vision Award, Social Justice

Aida Mansoor is the Director of Field Education and works with students in the Peacebuliding and Chaplaincy Graduate Programs at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace. Her volunteer affiliations past and present include the Islamic Association of Greater Hartford, the Muslim Coalition of Connecticut, and the Muslim Coalition of Connecticut. Committed to building bridges of understanding, Aida has been delivering presentations on Islam, Muslims and women since 1999. She is a board member of the Connecticut Council for Interreligious Understanding and has received numerous awards for her work. Aida was inducted into the Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame in 2022.