Coolidge Corner Theatre executive director Katherine Tallman will receive the Ethel Weiss Service Award at the 11th Brookline Youth Awards on May 8 at 7 pm for her and her staff’s extraordinary efforts to keep the Coolidge afloat during the pandemic.  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 be viewed before a socially distanced audience and a mask-wearing group of 16 youth and adult award honorees and their guests right in Moviehouse 1 at the Coolidge Corner Theatre.

Katherine Tallman’s Ethel Weiss Service Award video edited for the 11th Brookline Youth Awards:

 

“Brookline in-depth” interview featuring Katherine Tallman’s full interview:

 

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 will serve as the year’s hosts.

The Ethel Weiss Service Award

The award, introduced in 2014, is named after Ethel Weiss, who ran Irving’s Toy & Card shop for over 76 years, and honors a businessperson who goes the extra mile for young people.

  • 2014 Ethel Weiss, Irvings Toy & Card Shop
  • 2015 Chobee Hoy, Chobee Hoy Group Compass
  • 2016 Dana Brigham, Brookline Booksmith
  • 2017 Abe Faber & Christy Timon, Clear Flour Bread
  • 2018 Elias Audy, Elias Mobil
  • 2019 Bo Winiker, Winiker Music
  • 2020 Sandy Gradman, Marcie Brawer, Ilene Epstein – The Studio
  • 2021 Katherine Tallman, Coolidge Corner Theatre

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.

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.