Mount Diablo Peace and Justice Center's
22nd Annual Dennis Thomas
Art and Writing Challenge 2020
YOUTH ACTIVIST GRANT AWARD WINNERS
In honor of our 50th Year Anniversary in 2019, the Peace Center created its first annual Youth Activist Grant Award, to accompany the Art and Writing Challenge. We are excited to bring this grant back for this year! We are consistently inspired by the tireless dedication of young people in our community fighting for the betterment of all and working to support our most marginalized groups. Every single day, young people are recognizing the power and potential they have for being true catalysts for positive change and we want to recognize those leading the charge.
The community was invited to nominate a youth organization, an individual, or a group of young people, grades 6-12, that showed exemplary leadership and dedication for social justice, organizing, and human rights. This year, two winners were selected--Mia Portner, a senior at Las Lomas High School, and seventh grader from Mno Grant School, Jacklyn Raya.
Jacklyn Raya
7th Grade, Mno Grant School
This past year, Jacklyn proved herself to be a natural leader at her school around the climate movement. Her 6th grade teacher at Mno Grant School, Ms. Barnes noted, “When Mno Grant sixth graders decided to host a Virtual School Earth Week, just a couple weeks after our school’s Spring Break, Jacklyn showed dedication and leadership that inspired other students to follow in her footsteps. She read the book, 50 ways to Save the Bees, and was inspired to figure out how each of us from home could do our part to protect native pollinators. She suggested we have a Save The Bees Day which was our school’s first Virtual Earth Day of the week.”
Jacklyn was one of the students voted by her peers as a leader in learning about environmental topics. Her creativity, drive, and passion for climate justice inspired not only her classmates but teachers, families, and community members. We’re excited to keep up with Jacklyn’s work and see where the future takes her.
Mia Portner
12th Grade, Las Lomas High School
As a senior at Las Lomas last year, Mia was responsible for organizing a fundraiser called “Art for Australia.” She encouraged visual art students to create work that would be sold at a silent auction to support the healing of Australian wildlife and ecosystems after the devastating fires. She called for student performers—musicians, singers, actors, poets—to perform the night of the event.
As a result, Mia and her club “Extinction Rebellion” raised over $1500! Mia is known as one of the leading activists for environmental change at Las Lomas, participating in protest marches and organizing student walkouts.” Mia is also heavily involved in equity work on campus, encouraging education and dialogues around feminism. We are thankful for students like Mia who go above and beyond to put intention and care into the community.
The community was invited to nominate a youth organization, an individual, or a group of young people, grades 6-12, that showed exemplary leadership and dedication for social justice, organizing, and human rights. This year, two winners were selected--Mia Portner, a senior at Las Lomas High School, and seventh grader from Mno Grant School, Jacklyn Raya.
Jacklyn Raya
7th Grade, Mno Grant School
This past year, Jacklyn proved herself to be a natural leader at her school around the climate movement. Her 6th grade teacher at Mno Grant School, Ms. Barnes noted, “When Mno Grant sixth graders decided to host a Virtual School Earth Week, just a couple weeks after our school’s Spring Break, Jacklyn showed dedication and leadership that inspired other students to follow in her footsteps. She read the book, 50 ways to Save the Bees, and was inspired to figure out how each of us from home could do our part to protect native pollinators. She suggested we have a Save The Bees Day which was our school’s first Virtual Earth Day of the week.”
Jacklyn was one of the students voted by her peers as a leader in learning about environmental topics. Her creativity, drive, and passion for climate justice inspired not only her classmates but teachers, families, and community members. We’re excited to keep up with Jacklyn’s work and see where the future takes her.
Mia Portner
12th Grade, Las Lomas High School
As a senior at Las Lomas last year, Mia was responsible for organizing a fundraiser called “Art for Australia.” She encouraged visual art students to create work that would be sold at a silent auction to support the healing of Australian wildlife and ecosystems after the devastating fires. She called for student performers—musicians, singers, actors, poets—to perform the night of the event.
As a result, Mia and her club “Extinction Rebellion” raised over $1500! Mia is known as one of the leading activists for environmental change at Las Lomas, participating in protest marches and organizing student walkouts.” Mia is also heavily involved in equity work on campus, encouraging education and dialogues around feminism. We are thankful for students like Mia who go above and beyond to put intention and care into the community.