Bermudian pastor the Rev. Leonard Santucci has been honoured by local government in New Jersey for his community service.

And Dr. Santucci, the pastor of St. Paul AME Church in East Orange, New Jersey, has also been honoured by his city'e education association for "keepng the dream alive".

Dr. Santucci was one of six local leaders who received communoity service awards during an African-American Heritage Month Celebration organised by the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholder, the county government for northern New Jersey, which includes Newark and East Orange.

A description of Dr, Santucci said: "(Dr. Santucci) emigrated to the United States in 2005 where he has immersed himself in communioty serfvice through countless civic and church organisations, such as the NAACP and its Education Committee; the Black Ministers council of New Jersey, the United Clergy of the Oranges, the East Orange Clergy Association, the New Jersey Ministerial Alliance AME Church, Board Member of the East Orange Chamber of Commerce; trustee of the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race; ... among others."

Dr. Santucci received his Keeper of the Dream award on Wednesday from the East Orange Education Assocation Fast (Families and Schools Together) Committee.

The awards honoured "those wgho take a stand for children and community".