Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced nominations are now open for SPARK Boston's 2019-2020 Impact Awards. The annual Impact Awards shine a spotlight on young adults ages 20 to 35 doing outstanding work to improve the City of Boston. Nomination forms are available online, and will remain open through Saturday, March 1, 2020.
"SPARK Boston Impact Awards recognize and exceptional young adults making a difference in Boston's neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities," said Mayor Walsh. "I encourage everyone to nominate a deserving leader and look forward to celebrating the impact these leaders make in our neighborhoods."
"At SPARK Boston, we believe that young voices can make our City a better place by speaking up and showing up," said Amy Mahler, SPARK Boston Director. "We are asking Bostonians of all ages to nominate our young leaders for the Impact Awards. This year, we're proud to launch the Education and Mentorship and SPARK Boston Outstanding Alumnus to recognize more incredible leadership in our city. Once our selection committee reviews and selects the final nominees, we ask you to vote on who inspires you to take action. Your voice and vote count."
"It was a monumental achievement to receive the Impact Award for Activism and Issue Advocacy in recognition of my work around eating disorders prevention in Massachusetts," said Alvin Tran, 2017-2018 Impact Award winner for Activism and Issue Advocacy. "Boston is the breeding ground for young leaders dedicated to making positive change in their community. It is the home of emerging leaders who strive to be changemakers."
"The SPARK Impact Awards recognize those who are doing amazing work and need more recognition," said Tuan Ho, 2017-2018 Impact Award winner for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. "The Boston community is strong and I'm glad to be part of an award that unites the optimists and altruists which will help inspire others to do the same. There are talented people who we need to pay closer attention to and provide more opportunities for because they are looking to do the same to the city."
This year's award categories reflect the diverse ways millennial residents act as leaders and changemakers in Boston:
• Arts & Culture: Visionaries who weave arts and culture into the fabric of our communities to engage and inspire those around them.
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Civic innovators who help our city attract and keep talented people, expand economic opportunity and create a culture of engagement.
• Activism & Issue Advocacy: Emerging leaders elevating the voices of young Bostonians on the issues that impact us all.
• Public Service & Civic Leadership: Public servants, elected officials and other civic leaders working to ensure strong democracy and successful governance in our city.
• Community Building & Neighborhood Improvement: Engaged citizens who work collaboratively to strengthen their neighborhoods and promote their communities' interests.
• Education and Mentorship: Teachers, professors, or volunteers in the city who have gone above and beyond for their students to impart wisdom and make a difference in the lives of young people
• "Unsung Heroes": Outstanding teachers, social workers, nurses, emergency responders and human services professionals whose everyday dedication supports a healthy, thriving city.
• SPARK Boston Outstanding Alumnus: Previous SPARK Boston or ONEin3 council members who have continued to serve and represent the city of Boston well beyond the end of their term.
Nominees must be between the ages of 20 to 35 and live and/or work in Boston to be considered. A selection committee comprised of members of the SPARK Boston Council will review all nominations and select the top nominees in each category. A round of online voting will follow, and winners will be announced at the SPARK Impact Award ceremony in June. To nominate a friend, colleague, neighbor or yourself, visit https://www.boston.gov/civic-engagement/spark-boston-impact-awards.