Hampden and Hampshire County Seniors Awarded 2019 Scholarships
Three Hampden and Hampshire County seniors will be awarded the 2019 Sojourner Truth Scholarships for Social Justice at the 17th Annual Sojourner Truth Memorial Celebration on May 26. The recipients are: Wesley L. Days, Jr., Longmeadow High School; Jada Ficarra, SABIS International Charter School; and Yacine Norris-Fall, Amherst-Pelham Regional High School.
Wesley L. Days, Jr. was inspired by Sojourner Truth's legacy of speaking against inequality to become a social justice orator, leading him to first place in the Blacks in Government National Oratorical Contest. He has also volunteered for earthquake relief in Haiti, is active in youth ministry, and is the President of the Western Massachusetts Teen Chapter of Jack and Jill of America and of the Longmeadow High School Unity Club.
As District Officer for the District Attorney Youth Advisory Board, Jada Ficarra worked to make a better environment for non-white student athletes who experience prejudice when they travel to suburban schools. She also planned the first Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at her school, which raised money for those affected by Hurricane Maria. As a member of the Young Women’s Advisory Corps, she is continuing to advocate for social justice, including changes to discriminatory dress code policies.
Yacine Norris-Fall is a member of People of Color United (POCU), the Senegambian Scholars, and the Minority Student Achievement Network (MSAN). As part of her work with MSAN, she is helping to improve the mental health of students of color at Amherst Regional High School, a topic that is often overlooked.
Selection for the $1000 scholarships is based on student essays describing their social justice leadership as connected to the visionary example set by Sojourner Truth, an important national and local abolitionist and passionate voice for women’s right to vote.
The 17th Annual Sojourner Truth Memorial Celebration includes an optional tour of Florence's African-American Heritage Trail, which will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Sojourner Truth statue at the corner of Pine and Park Streets in Florence Center. The program follows at 3:00 p.m. and will include a keynote address by the Rev. Dr. Peter B. Ives and music by the Alden Baptist Church Youth Choir of Springfield. The program will be in the garden by the statue or in case of rain, across the street in the Community Center (red brick building). There will be a reception following the event at the David Ruggles Center at 225 Nonotuck Street in Florence.
