I was just notified that Arlington High School Asian American Coalition has been awarded the Kathleen Roberts Creative Leadership Award. I have pasted the notice below as well as my recommendation letter for the award. Congratulations!
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To the MTA Human Relations Committee,
I am pleased to write this letter of support for the Arlington High School (AHS) Asian American Coalition for the Kathleen Roberts Creative Leadership Award. This club is relatively young, but they have already had a significant impact on promoting the cause of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our school community.
I am pleased to write this letter of support for the Arlington High School (AHS) Asian American Coalition for the Kathleen Roberts Creative Leadership Award. This club is relatively young, but they have already had a significant impact on promoting the cause of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our school community.
Arlington High School Asian American Coalition seeks to spread awareness about issues that impact the Asian American and Pacfic Islander community, to combat racism and cultural prejudice, and to provide a safe space for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) students. The students in this club and their advisor, Sein Park, have created an active affinity group that provides a place for the AAPI community at AHS to assemble, to raise visibility and awareness of their experiences, and to work with other groups to promote an inclusive and positive environment.
In just one year, they have run advisory activities at the high school, middle school, and elementary schools. They have collaborated with other school groups to focus on the intersectionality of bias and hate including our Young Feminist Alliance and our Anti-racism Working Group. Just last weekend, the group led a community rally and workshop on anti-AAPI bias that brought in a wide group of teachers, students, police, and community members. We all gathered in circles in a town park and the group facilitated conversations that helped build awareness and commitments to supporting our AAPI community.
I am extremely proud of and impressed with the work of this group and I hope that you will strongly consider them for this award.
I am extremely proud of and impressed with the work of this group and I hope that you will strongly consider them for this award.
Sincerely,
Matthew Janger
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Since 1983, MTA’s Human Relations Committee has reviewed nominations and selected the recipients of the annual Human and Civil Rights Awards. The annual HCR Awards Ceremony, attended by educators from across the state, honors those who have shown extraordinary dedication to civil rights and human relations. Honoring those who dedicate themselves to equality for all is a proud tradition of the MTA. Often student groups are honored as well. Information about the program and past winners can be found here: https://massteacher.org/
2021 Kathleen Roberts Creative Leadership Award Recipients:
Alice Arena, President of the Fore River Residents Against the Compressor Station
Arlington High School Asian American Coalition
New Bedford Coalition to Save Our Schools (NBCSOS)
The Kathleen Roberts Creative Leadership Award is named for former MTA President Kathleen Roberts, a leader whose commitment to service made her a tireless advocate for public education, communities and the profession of educators. Nominees for this award should exemplify the volunteerism and leadership that characterized Kay Roberts’ selfless contributions through political action, community organizing and mentoring.
The awards will be presented at a virtual ceremony on June 18th at 5 PM.
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