11th Brookline Youth Awards, Saturday Night at the Coolidge!

The 11th Brookline Youth Awards will be held to a socially distanced audience and a mask-wearing group of 16 youth and adult award honorees with their guests right in Moviehouse One at the Coolidge Corner Theatre on May 8 at 7 pm. The rest of the community can view the event on all Brookline Interactive Group platforms. All the adult interviews for the youth awards and the host segments were shot at the Coolidge stage.

In total, 106 students and four adults will be recognized during this special event. Including this year, the Brookline Youth Awards have recognized more than 700 students and screened approximately 160 student video interviews at the Coolidge. The Youth Awards have also recognized 30 adults over the years who have inspired young people and their community, either in their roles as parents, business leaders, or social justice advocates.

The Brookline Youth Awards is an opportunity for Brookline residents to hear about the character, challenges, and dreams of its young people and the adults dedicated to their success through the power and intimacy of video interviews. Anyone in the community who would like to submit a nomination is asked to write an essay about a student that person believes is worthy of emulation.

There are no barriers to be eligible for an award other than the recipient must be between 13 and 19 years old and either lives in or go to school in Brookline. This awards event recognizes that each of us is embarked on our own journey, and we must hurdle our own unique set of challenges.
Honorees are recognized for their outstanding in-school and out-of-school achievements, courage overcoming adversity or helping others do the same, displaying exceptional kindness, character, and generosity of spirit.

View compilations of Brookline Youth Award video interviews produced over the years.

This year, teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, students, and residents submit essays to a nomination committee consisting of over 40 people from a cross-section of Brookline government, business, and resident leaders read approximately 150 nominations for 106 before taking on the daunting task of selecting honorees in two categories. This year 16 students were chosen to receive Brookline Youth Awards; they were interviewed via Zoom by youth awards founder Harvey Bravman and his ADW Video Productions production team. Harvey also interviewed four adults in three award categories for the event on the stage at the Coolidge. Approximately 90 students will have their photos and a message to the community included in the event to music choreographed for the occasion.

At the end of the evening, six Brookline Youth Awards finalists will be announced, along with the 2021 Brookline Youth of the Year. 2020 Brookline Youth of the Year Saya Ameli Hajebi and Nick Lazzaro from the Coolidge will serve as event hosts.

The 2021 Roger Grande Social Justice Award will go to Joslyn Vendola for assembling a vast array of volunteers and orchestrating food distribution for BHS families experiencing food insecurity during the pandemic.

Our 2021 Ethel Weiss Service Award will go to Katherine Tallman for her and her staff's extraordinary efforts to keep the Coolidge afloat during the pandemic.

The 2021 Suriel Guerrero Parents of the Year are Lisa Irvings and Michael Brill, for teaching their community and empowering their amazing son, Henry Brill, to achieve at high levels and be all he can be despite the challenges of Down syndrome.

The 11th Brookline Youth Awards is produced and directed by R. Harvey Bravman. Danielle Myers serves as editor along with associate editor Victoria S. Briggs. Nolan Yee served as director of photography for the live shoots. Ed Grenga and Douglas Stevens supplied the music. Associate producers included Ben Hoff, Lesly Suriel Guerrero, Karen Chase, Richard Desir, and Sabrina Zhou.

The Brookline Youth Awards is founded and hosted by BrooklineHub.com. Principal Sponsors include The Town of Brookline, Brookline Community Foundation, Brookline Bank, Brookline Booksmith, Foundation To Be Named Later, The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation, Brookline Dental Associates, Elias Mobil, Viking Sports, ADW Video Productions, and the Coolidge Corner Theatre.

BrooklineHub.com is a 501C3 non-profit dedicated to reporting and commenting on life, culture, and community in Brookline. As part of our mission, we advocate for non-profits vital in making this a better place to live, and by sponsoring and supporting events that promote community-building. We hold the belief that as a community, we should foster the well-being of all, remaining mindful of our young people, seniors, and underprivileged.