The 14th Brookline Youth Awards will be held at the Coolidge Corner Theatre on Monday, May 20, at 7:30 pm.
In total, 77 students will be recognized during this special event. This year alone, the Brookline Youth Awards have recognized more than 860 students and screened approximately 190 student video interviews at the Coolidge. Over the years, the Youth Awards have also recognized 30 adults who have inspired young people and their community, either in their roles as parents, business leaders, or social justice advocates.
This year, the event will honor posthumously Chobee Hoy with the Brookline Social Justice Award. Chobee was a champion of the Brookline Youth Awards since its inception in 2011. Chobee received the Ethel Weiss Service Award at the event in 2015. As Harvey Bravman wrote back then, “I don’t think I’ve interviewed one young person in the five years since the Youth Awards were established who doesn’t know Chobee. I don’t mean heard of Chobee; I mean knows Chobee. Chobee gives our young people advice and mentoring. She financially supports their causes at every turn, listens to them, and sets an example for them. In a world that sometimes seems bereft of adult role models for teens, Chobee is someone we want our young people to know.”
Contributions to the Brookline Community Foundations Support the Chobee Hoy Fund are welcome.
LeRoy Watkins of Viking Sports will also be honored at the event for his lifelong support of Brookline’s young people.
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 year, more than 115 pages of nominations were submitted.
There are no barriers to being eligible for an award other than the recipient’s being between 13 and 19 years old and either living in or going to school in Brookline.
Honorees are recognized for their outstanding in-school and out-of-school achievements, courage in overcoming adversity or helping others do the same, and displaying exceptional kindness, character, and generosity of spirit. This awards event recognizes that each of us is embarked on our own journey, and must hurdle our unique challenges.
Compilations of Brookline Youth Award video interviews produced over the years:
This year, 12 students were chosen to receive the Brookline Youth Awards; they were interviewed by Youth Awards founder Harvey Bravman and his ADW Video Productions production team. Approximately 65 students will have their photos and a message to the community included in the event, which will be choreographed to music for the occasion.
At the end of the evening, 5 Brookline Youth Awards finalists and the 2024 Brookline Youth of the Year will be announced.
R. Harvey Bravman produced and directed the 14th Brookline Youth Awards. Danielle Myers and Victoria S. Briggs served as editors. Nolan Yee was the Director of Photography. Ed Grenga and Douglas Stevens will supply the music. Sabrina Zhou is an Associate Producer.
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, Brookline Rotary, Merrimack Valley Credit Union, Foundation To Be Named Later, The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation, Brookline Dental Associates, Elias Mobil, ADW Video Productions, and the Coolidge Corner Theatre.
