2024 Eartha Dengler History Award Ceremony

Unwavering Commitment to Lawrence 

From Dominican Republic to Lawrence’s Daisy and Eutaw Streets, Julia and Dario Silverio raised a family and built a home in Lawrence. A non-traditional dynamic, Julia started multiple businesses — a salon, a bakery, tax preparation, travel and insurance agencies, support services for new immigrants — and engaged in political life. Dario started the Dominican parade and, forever a quiet force and partner, believed in Julia while being present for their children — Yarel, Aliali, and Evan — and teaching them in experiential and impactful ways.

Their family grew during Lawrence’s transition to a majority Latino city. Weekends were spent at the Dominican social club Los Trinitarios, St. Mary’s Church, the Lawrence Public Library, playing sports in city parks, dancing on the Common and at the Semana Hispana parade — celebrating their language and culture while always finding ways to be leaders and catalysts for good in Lawrence.

Together, by example and in community, Julia and Dario instilled values of entrepreneurship, hard work, advocacy and activism, faith, and education. Always having a home to return to, their children were given the assurance that they belong wherever the road takes them, the ability and desire to make the path better for others, and the courage to tell the positive stories about growing up in the city they love — Lawrence — for generations.