Reading Coalition Director Wins 6th Congressional District Award

READING, MA — Reading’s Erica McNamara earned major recognition on Friday in Salem just a matter of days after being named a finalist for the Sixth Congressional District Peter J. Gomes Award.

Given annually by Congressman Seth Moulton, the award recognizes a member of Moulton’s Sixth Congressional District “who exemplifies the qualities of integrity, compassion and unwavering commitment to their community,” as noted in an award announcement.

McNamara heads the Reading Coalition for Prevention and Support, aiming to reduce substance misuse and promote mental health.

She was named last week alongside five other finalists for the award from Andover, Salem, Saugus and Newburyport.

Finalists then gathered in Salem on Friday for an event honoring them and announcing McNamara as the individual award winner.

“We cannot think of a more deserving person,” the Reading Police Department wrote of the recognition in a social media post.

McNamara has worked in her current role in Reading for the past 14 years. She previously spent 13 years at the Lowell Community Health Center.

The Peter J. Gomes Award is named for Rev. Peter J. Gomes, who was a mentor to Moulton and a renowned preacher and speaker. Gomes died in 2011.