First established in 1774 and formerly recognized as a public library in 1893, Hartford Public Library (HPL) is a vital civic anchor in the City of Hartford, providing free resources that inspire reading, guide learning and encourage individual exploration. HPL’s eight neighborhood library locations, including its Library on Wheels, are anchors for economic development and community revitalization, and help to strengthen social bonds and community identity.

HPL’s role is focused on being an active catalyst for connectivity, creativity, and literacy for all ages.  HPL uses its virtual space to connect, to educate and to provide sorely needed technological guidance for residents new to the digital sphere. Through its work, the Library helps the Hartford community go more deeply into the worlds they know and the worlds they want to know. In so doing, HPL champions a new vision of what an urban library can be and serves as an agent for change in the lives of its customers. Hartford Public Library centers community priorities and voices in its work and serves as a national model for 21st century urban libraries.

Doris Rivera is a retired Hartford Public Schools Paraprofessional, having worked in the classroom for over 25 years. In addition to her professional career, she was a successful independent businesswoman, selling Mary Kay products for over 10 years.

Doris is a dedicated and passionate volunteer who has devoted much of her life to helping others. She has always been a very active member of her church, among many roles, she volunteered her time as a certified adult education religious teacher and sang in the choir. After retirement, Doris filled the void by volunteering at Mary Hooker School as a classroom helper.  She also enrolled in Class 2 of LGH’s Third Age Initiative. Doris and her LGH classmates led a project that assisted with strengthening families through parent education.  Her bilingual skills and experience in the schools made her an invaluable asset to the team.

Today, Doris continues to volunteer at Jubilee House as an English as a Second Language volunteer. She has been volunteering there for over twenty years, and her commitment to helping others is truly inspiring. In her spare time, Doris enjoys walks outside and spending time with her daughters and her husband Pedro. They have been happily married for 62 years.

Doris is receiving the 2023 Polaris Leadership Award for her lifelong commitment to being a servant leader. Her humility and steady involvement in so many organizations have made a difference in countless lives and in the broader community.

Christopher W. Clarke is a Financial Advisor with the KFD Team of Merrill Lynch.  In his role, he is responsible for connecting high net worth individuals and institutions to strategies that can help reach their financial goals. His approach combines the client experience of a boutique-like investment firm with access to extensive resources, including traditional, specialty asset, alternative, and capital market investment strategies, as well as customized credit and banking offerings.

He is a native of Brooklyn, NY, and began his financial services career in 1998. Chris relocated to the Greater Hartford area in 2002 and joined Bank of America in 2015.  He is also a single dad who resides in West Hartford with his 3 daughters. In his free time, he loves to cook.

He currently serves as Chairman of the Connecticut Chapter of Bank of America’s Black Professionals Group and as 1st Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce. He also chairs the Chamber’s Minority Business Network. In this work, he makes important connections between individuals and businesses, and challenges all to be a part of the solution for better representation and equity in our local business community. Chris is a former LGH board member and a proud LGH graduate of both Quest 2007 and The Verge 2021.

Chris graduated from Brooklyn College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and the University of Connecticut with a Master of Business Administration concentrating in finance and management.

Chris is receiving our 2023 Polaris Connections Award. He leads in the region with passion and connecting minds to bring about change.

Paul H. Dworkin, MD, is Executive Vice President for Community Child Health at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and professor emeritus of pediatrics at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. For 15 years, he previously served as physician-in-chief at Connecticut Children’s and chair of pediatrics at UCONN.

Dr. Dworkin’s interests are at the interface among child development, child health services, and child health policy. Dr. Dworkin’s honors include teaching awards from both universities he has served, visiting professorships, and named lectureships. He was the editor of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics from 1997-2002 and was a member of the first entering class of the Academy of Distinguished Educators at the UCONN School of Medicine. In 2003, Dr. Dworkin received the prestigious C. Anderson Aldrich Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics in recognition of achievement in the field of child development. His vision led to the creation of Help Me Grow, a Connecticut statewide initiative to promote the early detection of children at risk for developmental and behavioral problems and their linkage to programs and services that is currently being replicated in more than 30 states.   He currently serves as the project director for the North Hartford Ascend Pipeline, a US Department of Education Promise Neighborhoods grantee.

Dr. Dworkin received his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed his pediatric residency and fellowship training at Boston Children’s Hospital. He earned a certificate in policy analysis from the University of North Dakota. Dr. Dworkin has served on the boards of numerous community-based organizations, recently completed his tenure as chair of the board of the Urban League of Greater Hartford, and currently serves on the board of the Institute for Child Success in Greenville, SC. He was a participant in LGH’s inaugural Summit program in 2012.

Dr. Dworkin is receiving the 2023 Polaris Visionary Award for his exceptional medical career and contributions to building access to quality healthcare for underserved populations. We commend his vision to deliver services in new ways and with care and respect for the communities served.