2014 ESL Jefferson Award Winner: Louise Bennett

For over 25 years, Dr. Louise Bingham Bennett has dedicated her life to serving the refugee community in Rochester, New York.

Dr. Bennett not only provides medical assistance to refugees, but mental and emotional support as well. Dr. Bennett has traveled to the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya and the village of Ndoombe in Tanzania to administer medical treatment for those in need. Since her retirement from the Westside Health Center three years ago, Louise has continued her involvement in helping refugees, especially the Somalian community. Dr. Bennett is the acting Administrator for the Somali Community Center, which was started in 2011 at Charles Settlement House on Parkway.

She spends the majority of her time researching grants to help fund programs and coaching adult students on various issues, such as citizenship and Medicaid. Dr. Bennett’s philanthropic efforts are a blessing to the entire refugee population.