Meet the 2019 “Black Education Matters Student Activist Award” winners: Youth leaders of an uprising for racial justice!
At the first NAACP Youth Coalition Racial Justice Conference on Saturday, ethnic studies teacher Jesse Hagopian and Superbowl champion/bestselling author Michael Bennett presented the Black Education Matters Student Activist Award (BEMSAA) to three of the most dynamic and powerful changemaking youth in Seattle.
The 2019 BEMSAA award winners are:
- Rena Mateja Walker Burr, Cleveland High School
Rena is an NAACP Youth Coalition leader and one of the most outspoken leaders for ethnic studies and the Black Lives Matter at School movement.
- Khabirah Weddington, Garfield High School
Khabirah founded the Black Student Union at Madrona Elementary School and has served as the Garfield High School BSU president for the past three years. She has been a relentless advocate for Black students and lead many struggles for racial justice and initiatives to promote Black excellence.- Cece Chan, Nathan Hale High School
Cece serves as the Nathan Hale’s representative on the NAACP-Youth Coalition and has been a leader in the struggle for ethnic studies and for the Black Lives Matter at School week of action. Cece has also recently finished a documentary about the struggle and promise of ethnic studies in the Seattle schools!
The Black Education Matters Student Activist Award (BEMSAA) offers a $1000 package to deserving Seattle public school students who demonstrates exceptional leadership in struggles for social justice, and against institutional racism.
Michael Bennett gave Rena the special Pennie Bennett award in the name of his mother saying,
My mom worked in the school district for the last 30 years…Me and Jesse have been friends for a while and I wanted to be able to create an lasting award for Black education and give out an award out every year to represent what my mom believes in…My mom was looking at all the things you were doing and she said, that girls is amazing! And I’m lucky to be able to give this award to Rena!
“I am so proud of this year’s winners of the Black Education Matters Student Activist Award,” said BEMSAA director Jesse Hagopian. “They have all contributed greatly to CONTINUE READING: Meet the 2019 “Black Education Matters Student Activist Award” winners: Youth leaders of an uprising for racial justice! – I AM AN EDUCATOR