BHS´s Joslyn Vendola to receive Social Justice Award

Brookline High School teacher Joslyn Vendola will receive the 2021 Roger Grande Social Justice Award at the 11th Brookline Youth Awards on May 8 at 7 pm. She is responsible for assembling a vast array of volunteers and orchestrating food distribution for BHS families experiencing food insecurity during the pandemic. Vendola was also interviewed from the stage of the Coolidge for the event.

The 11th Brookline Youth Awards can be viewed on all Brookline Interactive Group and BrooklineHub.com online channels and BIG’s cable channel.

The 11th Brookline Youth Awards will have a socially distanced audience and a mask-wearing group of 16 youth and four adult award honorees and their guests in Moviehouse One at the Coolidge Corner Theatre on May 8 at 7 pm.

Joslyn Vendola’s Roger Grande Social Justice Award interview for the 11th Brookline Youth Awards:

The Brookline Youth Awards is an opportunity for Brookline residents to hear about the character, challenges, and dreams of its young people and adults dedicated to their success through the power and intimacy of video interviews. This award show recognizes that each of us is embarked on our own journey, and we must hurdle our own unique set of challenges.

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.

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 serve as the year’s event hosts.

Roger Grande Social Justice Award
The award, introduced in 2012, is named after a transcendent BHS teacher, goes out to an adult who inspires and affects young people involved in social justice activism.

• 2012 Roger Grande, BHS Teacher
• 2013 Kate Leslie, BHS Teacher
• 2014 Paul Epstein, BHS Social Worker
• 2015 Pat Norling, Town of Brookline Employee
• 2016 Rene Feuerman, Brookline Food Pantry
• 2017 Malcolm Cawthorne, BHS Teacher
• 2018 Margot Strom & Elisabeth Dopazo, Facing History & Ourselves
• 2019 Rob Daves, Brookline Resident
• 2020 Bobbie Knable, Brookline Resident
• 2021 Joslyn Vendola, BHS Teacher

The 2021 Ethel Weis Service award will go to Katherine Tallman, director and CEO of the Coolidge Corner Theatre, 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 the 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.