Shawn Robinson, Director of Vocational Services, Honored with Black Excellence Award

Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll and Governor Maura Healey with Shawn and his daughter.

Shawn Robinson, director of vocational services at ServiceNet, was honored with a Black Excellence on the Hill Award from the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus for Exceptional Leadership at the State House on Friday, April 14.

Since 2011, Shawn has served as the founding director of ServiceNet’s Prospect Meadow Farm. This therapeutic vocational farming program provides meaningful employment opportunities for over 80 individuals with developmental disabilities, autism, or brain injury. Shawn has implemented various initiatives to remove access barriers during his tenure.

“By actively addressing barriers to our farm-based vocational program, we have bridged the racial divide that typically exists in agricultural work,” Robinson said in a statement. “More than 15% of our program participants are people of color, and all are learning skills which enable them to take an active part in the local food economy.”

Shawn currently serves as Director of Vocational Services for ServiceNet, overseeing social enterprises and vocational programming for disabled individuals residing in Franklin, Hampshire, Berkshire, and Hampden counties.

Sen. Jo Comerford presenting Shawn with a special citation.

Robinson was nominated by Sen. Jo Comerford, D-Northampton, who also awarded him with a special citation at the event.

“In his role as director of vocational services, Shawn is leading western Massachusetts and the Commonwealth in a bold and necessary effort to expand the diversity of those actively taking part in the local food economy through farm-based vocational programs,” Comerford said. “This award is well-deserved by Shawn, who has long had an unparalleled and inspired commitment to food security for all.”

Robinson also is active in both the town and the region, serving as chairman of Hatfield’s Council on Aging, chairing the board for Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture and being a member of the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Ethics Committee.