Toni Boucher Honored with Voices of Hope Advocacy Award for Holocaust Education Work

First Selectman Toni Boucher was honored earlier this month with the L’dor V’dor Advocacy Award from Voices of Hope, which recognized her for her decades-long commitment to ensuring Holocaust and genocide education in Connecticut schools. Boucher drew praise from state and national leaders, who highlighted her leadership and her persistent efforts to fight antisemitism through education.

Among the large turnout at the event in Hartford on Nov. 6 was a supportive contingent of Wilton officials and residents, including State Rep. Savet Constantine, Wilton Democratic Town Committee Chair Tom Dubin, Selectman Ross Tartell, Temple B’Nai Chaim Cantor Harriet Dunkerly, Wilton Interfaith Action Committee Chair Stephen Hudspeth, Fire Chief Jim Blanchfield and others.

Boucher was also saluted by UConn President Dr. Radenka Maric, as well as Gov. Ned Lamont and Sen. Richard Blumenthal.

Lamont acknowledged Boucher’s central role in creating Connecticut’s Holocaust education mandate and Blumenthal paid tribute her work: “Connecticut led the nation by mandating Holocaust and genocide education. Toni Boucher made it possible,” he said.

Former State Sen. Gayle Slossberg, who co-chaired the Education Committee and worked closely with Boucher on getting the Holocaust education legislation passed during their time in the state legislature, described the honoree with a testament to her dedication.

“There’s a beautiful teaching from the Talmud that says, ‘The righteous of all nations have a share in the world to come.’ From this verse, we know comes the honor, “Righteous Among the Nations,” a distinction created to honor those non-Jews who risked their lives to rescue Jews from Nazi persecution during the Holocaust. Their courage reminds us of what moral strength looks like in the darkest of times when decency demanded action, even at great personal cost. Toni Boucher embodies that same spirit, the willingness to stand up, to speak out and to act with conscience and compassion, even when it is difficult or unpopular,” Slossberg said.

As she accepted the award, Boucher thanked everyone who had gathered to honor her. “When I look out at all of you and see so many family and friends and friends who are like family to me, I’m overwhelmed,” she said.

Boucher pointed to the present-day rising threat of Antisemitism.

“There has been a significant increase in Antisemitism incidents in recent years, particularly in the United States — a 344% increase over five years and an 893% increase over the past decade. Antisemitic incidents on college and university campuses saw a dramatic 84% increase in 2024, … roughly 48% of U.S. Jewish college students say that they have felt uncomfortable or unsafe on a campus event because they are Jewish,” she cited.

“We believe the best way for us to combat this is through education,” Boucher added, noting that as simple a solution as getting the legislation passed sounded, it wasn’t an easy lift.

“It took over a decade to pass this legislation, as it faced roadblock after roadblock, but we never gave up,” she said.

Boucher honored the survivors who continue sharing their stories despite the emotional toll. “By retelling these stories, it is our hope that fear and prejudice is replaced with understanding, compassion and tolerance,” she said.

When she closed her remarks, Boucher spoke of the survivors once again. “They are our real heroes. They are the ones we honor here tonight, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”